Front Towhook Jacking

[TigerJon73]

I am planning on changing my front brakepads this weekend and have read that the towhook is the central jacking point in order to set jack stands under the pinch welds. Is there a device made for using with a floorjack that cradles the hook, or is there a household item that'll work safely? Thanks for any help.

TJ

[whizmo]

Originally posted by TigerJon73
I am planning on changing my front brakepads this weekend and have read that the towhook is the central jacking point in order to set jack stands under the pinch welds. Is there a device made for using with a floorjack that cradles the hook, or is there a household item that'll work safely? Thanks for any help.

There may be, but you shouldn't need one - the jack probably has a depression in the pad that will keep it from slipping off or you can use a block of wood - the pressure will cause the hook to make a deep impression and it won't slip. (Obviously, you don't trust it until you have the jack stands set.)

The problem you may run into is having enough vertical lift to be able to get the wheels off the ground. The hook is pretty high up the chassis and with the suspension extension it takes a lot of vertical lift by the jack to make it. My HF jack wasn't even close, so I ended up jacking on each side at a frame point near the suspension attachments. There is a pad-like area there which is part of unibody frame and I'm reasonably sure it can take the stress of jacking a corner.

- Mark

[humanoid]

That's where I jack my Pilot up. I got a Craftsman jack made for SUVs that jacks the Pilot up enough to remove the tires without any problems, the exact same one shown in the pic below.

[TigerJon73]

Originally posted by humanoid
That's where I jack my Pilot up. I got a Craftsman jack made for SUVs that jacks the Pilot up enough to remove the tires without any problems, the exact same one shown in the pic below.

You jack from the towhook or from the point Whizmo describes in the post before yours? If the subframe points, could you post some pics so I have a better idea? Thanks so much.

Jon

[humanoid]

The tow hook that's right in the center of the Pilot.

[onu2002]

I use a small piece of 2x4 on the tow hook. Works like a charm.

[TigerJon73]

Is there a way to safely(for body and vehicle) to jack from the point where the front suspension arm(sub-frame?) attaches to the frame?

[N_Jay]

What is wrong with the right place?

[rocky]

Originally posted by N_Jay
What is wrong with the right place?

Need to read the owners manual first to find it?

[NJGuy]

Originally posted by TigerJon73
I am planning on changing my front brakepads this weekend and have read that the towhook is the central jacking point in order to set jack stands under the pinch welds. Is there a device made for using with a floorjack that cradles the hook, or is there a household item that'll work safely? Thanks for any help.

TJ

For what it's worth...

I read somewhere (here I think) that a guy liked to use a hard rubber hockey puck between his jack cradle and the vehicle lifting point. Unlike wood, the rubber is much, much less likely to split under the load.

I actually tried the hockey puck myself and it seems to do the job pretty well. I've also jacked the Pilot up from the front tow hook without the puck and it was fine as well.

I have a jack just like the one pictured in this thread; it provides an ample amount of lifting height.

[TigerJon73]

I understand the tow hook is the proper point, just a little nervous since doing it for the first time and want to do it safely. I do plan on simply jacking high enough to get jack stands under the pinch welds on each side, lowering onto the stands, then leaving the jack engaged as well. The jack I bought for the job came from Advanced Auto Parts and is a Torin 2.5-ton Quick Lift Trolley Jack. I've already tried it to make sure it will jack high enough to get the stands in place.....it will. Thanks everyone for the help and advice.