The toyota service manual shows the jack points on the front cross member and rear axle, but there is not enough room, especially on the rear axle, to position a jack and *and* a jack stand on these points to set the jack stands in place. For instance on the rear axle, the jack would either have to be on the rear diff or suspension to have room to place the jack stand in the proper location. For the front, the jack would either need to on the outside frame rail or in the middle of the cross member to be able to place the jack stands in the correct location. What do people use as jacking points for a floor jack when positioning jack stands? Can anyone recommend a floor jack that they like? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

 

The middle of the front crossmember, and the rear diffy work fine for me while I'm putting the stands under...
Brett

 

I've always put the jack stands under the frame rails. Can't get any stronger than that.

 

what jack stands do you use that are long enough to reach the frame? mine sure arent long enough, it ends up sitting on the tires still.

 

I guess I have some monster ones then. I was even able to put my old tacoma with Total Chaos long travel on the frame rails and have the tires about a millimeter off of the ground.

 

You just need some big timber or cinder blocks: http://community.webshots.com/photo/...42310107FwytHr

 

My set of 6 ton jackstands (they're big) only need to be extended about halfway up when they are under the frame rails in the front so that the front tires come up of the ground. My rear stands are only 3 ton (and shorter), so I put them under the axle on either side of the diff (about halfway between the diff and the rear wheel)

 

Is it ok to use the rear diff as jacking point? I had thought about doing that, but was afraid I'd hear a *pop* and then see differential fluid all over the driveway. Also, can anyone recommend a specific jack model? On the jacks that I've used if you use a point on the centerline of the car as a jacking point, the handle either won't reach to edge of the body or if it does the clearance between the jack handle and body are such that it's less than the play in the jack handle so it's not enough to actually get it to lift.

 

Yes, that's a great place to jack from.

 

Are you lifting a BMW or a truck?

 

I didn't see jacking *and* jack stand positions in my FSM, only the jacking positions on the front cross member and rear axle. I was under the (apparently wrong) impression that the jacking and jacking stand positions were essentially the same place and wasn't aware that the rear diff and center of the cross member were recommended jacking locations. Problem solved. Thanks!