I was looking around under my '06 Xb and noticed this:

a metal bracket sticking down under the spare tire area under the car. It looks like it has a purpose, but I couldn't tell what at quick glance.

Ideas?

 

Shipping bracket? I think the thing you are talking about it a metal bracket that they use when shipping the cars from point A to point B...Point A being the factory and point B being the port of entry.

 

Believe you are talking about the "jack point" to raise the back end of the car. I have used it several times. At least that is what I understood the owners manual to say was in that location.

 

^^^Maybe thats what it is. After reading your post, I realized that the 'shipping bracket' goes through the bumper...I feel lame now...LOL

 

is that what the little square cover (on the rear bumper) is for? The shipping bracket?

 

wrong.
the shipping brackets are welded to the car (the one in the rear is by the pass. rear tire).
the thing that goes through the bumper (front) or the little square (back) are for the tow bolt.

two diff things.

please refer to your owners manual for more info on the tow bolt.

 

while i have used it as a jacking point as well, it is not a jacking point.

the only jacking points are on the sides of the car.

i heard that it was for safety. if a car were to rearend you, this would stop them from going under your car, lifting the rear end or rolling you over.
it does not look impressive for this task, but the design is only for low speed impacts (5-10 mph).

 

^^^And now I feel even lamer!

 

"if a car were to rearend you, this would stop them from going under your car, lifting the rear end or rolling you over.
it does not look impressive for this task, but the design is only for low speed impacts (5-10 mph)...."

Wow... that'd be a LOW car to flip you over at 5-10 mph!

 

you'd be surprised, it is not that low.

take the car at stock height.
now imagine the xB hitting the brakes hard. the nose would drop a lot and the tailend would then rise by a lot.
now add a second car doing the same thing. the second cars nose would be lower than the rear of the front car.

 

The jacking points on the side of the car are for the jack carried in the car. There are two other jacking points (for a floor jack). Page 186 in the 2004 xB owners manual (don't know what page it would be in the newer ones) shows the two points, one is the raised platform in the rear (center), and one about mid motor in the front. It even shows a side view of the rear one so that you know it is that and I quote from the owners manual, "Lower back outer panel (protrusion)". I have used both. It also instructs "Do Not Jack Up" in the front bumper steel bracing area.
The owners manual is your friend. Check it out to get the correct information.

 

Cool info!

 

I'll have to read that someday ;-)