Just wondered how other owners are jacking/raising their XF for tire changes, etc.?? A couple days ago I had a situation arise that required the use of the on-board jack. It didn't work out well. I had run into (literally) a rockslide I couldn't avoid, and as a result blew both my right-side tires. Once back home with the car I set about removing the damaged tires so we could get them replaced. I began with the right rear and attempted to raise the car far enough to put a jack stand under the rear A-arm. Maybe raised it too high, didn't have it located correctly, or whatever, the car fell off the jack (wheel/tire) still in place and damaged my rocker panel. So, is there an alternative method to raise the car safely/securely while on the road and without a floor jack that some of you other owners use? I was thinking perhaps a lifting airbag that would stow without consuming too much space in the luggage area?
Also, can the rocker panels just be replaced with a factory painted part, just an r & r exercise possibly?

 

I don't ever worry about lifting the car. My insurance provides free roadside and towing...
I don't ever use the onboard jack. I have a Craftsman 2-1/4 ton Floor Jack for ALL my lifting needs!

Sears.com

 

If I recall correctly, when using a floor jack on the front jacking pad, both front and rear wheels will lift off the ground.


James

 

Seen this?

 

Its easy.



Hard part was finding one that would lift the RV (what the boards are for.

 

Just under the rocker panels, both front and rear, are square little pads. These are the jacking points. I use a small piece of 2x4 lumber between the jack pad on the jack and the pads on the car. As James stated. You can use the front jacking point to raise the front and the rear at the same time. But if you are going to be yanking on things, I suggest backing that up with jack stands so the car is solid while in the air.

 

YES, Always use jack stands when working on, around, or under the car!

 

Don't do this.

 

As others have said, jacking the car up high enough on one of the pads should lift both tires and give you enough room to slide a jackstand under the back... how to get a jackstand under the front, then, is a different story... As always, undue the bolts while on the ground and put the wheel you take off under the frame so that if the car falls with the wheel off, it will land on the wheel (damaging it, of course) and not on the suspension on the ground..

 

Well, either a full hoist or a floor jack would be my weapon of choice as a lifting device but probably a little difficult to get in the luggage compartment on a road trip..lol! I have a hoist in my shop for doing the trike conversions we build but it's only rated at 2000lb. so probably a little light for the XF. And I have a couple good floor jacks. Just got in a hurry trying to make the tire shop before they closed. We live in an area where the nearest shop of any sort is at least 70 miles away and raising the car with the on-board jack would be tenuous at best. Thanks for the responses!

 

Since there is no spare, the need for a jack is limited. However if I really needed to be able to lift a car while on the road, one of

these

these

would work.

If wealth-impaired, I carry one similar to

these

these

and a flat steel plate in my RV.

 

What do you do, carry a potato for the other tail pipe ?

 

I guess with the plunging prices of the Crossfire and the rising cost of tires it will not be long before it becomes smarter to abandon the car where it sits when a tire is ruined.

 

Boy, I hope XF prices do get down to the price of a set of tires. If that actually happens, I will buy a 6-pak of them!

 

Just in the eMail. I always liked it having a roller in front instead of wheels.

 

I just bought a jack just like that one from JEGS...aluminum... nice jack...

 

Here's how I get it done. I jack on the rear pumpkin and put jack stands under the jacking pads and take the weight off the pumpkin. If I need both front tires off the ground I jack on a rear jack pad, place a jack stand under the front pad and lower. Then I go to the opposite side and jack under the rocker panel with a piece of 2x4 leaving space to place a jack stand under the pad. Lower onto the pad. Doing only one tire I jack on the front or rear jack pad until the car is high enough to place a jack stand under the free jack pad. All using a floor jack. A floor jack is something you'll use for 30 years if you get a good one. The next best way is ramps …. or perhaps, better way unless you need the versatility of a floor jack. Mine cost $60 on sale.

Les

 

I just did an oil change and put in a new GMB water pump on a 2004 Crossfire (78K miles) I just purchased. To lift the front of the Crossfire I used two jacks, luckily I own two. A small cheap one I've had for many years, and a larger one I use to lift my trucks (F150, Expedition and Dodge Ram). I was going to buy another cheap/small jack, but the large one fit and worked fine. Lifted a little on each side (back and forth) so I could get under it. Good thing I did, who ever did the last oil change didn't use a copper washer, so they torqued the drain plug way too tight to keep it from leaking. You can get a small jack from Harbor Freight pretty cheap, buy two if you don't have one already. Be sure to use jack stands before getting under the car and use blocks on the rear wheels.

 

I have several kinds of jacks, but this one is my favorite. It's a jack and a jack stand in one. To use it with the Crossfire I do have to raise the car about an inch from another jack pad so it fit's under the jack point.