Is this safe/ok?

[19Fury63]

I am about to start stripping the rust off my rear axle (7-1/4") so I can paint it...I know where to put the jack stands once the car is up off the ground but I don't have room to jack it up AND put jack stands under that side at the same time.

Is it alright to jack the back end of the car up using the housing on the axle? I'd like to be able to lift up the entire rear end all at once unless there is a better way to do this without using a lift.

 

[yellowdartdave]

Perfectly acceptable.

Just remember to put your jackstands under the car either in the torque boxes or under the front of the rear springs.

 

[Propwash]

Done it tons of times.......I'm not dead, mangled, mauled or cruising around in an electric wheelchair, eating from a straw.

Housing has no problem supporting the weight. Just make sure you're not using a Walmart special jack with a half-dollar sized mating plate. The more surface area in contact with a jacking surface, the better..Also have your jackstands ready to go once she's up in the air. Leaving a car on a floor jack is just asking for trouble.

 

[19Fury63]

Thanks guys, I just wasn't sure if it would damage the housing at all or the drive shaft, since the drive shaft enters the housing from the "front" of the housing.

I have a heavy duty jack with a jacking plate of about 6" in diameter...I use it to lift my Ram 1500 all the time so it's plenty strong.

Any suggestions for the front end? Probably better off going side to side on the front I'd imagine.

 

[Propwash]

Definitley side to side...... Jokers that use the k-frame are usually the ones with cars parked on their heads. Not to mention its likely to dent/damage to bottom side of the K-Frame

 

[19Fury63]

Cool, thanks again. The only thing I need to do with the front end is take the wheels off anyway to get at the bolts for the front grille.

Time to grind, I'll post up a few before and after pics of the rear axle when I'm done.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Right or wrong I've been jacking the front up by the K member for 30 yrs and nothing bad happened that I can tell. Of course I pay attention so I don't grab the oil pan by mistake but as a static load it seems just fine. Then there's the bumper jack!!! uch: Side to side is probably better but if you do that make sure you don't already have the rear on stands.

 

[19Fury63]

Good deal, thank you. I will definitely not have the rear on stands when I do this....I've learned from that mistake in the past.

 

[Cranky]

I've used the K frame as a jack point for 41 years....the only time I've ever dented a K frame was when I landed too hard from getting air borne. Now that has happened many times! I know how to do that very well

 

[19Fury63]

Not to sound like a dumbass, but this is my first classic car and I'm fairly young....how is the "k" frame identified?

 

[Cranky]

Cross member under the engine....looks like a K in it's design. Not the best pics but here's 3 in various states of modification. The driver's side is standing on the floor and the front is the left.

 

[MarPar]

Looks like this...

 

[19Fury63]

Awesome, thanks guys, that last pic makes it a bunch more clear....I'll get under there and see for myself and inspect it for any signs of weakness.

The whole underbody/chassis is being painted this spring so I figured I might was well get it up as high off the ground as I can :headbang: