I only jacked the rear of my car up 3 times over the past 2 years, each time with the jack placed under the rear end housing. Successful each time, but back in April I noticed the cover separating from the housing and allowing fluid to leak out (the end result though was the whole carrier had to be replaced because it was bent from an accident I had last year, so me jacking it at the rear housing may have had nothing to do with it).

If you can get the jack under the car far enough to place the pad underneath the "dogbone", that might be a little safer. The "dogbone" is that hunk of metal just foward of the gear housing on the rear end, kinda where the driveshaft goes into the carrier.

To jack the entire front, I'll place the jack under the crossmember (of course)...but that's a little tricky since the crossmember isn't flat. I'll jack the entire side up by placing the jack under the back of the front subframe rail.
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Frank S.----MCA Member 40390
'03 Mustang GT coupe
'77 Ghia--"II Good"