Can You Jack Front and Rear with 1 Jack Point?

I think it depends on the model/design of the car -- e.g., my wife's Subaru has manufacturer recommended front and rear center jacking points, but I wouldn't pick up a 308 by using the middle of the small rear crossmember.

 

Another concern is safety / stability. If a manufacturer has specified a center jacking point, then you know the vehicle can be safely balanced about that point when jacking. Otherwise, a given chassis may be stiff enough to center jack, but not necessarily stable ---- which could be dangerous to whomever / whatever is under the vehicle.

Other than the Subaru example given, I have only heard of certain makes of pick-up trucks being designed for safe center jacking --- and only the rear end via jacking under the rear differential.

 

After examining the crossmembers of my Mondial, I decided that it would be unwise to jack up the front and then the rear from central points. Thus I have resorted to using two floor jacks, one on either side, to first jack up the front and then the rear to get the car up on four jack stands.

I think it is time to start looking for a car lift to install in the garage.......

Brock

 

I agree. If, when the car is lifted at a designated jacking point, and the whole side lifts enough to raise both tires of the ground, what's the harm. I'd still put a jack stand under there somewhere.

 

We are not talking about the same idea. "Center point" can mean either the mid-point of a side (left / right) or of an end (front / back). I'm referring to single (center) point lifting of a vehicle's end (front / back) not a side. Single point side lifting is much more stable than single point end lifting.

In fact, for purposes of tire changing only, the 308 has a single jacking point on the car's side under the trailing edge of each door ----- when using the factory supplied jack in this location, you will pick up the entire side (both front and rear wheels) of the car. But, I would never recommend trying to pick up the front or rear end of a 308 from any single point in similar fashion or with any other jacking equipment.

 

Quite
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(Although side lifting to weld the fuel tank may not be a great idea.)
(But it's even worse to try to weld a fuel line from inside a service pit.)

If you're the type to actually rotate your tires, you'll probably want to consider a floor lift. You can get a portable low-rise lift that doesn't require any special installation, doesn't overload the floor, and is ideal for rotating tires, swapping summer/winter wheels, oil changes, or just picking the car up to make it easier to wax the lower quarters.
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(Remember: with radials, you only rotate front to rear, not side to side. I remember reading that it's bad to reverse even radials that aren't directional treads.)

 

"(Remember: with radials, you only rotate front to rear, not side to side. I remember reading that it's bad to reverse even radials that aren't directional treads.)"

I don't think so. The manuals that come with my "day-to-day" cars, illustrate rotating radials by Fronts to rear on the same side, Rears cross over to fronts.
"Directionals", of course, stay on the same side.

 

I read the "don't reverse rotation" issue only applied to the very earliest radials in the 1960's. Modern radials won't be harmed by reversing rotation.