Finding the Right Vehicle Lift
When purchasing a surface mounted two-post automotive lift, it is important to decide what type of lift you will need to best suit the vehicles you want to pick up. An automotive lift is a tool and just as you know that a pneumatic wrench is better than a monkey wrench for changing tires, it is important for you to determine which type of lift is best suited for each type of vehicle.
Symmetrical Vehicle Lifts
Approximately 30 years ago, when cars were built out of steel, men were strong and women wore skirts…..The symmetrical lift was designed as an alternative to the hydraulic inground lift. The lift wasn’t known as “symmetrical” right off the bat; it was called a surface lift because it bolted to the concrete floor, rather than being installed through the floor. At the time of its inception, the surface lift was being designed (often times poorly) to pick up rear wheel drive vehicles that had a pretty good front to rear balance. The cars were big and heavy and mechanics relatively skinny and strong.
In order to balance these behemoths six feet up in the air, the columns were placed across from each other and the arms were all of equal length. Some lifts were connected from side-to-side overhead; a base plate connected others down below. One thing was certain about these lifts; if you were a mechanic with a beer belly trying to get out of the car after it had been driven into place, you were going to have a tough time. Since the lift was balancing the vehicle between front and back, the column needed to be located somewhat close to the center of the vehicle. What else is in the center of the vehicle? We all know the answer to that! The doors! What happens when doors meet columns? Door dings!
It took the lift manufacturers a while to figure it out, but eventually they did. Currently, very few lifts are sold as “symmetrical” lifts. The ones that are sold are usually being sold for a particular purpose, such as working on vans or trucks. (Vans and trucks have the door in front of the centerline of the vehicle, so a column really doesn’t get in the way.) Some customers will purchase a symmetrical lift because they want a “drive thru” capability, and sure enough, the symmetrical lift usually gives a few more inches in that regard.
Sure Fire Ways to Tell a Symmetrical Lift:
The columns face each other.
Front arm length is the same as rear arm length.
The lift states “symmetrical”.
You have a difficult time getting out of the car when you drive in.
You don’t have a difficult time getting out of the truck when you drive in.
You have an account with a body shop to repair door dings.
Asymmetric Vehicle Lifts
Sometimes Europeans are smarter than Americans. I don’t like to admit it, but it’s true. It turns out, some guy named Günter was using his symmetrical lift (not a Rotary Lift, mind you), when he realized that those last two lagers had pushed his belly past the point of no return. That’s right, he was stuck in the car and couldn’t get out. Since he had some time to sit and think, he did what most mechanics do with their free time; he tried to design a better lift so that he wouldn’t have to lose his bought and paid for beer belly.
What Gunter came up with seemed to be a pretty good design. By making the rear arms of the lift longer than the front arms, the vehicle would theoretically sit far enough back to allow him to open the doors. Not only that, since most of the cars being manufactured in Gunter’s day were front wheel drive, the balance of the vehicle on the car lift would be better. (Gunter had never forgotten the time that he had pulled the engine out of a car, only to have the car flip backwards off the lift due to the newly created weight distribution imbalance). It would also help to reduce the number of times he had to have a customer’s door fixed after dinging the door on the column.
Gunter’s design worked for about two years. He still dinged a door occasionally, but he was able to continue growing his belly and was always able to get out of the vehicle. One day however, Gunter raised a car with his vehicle lift and heard a horrendous squealing noise, metal on metal. He also noticed that the arms of his lift were shaking and rocking and he stopped to make sure that the vehicle didn’t bounce off the lifting pads.
After some serious investigative work (and several snaps of his suspenders), he noticed that there were metal shavings on the floor near the columns. It soon became apparent that when he had changed the load center of the lift by extending the rear arms, he had caused excessive wear on the load bearings that ride inside the column. Soon, all of Günter’s beer drinking buddies (who had copied Gunter’s idea) were shaking their heads and refusing to buy Gunter beer anymore. Gunter was not a happy man.
Thankfully, those smart engineers in the United States don’t drink beer while they are trying to solve a problem. (Most of the time….) They had seen Gunter’s design and saw the problem right away. They also realized that their solution would have an added benefit to the beer belly problem. Rotate the columns to face the new load center and you automatically get extended door-opening clearance. Ever wonder why American automotive lift engineers have big beer bellies? Because they CAN!
Enough about Gunter; A TRUE asymmetric lift has columns that are rotated 30 degrees to point the load center of the lift in the general direction of the load center of the car as it is being lifted AND front arms that are shorter than the rear. A semi-asymmetric lift only has the front arms shorter than the rear, without addressing the load bearing issue.
Very few manufacturers take the time to make this distinction on their auto lifts. The good majority of two-post auto lifts that are advertised as “asymmetric” are the exact same as the symmetric auto lift with different arm lengths. Does this concept work? Of course it will for a while. But remember what happened to Gunter and his buddies, you will experience severe wear on the bearings (or slider blocks) over time.
We highly recommend purchasing a TRUE asymmetric lift when you purchase this design. A quality auto lift manufacturer will also include a wheel-spotting dish to help you or your techs spot vehicles properly when positioning the vehicle.
Sure Fire Ways to Tell a True Asymmetric Lift:
Columns are rotated 30 degrees from each other, facing the load center of the vehicle.
Front arms of the automotive lift are shorter than the rear arms.
You have a beer belly bigger than Gunter’s and don’t have a problem.
A Rotary Lift engineer tells you it’s a True Asymmetric Lift.
Reduction in bill from the body shop allows for a bigger beer belly.
