Jacking up the Tacoma

Is it OK to use a roll around cradle type jack under the back diff to raise the rear all at once? I know mechanics used to do this with the older tanks we used to drive but can modern vehicles with thinner steel everywhere handle this weight?

I went to get my tires rotated at a local NTB and the mechanics used a jack to raise the rear as I guess the big floor jack you run the vehicles up on only raises the front/middle section.

I'll be taking it back to them on Sunday to re-do the balance for the third time! Truck only has 11K miles on it and this was the second rotation of the Rugged Trail tires.

 

That is how I lifted mine, if it is correct of not I don't know. What is the problem with the balancing?

 

I use a typical hydraulic floor jack (craftman) and I put it directly under the rear diff.....jack up both sides at the same time. I'll put jackstands underneath the U-bolt plates on each side. You should avoid jacking up on or supporting the axle tube itself.... (when i'm rotating tires)

Have the guy at NTB rotate the tire 180 degrees on the machine and spin it again to verify and fine tune the balance.....

 

I've read that these Tacoma wheels/tires are hard to balance sometimes due to the TPMS dohickey. The second balance was much better than the first but it still has a rather noticeable shimmy from about 52+ MPH. When I took it in, no shimmy whatsoever.

Janster, I will suggest that to them as a means of speeding up their trail and error process that seems to be going on here. Thanks for the tip!