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So I Want To Buy A Car Lift

so for those with the 4 post lifts, how in the way do feel the runways get when you're wrenching on average? those runway mounted jacks are spendy :(
 
Love my two post lift. Can't remember the manuf. but it is made in Germany. Screw drive, with chain run from the driven post to the secondary. Only thing I don't like about it is the chain takes up space on the floor and I still need to jack up a really low car to get the lift arms.
Wish I would have got one years ago. Anybody who loves to work on cars and spends a lot of time at it needs one. Best tool I have ever bought, and I have a lot of tools.
Hell with that shit of jacking up the car and using a creeper or sliding myself under it.
 
JesasaurusRex said:
I must have left out the part where I'd like to be able to stand underneath the vehicle without being hunched over. The max jax is cool if you're 3' tall.
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They go to 4' and they're pretty sweet for what they are. There are no limitations with servicing the car/truck, but the max weight isn't the best for heavier rides. A little rolling mechanic's seat would make it very tolerable.

JesasaurusRex said:
so for those with the 4 post lifts, how in the way do feel the runways get when you're wrenching on average? those runway mounted jacks are spendy :(
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Four posts are annoying if you have any suspension/axle/wheels/brakes/etc work to do and there's just no getting around it. You mostly see them at jiffy lube and in the garages of wealthy peeps. For what you've got going on, I can't see this being a good route.
 
byke said:
Four posts are annoying if you have any suspension/axle/wheels/brakes/etc work to do and there's just no getting around it. You mostly see them at jiffy lube and in the garages of wealthy peeps. For what you've got going on, I can't see this being a good route.
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Exactly what I was thinking, lota guys on my drag racing board are swearing on the 4 post however...
 
billswim said:
I have one bend pak lift at my shop. I bought it new for $3000-ish I think about 15 years ago. That included delivery to my door. I did need a fork lift to get it off the truck. Once it was off the truck, two guys could break down the component parts and assemble it. Three or four guys would be better as the posts were a little awkward.

They're good products. You see a lot of shops using them. In the time I've owned mine I've had two hydraulic seals fail in the same cylinder. Not really expensive to repair but messy and frustrating as the cars I usually work on are usually considered light. Otherwise flawless operation.

The mechanical safeties are nice and easy to use and give you a little extra peace of mind when leaving a vehicle on the lift for an extended period of time.

A few years ago when shops were going out of business left and right you could pick up used ones for $1000 or so but I haven't seen a shop having a "going out of business" sale for a while so you'll probably have to buy new.

This a very useful tool that works on every car that you can use for decades. You'll also want really tall, adjustable jack stands to hold things like exhaust pipes, suspension arms in place while you adjust or refit them.

The most useful accompanying tool I have to my lifts is a air/hydraulic jack with a wide saddle for transmissions and things like that.

Something like this http://www.uniquetruck.com/p-14873-...iateID=10056&gclid=CJSq04n6h7kCFZFcQgodXT0AxQ

Also a hydraulic work bench/table
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Remember that one we moved ? What a fiasco.

I said fug it, I'll just use the neighbors ^ :teeth.
I wish I had one Jesse, just for the reason to store another car 2 high.

If you're talking 4 post drive on, they are great at holding the vehicle steady. The problems I had were maneuvering tools and big parts in between the ramps directly below the car, ramps block a lot of room, but are nice for fluid changes.
 
byke said:
Four posts are annoying if you have any suspension/axle/wheels/brakes/etc work to do and there's just no getting around it. You mostly see them at jiffy lube and in the garages of wealthy peeps. For what you've got going on, I can't see this being a good route.
Click to expand...

For suspension work, I have to agree with you. But they're awesome for brake work. It's like taking the brakes off the car and doing the work on a bench, since you have a convenient little "workbench" right under where you're working.

You can work around the rolling jack thing if you have some tall jack stands to put under whichever end you need to lift. It's kind of a PITA, but it works.
 
Got a aluminum jack from harbor freight. The biggest one. Been used everyday for 4 years at my offroad shop lifting huge diesel 4x4's. Also fits under lowered Honda civics.
 
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