A "Jacking Up The Car" Question

[N40GL]

It's getting about the time I will put the MM away for the winter. Usually that means I put the car on jack stands (to avoid flat spotting the tires) in the garage. In past years, this has meant jacking one corner, putting a jack stand under it, letting the jack down, going to the opposite corner on the same side, jacking it, putting the jack stand under it, letting the jack down, going to the other side, jacking up that corner, putting the jack stand under it, etc. etc. etc. Inch by inch, corner by corner, the car rises until all four wheels are off the ground.

The planning for this sort of exercise got me wondering whether the frame of the MM would be strong enough to jack one whole side with the jack in the center of the frame, putting BOTH jack stands under it, and then going to the other side and repeating the process. I don't want the cart to sag in the middle because I am doing the whole side at the same time, but it sure would make the job easier.

What do you guys think? I have a floor jack, if that makes a difference,

[larryo340]

Using a floor jack in middle should pose no problem. I've been doing it that way for years with no ill effects. I just recently installed my snows that very way.

[Blk Mamba]

Floor jack under the pumpkin of the rear end jack it up, put two jack stands, 2' in front of the centerline of the rear axle, (one on each side) put it down. Put the floor jack under the front cross member, place two jack stands under the frame, 6" back from the start of the side rail.
Previously, I have done this in reverse, with two front jack stands, and then leave the jack under the pumpkin.

[TiTo35]

^^^^+1 ^^^^

[Dr Caleb]

Floor jack under the pumpkin of the rear end jack it up, put two jack stands, 2' in front of the centerline of the rear axle, (one on each side) put it down. Put the floor jack under the front cross member, place two jack stands under the frame, 6" back from the start of the side rail.
Previously, I have done this in reverse, with two front jack stands, and then leave the jack under the pumpkin.

*Bzzzzzttt*

The axle tubes are not welded to the diff housing. It will leak all over the floor.

Says not to do that in the manual, too. Frame jack from the designated spots only!!

[00fxd]

*Bzzzzzttt*

The axle tubes are not welded to the diff housing. It will leak all over the floor.

Says not to do that in the manual, too. Frame jack from the designated spots only!!

Thanks for that bit of info, I was wondering why the owners manual said not to jack on the pumpkin. It wasn't a huge warning tho so I thought it was a safety suggestion.

[TAKEDOWN]

Don't forget to turn the air suspension off.

[fastblackmerc]

Use 2 jacks & 2 people to raise one side then the other or front then rear.

[Davesvt2000]

I've never jacked any of my cars up for the winter, and have never had a problem with flat spots....

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

*Bzzzzzttt*

The axle tubes are not welded to the diff housing. It will leak all over the floor.

There are huge plug welds where each axle tube meets the center section. What are you talking about?

[CRUZTAKER]

I've never jacked any of my cars up for the winter, and have never had a problem with flat spots....

The 'jacking the car' advice sounds all in well good (with the exception of the diff).

However, I would personally avoid leaving the car on stands for any length of time.

Many of us park our specialty cars over the winter, and as long as the tires on something smooth, my preference being small squares of 1/2" plywood glued to the floor, there is no real issue with the tires.

What little amount of flat spotting rolls out after several miles of driving.
I have my wheels road force balanced every 16-18 months, and the balancer has never found any belt discrepency having had the car sit for 4-5 months at a time.

I am sure the old school bias ply tires were very subseptable to permanent flat spot damage, but todays radials just aren't as touchy.

If jacking the car makes you feel better, by all means do it. Or perhaps look into those fancy wheel dollys. But you really need not waste your time.

[Krytin]

*Bzzzzzttt*

The axle tubes are not welded to the diff housing. It will leak all over the floor.

Says not to do that in the manual, too. Frame jack from the designated spots only!!
BZZZZT BS!

I've been jacking it up by the center of differentials for the past 35 years.
The warning in the manual is for liability purposes only - they won't assume responsibility if you drop the car!

[00fxd]

BZZZZT BS!
I've been jacking it up by the center of differentials for the past 35 years.
The warning in the manual is for liability purposes only - they won't assume responsibility if you drop the car!

Pretty much all of us have jacked cars up on the pumpkin for many years. The question here is there something with newer cars specifically Marauders that we shoud be aware of. New manufacturing techniques etc.

[Dr Caleb]

Pretty much all of us have jacked cars up on the pumpkin for many years. The question here is there something with newer cars specifically Marauders that we shoud be aware of. New manufacturing techniques etc.

I know only what others have told me.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4541
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=26836

I have jacked many vehicles by the rear diff cover too - but I won't do it to my Marauder.

[00fxd]

I know only what others have told me.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4541
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=26836

I have jacked many vehicles by the rear diff cover too - but I won't do it to my Marauder.

Thanks for the links Dr. That answers the question. The way we used to do things when christ was a cowboy aren't necessarily the way things are done today. These threads aren't the place for speculation. I fully admit that I am a dinosaur and I have to keep my ear to the ground to keep abreast in newer technology and building procedures before I start wreckin' expensive stuff. I won’t be jackin’ on my diff housing either. Who woulda thought they're press fit not welded anymore? Glad I asked.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Look at your axle and read those threads. The MM rear is made the same way as any other axle has been made for 50 years. The tubes are pressed in and then plug welded tubes. You're not going to hurt the MM rear by jacking on it any more than you hurt a 1970 Nova jacking under it. Same construction.

[Krytin]

Pretty much all of us have jacked cars up on the pumpkin for many years. The question here is there something with newer cars specifically Marauders that we shoud be aware of. New manufacturing techniques etc.
I've been doing it on the Marauder for the last 80k+ miles.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

The answer for "new manufacturing techniques we should be aware of specific to Marauders" appears to be no. Press fit w/ plug welds. It may not have been a 100% awesome idea to jack up a 1965 Oldsmobile on the axle either but.... Did someone really think that Ford did something NEW with the panther chassis? LOL It didn't even get rack and pinion steering until very late in its production