Where are the jackpoints on the Avalanche?

[brmiller]

Okay, so I looked in the manual, and I looked at the nifty roadside flat repair card that's attached to the bag of tools and jack-arms, but I'm still fuzzy on where I should put my jack.

 

I was gonna use my 3-1/2 ton floor jack and maybe some jackstands too, if that helps you answer my question.

 

I need to know where to safely put stuff both front and rear, as I'm doing mudflaps today!

 

Brendan

[ryr8828]

I didn't have to remove the front tires to put the front flaps on. Just turn the steering wheel to get the tire out of the way. You have to remove the rear wheels. I just put a floor jack under the differential. I should have used jack stands, I would have put them under the axle on each side. They went on easy. When I matched them to the contour of the vehicle they didn't look quite straight. But I'm getting used to that. It is a lot better than having a big gap between the flaps and the side of the vehicle. Good Luck. Be smarter than me and use the jack stands.

[brmiller]

Dang!  Your Av looks just like mine!!  I guess when they're the same color...  It's just weird to see a "twin".  Anyway, thanks for the tips, I got the mudflaps on just fine.  I'm gonna put the "Bugflector" on next and then have to take some new pictures.

 

My only comment last night was, "Geez, these trucks are heavy!"  I put the jack under the rear diff like you said, and jacked high enough to get the jackstands under the axles.  Schnikey!  Lot more arm muscle required than I expected.  (Okay, snicker all you want--yes, I am a weakling software engineer...  I just need to get back in shape, I guess...)

 

Anyway, first time with the jack/jackstands/Avalanche and I guess this is where you build confidence that your tools are going to work and not drop the 3-ton beast on your head.  Luckily, I wasn't working under the vehicle (except for positioning the jackstands) to do mudflaps.

 

My next "Gee whiz" comment was how huge those tires are!  Yeah, yeah, okay, so you've read my other posts where this is my first truck...  My daily driver (even though I don't commute anywhere) is a Nissan 240SX and I've had those wheels off dozens of times.  I don't know what they weight, but these truck wheels/tires must be double that.  Monster truck, maybe not, but I'm used to 225/50R16s on the 240 and 165/70R12 (!) on the Sprint.

 

Finally, putting the lugs back on after completing the install...  I decided to torque them to 140ft-lb like the manual says, and good grief!  I didn't realize what 140ft-lb was!  Granted my torque wrench only goes to 150 and the handle kind of short, but that was another sweat-inducing job.  Hope I don't have to do that very often.  I guess I better start going to the gym or something.

 

For the front flaps, I still had to jack the front a little because I couldn't turn the wheels with the full weight of the front on the tires.  I was in my garage ('cause it's the only level place around here) where things are tight to begin with, but I just couldn't get the tires to move.  I thought I was going to break the steering wheel.  I ended up jacking it up at some suitable frame position and putting jackstands underneath the frame side rails.  Hope that's generally okay.  For other work, I'd like to know the appropriate jackpoints.  I guess I should spend the $120 and get a official Chevy shop manual.

 

Toodles!

 

Brendan

 

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Z71 Indigo Blue Metallic

1995 Nissan 240SX SE Blue Emerald

1988 Chevrolet Sprint 1.0L faded red

[ltemtmike]

Just out of curiousity did you start the vehicle before turning the wheel?  

[brmiller]

No, I was in the garage with the door shut (it was raining), and I didn't want to fill the garage with carbon monoxide.  I thought it might have helped to have the engine on and get the power steering going, but I was just having too much fun with my jack!  

 

Brendan

[RyanbabZ71]

haha i hear you on the weight of the tires.  Feels like my LT285/75/R16 weigh a ton.  They are a PITA to remove and put back on

 

Ive had em off plenty of times (mudflaps, new shocks, squeaky brake).  YOu get used to it