putting the car on rear jack stands? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BullF-16 · 08-09-2011, 01:47 PM

I have read a few thread here about putting the car on jack stands. I will be putting in a SW retro catback this weekend and have a question on putting the rear jack stands in.

I planned to use my floor jack on the center point of the front cross member and putting in the front jack stands in at the positions i have seen on other threads.

Now the quandary. Where do i jack the rear of the car from to put both jack stands in on each side of the car. I dont see a good center point in the rear that will bring the car off the ground evenly. I dont want to use the diff housing, or is this ok. I see the recommended floor jack points in photos on other threads but these points are on the sides of the car. Is the frame rigid enough to get the car off the ground from one of these jack points on the side and insert both jack stands simultaneously or do you jack up one side and insert the jack stand then move to the other side and jack it up then insert the other rear jack stand.

So i guess my real question is....how do you safely insert the rear jack stands with the front of the car already on jack stands?

blazzin1 · 08-09-2011, 03:00 PM

Yes, I have used the bottom of rear diff. housing many many times, it works fine. If you have a jack "pad" to put over the contact point, that's great, but not required.

BullF-16 · 08-09-2011, 03:12 PM

i was gonna use a scrap piece of 2x6 to distribute the pressure. Thankx

BullF-16 · 08-09-2011, 07:20 PM

So, my exhaust and CAI will be here thursday. I have only had one reply to my question? I sure it is valid but i could use some reassurance. Is it really 100% ok to jack the rear end from the aluminum diff housing? I really dont want to f up my brand new SS. I have access to a lift at the Sheppard AFB auto hobby shop but plan on having my car on stands whenever I change fluids etc. So I prefer to do it in my own garage. Reassure me!

garcmol · 08-09-2011, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BullF-16

So, my exhaust and CAI will be here thursday. I have only had one reply to my question? I sure it is valid but i could use some reassurance. Is it really 100% ok to jack the rear end from the aluminum diff housing? I really dont want to f up my brand new SS. I have access to a lift at the Sheppard AFB auto hobby shop but plan on having my car on stands whenever I change fluids etc. So I prefer to do it in my own garage. Reassure me!

Best place is the rear diff. I use a piece of 1"x lumber as a buffer between the jack and diff. Lift away my friend!!!!

Rest assured and sleep well.

Edit: Oh, I use the 1" x lumber because my car is lowered and the only thing I can fit in there any more, lol

axis · 08-09-2011, 07:28 PM

Another vote for the rear diff. FWIW, Pfadt also said this was ok.

BullF-16 · 08-09-2011, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the reassurance, I am not a complete newb. I have been working on my 83 chevy K10 with ZZ4 crate motor for 25 years now and my 84 Jeep CJ7 for 14 years. They are a little easier to crawl under. This is the first NEW vehicle I have ever bought and when first seeing the concept in '06 I think, I told my wife...when I retire i will buy myself that car. Well she beat me to it by a week.

She was on vacation in Albuquerque visiting family and bought a 1LT

That was all the motivation I needed. I could always pay someone but I really want to learn all this new technology....its awfully cramped in that engine bay compared to my 350 crate motor and 4.2 liter AMC motor in my jeep.

I love this frickin car....why did it take GM so long to figure it out?

formare · 08-09-2011, 09:15 PM

When tried to use the dif. It looked like it was moving in its cradle in a way that was going to ruin the mounts.

IROCanSS · 08-09-2011, 09:18 PM

i use the diff and put the jack stands on the front rear cradle mounting points. works like a charm.

CyberDan · 08-09-2011, 10:09 PM

Maybe it's just me, but lifting the car up by the differential seems like a terrible idea.

ZachSGMSS · 08-09-2011, 11:03 PM

Question: I've got a rattle that sounds like its coming from the rear exhaust, I want to get under the rear and see if I can do anything about it so I don't have to take it all the way back to the shop that put the exhaust in. Is it safe to just put the rear of the car up on jack stand or do I need to lift the whole car?

kmcd · 08-09-2011, 11:24 PM

There's nothing wrong with using the differential housing as a lift point, but I use the differential drag link (where it attaches to the frame). A hockey puck in the cup of the floor jack makes a nice pad.

kmcd · 08-09-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011camaroexcited

Question: ...Is it safe to just put the rear of the car up on jack stand or do I need to lift the whole car?

It's O.K., as long as you chock the front wheels so it can't roll off the jack stands.

alex076 · 07-23-2017, 09:07 AM

I did a wheel and tire swap recently and thought I would add a couple of pictures showing the differential lift point.

08-09-2011, 01:47 PM	#1
BullF-16 USAF retired! Thank God! Drives: 2011 1SS, 1LT red,1LT/RS SGM 98Z28 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,799	putting the car on rear jack stands? I have read a few thread here about putting the car on jack stands. I will be putting in a SW retro catback this weekend and have a question on putting the rear jack stands in. I planned to use my floor jack on the center point of the front cross member and putting in the front jack stands in at the positions i have seen on other threads. Now the quandary. Where do i jack the rear of the car from to put both jack stands in on each side of the car. I dont see a good center point in the rear that will bring the car off the ground evenly. I dont want to use the diff housing, or is this ok. I see the recommended floor jack points in photos on other threads but these points are on the sides of the car. Is the frame rigid enough to get the car off the ground from one of these jack points on the side and insert both jack stands simultaneously or do you jack up one side and insert the jack stand then move to the other side and jack it up then insert the other rear jack stand. So i guess my real question is....how do you safely insert the rear jack stands with the front of the car already on jack stands?

