I've not yet had to do anything under the rear end of my car, and I'm about to do my rear brakes... I know you probably can jack directly on the rear axle but I just want to make sure before I do it.

I don't see anything else that you could put the jack on, so I'm assuming that this is what should be used... a quick yes would be greatly appreciated!

 

Additionally, this is ok for the jack stands?

The rounded part of the axle is surrouned by a shroud that ends straight down, I haven't checked yet but it looks like the jackstands wont rest directly on the rounded portion of the axle, rather the metal on either side that surrounds it... is this safe to rest on jack stands?

 

Yes on the jacking point - use a piece of wood for extra safety between the jack and the beam.

Jack stand points are identified in the stickies... its hard to describe verbally.

 

Just checked all the stickies, the only thing pertaining to jacking is changing motor mounts and painting wheels (both dealing with the front and sides of rear only...)

I tried to jack on the axel (rounded bar) and it flexed!! I didn't raise the car on it, and drove it to make sure no mysterious noises appeared... but now I don't see anything that you can jack on to raise the entire rear end. I could jack up either side, but I wanted to raise the entire rear end.

 

Hmm.. I know the beam will flex, but I believe thats ok... I think thats why people recommend using a piece of 2x4 between the jack and the beam.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=391614

 

I'm wasting away my day just trying to figure out how to jack up my car.

The diagram in that thread does indeed show the jack points, but now I'm skeptical about using the rear axle. Going back and looking at the alternative jack points, it seems impossible to raise either side AND place a jack stand on it. The jackstand points are within inches of a spot behind them which can be jacked, there is not nearly enough room to fit a jack and jackstand together to safely put the car down. I don't want to do my brakes with my car up on a jack.

 

Heh heh.. you are going through the same motions that I end up going through EVERY time I work on my car... I'm always amazed at how people just throw the jackstands under whatever part looks sturdy...

Use the beam to get the car off the ground - it will be fine as long as you brace it with a piece of 2x4.

If you are insistent on not using the beam, then if you have two jacks, use one jack on each side and use the jack stand somewhere close to the jack but don't take all the pressure of the jack - so effectively the car is sitting on the jacks and jackstands on both sides, but the weight is not fully on the jackstands.... hope that makes sense... I know what you are getting at when you say that there isn't enough room to get the jack and the jackstand at the alternative jacking points.. so get the jackstand as close to that as you can...