# Jacking point **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [December 14, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406 "2008-12-14T19:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![michaelroger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@michaelroger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/michaelroger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/1 "2008-12-14T19:38:38Z")
Is it proper to jack up the rear end of a vehicle using the differential housing as a jacking point. I see it done a lot in tire shops Thanks for your answers ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/2 "2008-12-14T19:47:45Z")
For several reasons I would not use it. ---
**Author:** ![michaelroger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@michaelroger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/michaelroger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/3 "2008-12-14T20:07:03Z")
what would the reasons be thanks I am looking for specific reasons ---
**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/4 "2008-12-14T20:24:46Z")
read the manual… ---
**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/5 "2008-12-14T20:32:31Z")
The answer might depend on the differential housing. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/6 "2008-12-14T22:13:59Z")
On some vehicles you have to jack the vehicle up by the differential when replacing the rear shocks when the vehicle has rear coil springs. If you don’t do this and then remove the shock hardware, the differential can drop allowing the coil spring to come shooting out from under the vehicle. Tester ---
**Author:** ![michaelroger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@michaelroger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/michaelroger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/7 "2008-12-14T22:29:38Z")
Thanks for your answer but I dont believe the differential was meant to be a jacking point. If you want to support the vehicle while replacing the rear shocks, put a jack underneath the axle at the spring or at least outboard of the differential closer to the wheels. The vehicle was designed to be supported by the wheels not the differential. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/8 "2008-12-14T22:34:39Z")
Well son! I’ve been raising vehicles by their differentials for over thirtyfive years. And in all those years I’ve never caused damage to either the differential or the vehicle. What do you suppose the wheels are attached to? To the differential that supports the vehicle via the rear springs. Tester ---
**Author:** ![michaelroger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@michaelroger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/michaelroger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/9 "2008-12-14T22:47:10Z")
Just because the axles are attached to differential does not mean that the differential is carrying the weight of the vehicle ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/10 "2008-12-14T23:37:26Z")
The differential is fine in terms of being able to bear the weight of the vehicle, but the main reason not to use it is that if you’re jacking it up by the “pumpkin” part, the vehicle will be really tippy. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/11 "2008-12-14T23:53:14Z")
Since we don’t know what car you have we have to guess. Some cars recommend not using it. If you don’t know about a specific car, I would say don’t. I don’t like the idea of using a single point lift and balancing the vehicle on two wheels and one jack point. ---
**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 8:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-point/23406/12 "2008-12-15T08:34:51Z")
It is OK on any rigid axle rear wheel drive I have ever worked on. I would be nervous about picking up a car with independent rear suspension by the differential. Not that the differential is not solidly attached to the car, they just don’t have those solid clamshell housings like the solid axle differentials have.