Jacking up the rear of the Car (Floor Jack)

cush · Dec 31, 2014

I posted this in a different section and didn't get any responses, I thought that was strange with this group so I'm reposting it here.

I need some quick but accurate advice....

Is it safe to lift the entire rear end of the 2015 Mustang using a floor jack under the differential?

BTW, this is not to hold the car up while working on it, Jack stands would be inserted when it is at an appropriate height. Front wheels will also be chocked.

89Trooper · Dec 31, 2014

Some will probably say not to, but I have always done this with previous year Mustangs without any problems.

I have a 2x4 that sits on the jack, so I'm not jacking up directly on the diff.

Also, make sure that you are away from the diff cover, and that you are not putting any pressure on that.

A follow-up question - I used to put jack stands on the solid rear axle, but where do we put them now with the independent rear? (I haven't been under the car yet to check it out...)

cush · Dec 31, 2014

The only place I can see to put them is where you would normally jack up the car to change a tire. There are 4 spots, 1 near each wheel marked with a triangle underneath. I only plan to use 2 and to chock the front tires. I also have ramps but they really don't get the car up high enough for what I want to do, which is remove the passenger side final exhaust section so I can tweak the front hanger a bit for better alignment... and take some pictures of the difference between the 2 sides to send back to Hypermotive, and MagnaFlow, just in case the adjustments don't work the two sides do not match, they should be exact mirror images of one another.

WestRace · Jan 1, 2015

I would not recommend using the differential as the jacking point even momentary. Even if someone has claimed he or she had done it before, the diff. usually is not designed to handle the weight of the car.

cush · Jan 1, 2015

WestRace said:
I would not recommend using the differential as the jacking point even momentary. Even if someone has claimed he or she had done it before, the diff. usually is not designed to handle the weight of the car.

Where would you recommend jacking up he car that will still allow you to place a jack stand in the designated point for jacking in the rocker areas... since you can't put both in the same place?

ITLRUN · Jan 1, 2015

I may be mistaken, but isn't the diff securely mounted to a rear subframe? I'm not sure why you couldn't use it as a lifting point. I'm completely new to the IRS suspension. I've got to figure out how to lift it and secure it to my trailer. LOL.

USPSALIMITED · Jan 1, 2015

I sent a pm to FordService with a link to this thread and a request for help.

This has come up on 3 different threads that I can recall (1 I started) so it seems to be a wide interest thing. Suggestions have been offered but I would really like to read what Ford has to say.

Anthony · Jan 1, 2015

WestRace said:
I would not recommend using the differential as the jacking point even momentary. Even if someone has claimed he or she had done it before, the diff. usually is not designed to handle the weight of the car.

"Claimed" ???

That's where cars have been jacked up since there were cars to jack up!

Are you an "engineer"? Or an "engineering student"?

At 5 years old my parents caught me jacking up my mothers 396 nova SS by the diff. It isnt a new theory, it isn't rocket science, it isn't claimed, it's where rwd cars and trucks get jacked up

USPSALIMITED · Jan 1, 2015

Anthony said:
"Claimed" ???

That's where cars have been jacked up since there were cars to jack up!

Are you an "engineer"? Or an "engineering student"?

At 5 years old my parents caught me jacking up my mothers 396 nova SS by the diff. It isnt a new theory, it isn't rocket science, it isn't claimed, it's where rwd cars and trucks get jacked up

"Claimed" I think was just a word chosen quickly and not meant as an implication of falsehood. The author may correct me if I'm wrong.

The thing is that designs change, materials change, weight reduction and material cost gets more important, and some major parts of our Mustangs are made in China & etc where I'm not sure if they care greatly about lift points.

It may be ok to lift this car as I've done in the past, but I'd like to know this was true before trying.

89Trooper · Jan 1, 2015

Anthony said:
it's where rwd cars and trucks get jacked up

Recommended, or not, this is true.

Just stay away from the cover, and you'll be fine.

Irregardless (I love using that word) of what Ford Service says, I will continue to do it.

mc lane · Jan 1, 2015

Anthony said:
"Claimed" ???

That's where cars have been jacked up since there were cars to jack up!

Are you an "engineer"? Or an "engineering student"?

At 5 years old my parents caught me jacking up my mothers 396 nova SS by the diff. It isnt a new theory, it isn't rocket science, it isn't claimed, it's where rwd cars and trucks get jacked up

until IRS came up!

The diff is no longer part of a solid axle and part of the Suspension
Nowadays it is just a part of the drivetrain
the Mounts of the diff (of an IRS car) have been designed to take all sorts of Forces (coming from the drivetrain (torsionalforces for instance)), but not to carry the weight of the car...
the Manual clearly states: ONLY use the marked spots to jack up the car to avoid damage

89Trooper · Jan 1, 2015

mc lane said:
the Manual clearly states: ONLY use the marked spots to jack up the car to avoid damage

It says that in every manual, even with a solid rear axle.

Here is from my 2006 Mustang manual. Due to legality issues and safety reasons, they will never say it is ok, but it'll take a lot to convince me that it isn't.

Wvmike · Jan 1, 2015

Whoa! I'm surprised at the 2006 manual. I've always done it on solid axle cars. Was not going to do it on the 15 as some have said. Of course, they have not been welding the axle tubes to the diff for several years so maybe it's risky even on solid axle cars.

Husker · Jan 1, 2015

I would like to see pictures or a video of the best (safest) procedure/steps for jacking up the S550 and placing four jack-stands under it.

IndustryLeech · Jan 1, 2015

Doesn't everybody have a lift in their garage?

Jacking up the rear of the Car (Floor Jack)

cush

Well-Known Member

89Trooper

Well-Known Member

cush

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WestRace

Well-Known Member

cush

Well-Known Member

ITLRUN

HiPo Joe

USPSALIMITED

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Anthony

Banned

USPSALIMITED

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89Trooper

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mc lane

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89Trooper

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Wvmike

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Husker

Just The Basic Facts

IndustryLeech

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