08-09-2011, 07:28 PM	#6
axis Search Ninja Drives: 2010 Black 2SS/RS A6 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Ark Posts: 7,183	Another vote for the rear diff. FWIW, Pfadt also said this was ok. __________________ 2010 Black 2SS/RS A6 Halltech CF 102 fed GPI modded intake manifold Bo (knows) White ported TB Kooks LT's/ Dynomax VT Pfadted (springs/sways) Dyno tuned by Rhino and GPI I once parallel parked a train.

08-09-2011, 09:15 PM	#8
formare The Milano Drives: 2017 Firefly ShipWorks Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chicagoland (Crown Point, IN) Posts: 1,877 View My Garage	When tried to use the dif. It looked like it was moving in its cradle in a way that was going to ruin the mounts. __________________ My first Love. She was called "Miss Carriage" (still cry when I think about her) 383, Muncie 4 speed, custom linkage mated to hurst short throw shifter.

08-09-2011, 10:09 PM	#10
CyberDan Drives: 1SS Camaro Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 661	Maybe it's just me, but lifting the car up by the differential seems like a terrible idea. __________________ CAI Cold Air Intake, VMax CNC TB, Borla Sport Catback Exhaust, EE Oil Catch Can, Eibach Sway Bars and Drop Springs, AAC concept side markers, stealth signal bulbs, Heritage grille, Sparks Restorations front and rear modern SS emblems

08-09-2011, 11:24 PM	#12
kmcd 1,425 hp / supercharged Drives: (2010 2SS/L99) (1999 Corvette) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,104	There's nothing wrong with using the differential housing as a lift point, but I use the differential drag link (where it attaches to the frame). A hockey puck in the cup of the floor jack makes a nice pad. __________________ "If it's too loud...well, you know the rest."

08-09-2011, 03:00 PM	#2
blazzin1 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS R6P Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: St. Cloud, FL Posts: 4,845 View My Garage	Yes, I have used the bottom of rear diff. housing many many times, it works fine. If you have a jack "pad" to put over the contact point, that's great, but not required.

08-09-2011, 03:12 PM	#3
BullF-16 USAF retired! Thank God! Drives: 2011 1SS, 1LT red,1LT/RS SGM 98Z28 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,799	i was gonna use a scrap piece of 2x6 to distribute the pressure. Thankx

08-09-2011, 07:20 PM	#4
BullF-16 USAF retired! Thank God! Drives: 2011 1SS, 1LT red,1LT/RS SGM 98Z28 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,799	So, my exhaust and CAI will be here thursday. I have only had one reply to my question? I sure it is valid but i could use some reassurance. Is it really 100% ok to jack the rear end from the aluminum diff housing? I really dont want to f up my brand new SS. I have access to a lift at the Sheppard AFB auto hobby shop but plan on having my car on stands whenever I change fluids etc. So I prefer to do it in my own garage. Reassure me!

08-09-2011, 07:45 PM	#7
BullF-16 USAF retired! Thank God! Drives: 2011 1SS, 1LT red,1LT/RS SGM 98Z28 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,799	Thanks for the reassurance, I am not a complete newb. I have been working on my 83 chevy K10 with ZZ4 crate motor for 25 years now and my 84 Jeep CJ7 for 14 years. They are a little easier to crawl under. This is the first NEW vehicle I have ever bought and when first seeing the concept in '06 I think, I told my wife...when I retire i will buy myself that car. Well she beat me to it by a week. She was on vacation in Albuquerque visiting family and bought a 1LT That was all the motivation I needed. I could always pay someone but I really want to learn all this new technology....its awfully cramped in that engine bay compared to my 350 crate motor and 4.2 liter AMC motor in my jeep. I love this frickin car....why did it take GM so long to figure it out?

08-09-2011, 09:18 PM	#9
IROCanSS Account Suspended Drives: 89 IROC 350 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Back roads, southern Ohio Posts: 12,504 View My Garage	i use the diff and put the jack stands on the front rear cradle mounting points. works like a charm.

08-09-2011, 11:03 PM	#11
ZachSGMSS Drives: 2011 2SS/RS SGM Camaro Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 511	Question: I've got a rattle that sounds like its coming from the rear exhaust, I want to get under the rear and see if I can do anything about it so I don't have to take it all the way back to the shop that put the exhaust in. Is it safe to just put the rear of the car up on jack stand or do I need to lift the whole car?

07-23-2017, 09:07 AM	#14
alex076 Drives: TBD Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 49	Differential lift point I did a wheel and tire swap recently and thought I would add a couple of pictures showing the differential lift point. Attached Images

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