Terry J Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 Hi, When jacking the rear of my Vitesse is it safe to jack by the rear cross member? I know that the best option is to jack by the differential but my differential has a drain plug which, obviously, is getting in the way. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 The problem with jacking on the rear crossmember is that it doesn’t give you a good surface parallel to the ground for the jack to engage with. However I have seen a suggestion to make a wooden ‘pad’ that is roughly L shaped in cross section that will engage on two edges of the crossmember and provide a jacking surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 I think Uncle Pete recommended an ice hockey puck for this, or did he? Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 1 hour ago, Josef said: The problem with jacking on the rear crossmember is that it doesn’t give you a good surface parallel to the ground for the jack to engage with. However I have seen a suggestion to make a wooden ‘pad’ that is roughly L shaped in cross section that will engage on two edges of the crossmember and provide a jacking surface. I think that was my design, Joseph! Made from a wood block, the jacking surface matches the slope of the cross member, while the lower surface is horizontal. A block of wood is left at rhe lower end so that it doesn't slip off, reinforced with two long wood screws. Can't offer a pic as I'm not at home. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Foster Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 I think John means something like this. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 Never thought about it before but its a pretty good reason for NOT having a diff drain plug🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 No, no, johnnie! The jacking pad goes under the cross member! Clear of a drain plug. Anyway, never go under the jacked car until there are axle stands in place, jack and pad cleared away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 John essential with my trolley jack as it slowly goes down over a few hours frustrating but ensures I always use the axle stands Re the sloping timber under the crossmember mines similar a sloping piece of wood with a steel angle to hold it in place ensures good clearance between front of crossmember and diff, it also has a circular locating piece to engage the trolley jacks head. I made my diy tool about 45 years ago to avoid damaging the crossmember and it’s paint/underseal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 Really John I meant that without a plug you can jack on diff and not have to make up a support for use on the cross member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 The diff is NOT recognised jacking point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted October 20 Report Share Posted October 20 Recognised or not Ive found it great for 30+ years as it sits nicely in the trolley jack cup and I can then get axle stands in on the chassis either side👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted Monday at 08:07 Report Share Posted Monday at 08:07 15 hours ago, johny said: Recognised or not Ive found it great for 30+ years as it sits nicely in the trolley jack cup and I can then get axle stands in on the chassis either side👍 Same here; it's a certain the jack won't slip anywhere as the diff is settled into the cup. I very rarely if ever use it as a longer-term support point though; it lifts the Herald off the ground so I can get the arms of the lift under it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted Monday at 11:18 Report Share Posted Monday at 11:18 Maybe John is thinking it could crack the diff casing? I suppose its possible but never heard of it happening.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted Monday at 13:37 Report Share Posted Monday at 13:37 Always used a jack under the diff. to lift the back of my Vitesse, when I fitted a drain plug used one that uses an Allen key so flush with the bottom of the diff. A pad for the jack with a hole in for a square head type drain plug should work. Regards Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted Wednesday at 09:51 Report Share Posted Wednesday at 09:51 the diff with its attached spring does carry the full load of the rear suspension but that doesnt mean its a safe jacking point we will never know why triumph did not advise its use the chassis is best but can suffer the slip mentioned the only advised jack points are on the front /rear corners of the side rails /outriggers and we have all seen bent ones of those Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted Wednesday at 13:06 Report Share Posted Wednesday at 13:06 True, I can see it would be pretty unstable if you tried to lift the car using a basic sissor jack under the diff😨 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted Thursday at 05:20 Report Share Posted Thursday at 05:20 TBH, I`ve often used the diff; casing as the rear first lift point to get stands under many cars. Usually with a soft pad of some sort to spread the point load across the casting. On the Vit; Herald, the diff is actually bolted to the chassis and is (to my mind) the more stable point. IF a casting fractured, I would suspect a casting defect the more likely cause than the mass of the vehicle. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahebron Posted Thursday at 06:20 Report Share Posted Thursday at 06:20 I have often jacked using the diff. I have a piece of timber with a hole drilled that fits around the drain plug. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry J Posted 14 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 14 hours ago On 20/10/2024 at 15:19, Ian Foster said: I think John means something like this. Ian Hi Ian, I am just getting round to making the block as you described. Just one question - how did you determine the angle to use on the block. Cheers Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Foster Posted 13 hours ago Report Share Posted 13 hours ago 40 minutes ago, Terry J said: Just one question - how did you determine the angle to use on the block I made it over 40 years ago, so not sure I can remember. Probably a bit of card and a small spirit level. Anyway, I've just measured mine and it's about 8 degrees from the horizontal. It's not super critical, as sometimes you jack the front first, sometimes just the rear. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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