Lifting bobtail with bottle jack

No problem as long as you've got a good jack (like a 15 ton, I like to go overkill).

Steer axle I would put the jack under (or as close as possible to) the spring perches on the axle. No chance of hurting the axle vs in the center. I would also use a jackstand or hardwood blocking to hold the axle as jacks are not trustworthy.

 

I would be hesitant to go under the airbag mounts. Preferably, I would jack up the drives on the axle tube part of the housing, near where the suspension attaches to as it is a fairly stout part of the axle. Again I would support it with blocking or stands.

 

Under the middle of the housing if you want to do both sides at once.

Or under the u bolt on either side.

 

Plus jack stands, and dump the air suspension before doing this. Safety in case. Don't want the bags to settle and pitch off the jack or stands

 

You dont even need a jack to remove the outer wheels on the drives. Two 4x4 peices or stack some 2x8" together and drive the inner tire up on them, you can easily remove the outer and the truck isnt going anywhere since the other 5 positions keep it from moving side to side. Place that did my old Classic had 2 railroad ties lined up so they could remove all 4 outers at the same time. Slick little setup.

 

While that might work with stud-piloted wheels, I'm not sure I'd do that with a hub-piloted wheel...just seems like a good way to end up having the wheels not quite centered on the hubs.

 

I'm confused about what you're saying. By definition for a wheel to be "hub pilot" there cannot be any play between the hub and the wheel. If it didnt work that way you could never center the wheel on the hub when installing in any situation short of turning the entire struck on its side 90 degrees.

Adding this.. "or unless you had some sort of device to help center the wheel"

 

Bingo.

Up she goes in the inside tires onto something high.