ok to jack on the differential?

[beckley]

so i'm trying to jack the back end of my e30 and the cross member (support) is too far towards the front of the car for me to reach with my jack. is it ok to just use the bottom of the differential to jack the car up?

thanks,
jim

[hoyabmw]

Some people say it's ok, but I won't do it. The diff is supported on a plate attached to the subframe, but it's really designed to provide support for the diff from above, not the weight of the car from below. If you're trying to put it on stands, just jack at the subframe mount points on either side and put the stands on the subframe.

Kevin

[SharkD]

I tend to use the rear crossmember attachment points (round fixtures with a threaded stud just forward of the rear wheels) and the front floorpan reinforcement frames to jack my E30...

I keep a copy of this diagram in my glovebox:
http://www.r3vlimited.com/Tech/Jackpoints.jpg

[AlfaEric]

I tend to use the rear crossmember attachment points (round fixtures with a threaded stud just forward of the rear wheels) and the front floorpan reinforcement frames to jack my E30...

I keep a copy of this diagram in my glovebox:
http://www.r3vlimited.com/Tech/Jackpoints.jpg

I keep a copy of that in my glove box too. Very helpful.

---Eric

[M-technik-3]

I'll second Dave's opinion.

[beckley]

great picture, shark d. i guess that's one way to get a good look at the bottom of your car!
seriously, though, unless i'm missing something the photo shows one of the places that it is ok to jack on is the differential. that cross member in front of the diff makes me uneasy when i think about already having the front of the car off of the ground and on jack stands.

jim

[AlfaEric]

great picture, shark d. i guess that's one way to get a good look at the bottom of your car!
seriously, though, unless i'm missing something the photo shows one of the places that it is ok to jack on is the differential. that cross member in front of the diff makes me uneasy when i think about already having the front of the car off of the ground and on jack stands.

jim

It is probably okay, and many people have done it, it just isn't the ideal place.

---Eric