Sure Fire Ways to Tell a “Semi-Asymmetric” Lift:
The columns face each other, rather than the load center of the car.
The front arms of the vehicle lift are shorter than the rear arms.
The lift squeals, shakes and whines when lifting a load.
You have metal shavings on the floor near the column.
You bought the lift so you wouldn’t bang the door on the column, but continue to bang the door on the column.
You pay a company like mine to replace slider blocks every few years.
“Versymmetric” Design Auto Lift
If you have been really doing your research, you will have probably heard the term “Versymmetric” thrown out there from a few manufacturers. The theory behind this term is that they have designed an automotive lift that is capable of being both symmetrical and asymmetric at the same time.
One opinion is that this design takes the worst situations of two different types of lifts and combines them to really confuse a technician.
First off, a symmetrical auto lift will cause door dings and clearance problems with cars, no question. Second, an “asymmetric” lift that doesn’t have columns rotated will still cause door dings. Third, if the technician isn’t properly trained on how to set up each and every vehicle properly, the lift will be used improperly. The end result will be an unsafe lifting situation with the vehicle, door dings and excessive bearing wear.
Some of these lifts are listed with the ALI and pass 3rd party testing. They can be constructed well and the sales people selling the concept really have their pitch down. Having seen the products used improperly in the shops and having serviced numerous “Versymmetric” lifts that have had failed bearings (slider blocks), our opinion isn’t very positive.
We here at Standard Industrial & Automotive Equipment are happy to discuss various issues regarding automotive lifts, quality and what is best suited for your shop. Feel free to contact us if we can be of any assistance.
About the Author
For tips on canine parasites and canine ringworm, visit the Canine Symptoms website.
drive it!: The Motor Magazine
|
|
Luxury Auto Mechanical Mens Leather Watch Tourbillon NR $0.99 |
|
|
Alias Kim Gold & Silver Stainless Steel band Auto Mechanical Mens Wrist Watch $1.45 |
|
|
TOP DISNEY MICKEY AUTO AUTOMATIC SELF-WINDING MECHANICAL MENS WATCH BLUE $8.99 |
|
|
6 Hands Mens Auto Mechanical Silicon Wrist Watch BLACK $0.99 |
|
|
Luxury Gold Skeleton Movt Mens Auto Mechanical Wrist Watch Black Leather NEW $0.99 |
|
|
GOER AUTO WINDING MECHANICAL MENS WATCH GOLDEN SKELETON LEATHER $0.93 |
|
|
New Automatic Mechanical Skeleton Black Leather Wrist Gold Auto Men’s Watch Xmas $1.56 |
|
|
AK-Homme Men & Boys Auto Mechanical Analogue Wrist Watch for birthday gift $1.56 |
|
|
DELUXE GOLDEN SKELETON WATCH AUTO SELFWIND MECHANICAL MENS BROWN STRAP NEW $0.93 |
|
|
6 Hands Auto Mechanical Mens Leather Watch Date Week NR $0.99 |
|
|
Silver Tone Mens AUTO Automatic Mechanical All Stainless Steel Watch Day Show $6.99 |
|
|
Mens Vampire Black Vintage Hollow Mechanical Auto Watch $0.93 |
|
|
AK-Homme Mens Red Blue Brim Stainless Steel Day Date Auto Mechanical Wrist Watch $1.25 |
|
|
NEW Golden Skeleton Brown Face Men’s Auto Mechanical Watch Stainless Steel Xmas $1.56 |
|
|
Alias Kim Tourbillon Auto Mechanical Mens Wrist Watch Black Stainless Steel $7.85 |
|
|
New AUTO Automatic Mechanical Mens MultiFunction Swiss Watch All Stainless Steel $9.99 |
|
|
Classic AK-Homme Silver Big Dial Date Pilot Man Style Mens Auto Mechanical Watch $0.98 |
|
|
Mens Luxury Golden Steel Auto Slef Winding Mechanical Wrist Watch Rome Luxury $9.88 |
|
|
NEW black dial Noble Mens Women Unisex gift auto Mechanical Wrist Watch Skull HQ $0.93 |
|
|
Day Auto Mechanical Men’s FAUX Leather Watch Red Dial $0.99 |
|
|
100% All Steel Luxury AUTO Automatic Mechanical Tourbillon Mens Watch CHRONO $19.99 |
|
|
NEW black dial Noble Mens gift auto Mechanical Wrist Watch Silver Outer HQ $0.93 |
|
|
NEW Fashion Ruber strap Moon Phase 6 Hands Mens Auto Mechanical Watch + GIFT BOX $1.56 |
|
|
AK-Homme Men’s Black Genuine Leather Auto Mechanical Analogue Wrist Watch $0.02 |
|
|
Skeleton Slim Hands AK-Homme Auto Mechanical Mens Watch $1.56 |
|
|
LUXURY AUTO MECHANICAL 6 HAND STANILESS STEEL MEN WATCH $0.99 |
|
|
New Luxury AUTO Automatic Mechanical Mens Multi Function Stainless Steel Watch $9.99 |
|
|
D1 KS Auto Mechanical Black Military Army Leather Strap Sport Men Wrist Watch $0.01 |
|
|
Noble auto Mechanical Mens Steel Band Roman Numerals golden Skeleton gift NEW HQ $0.93 |
|
|
Classic AUTO Self-winding Mechanical Mens Multi Function Watch Day Week Leather $9.99 |
|
|
Norpro Deluxe Cherry Stoner with Clamp $9.50 Deluxe automatic cherry stoner. Clamps to work area. Ideal for canning and freezing. Boxed…. |
|
|
Mechanix Wear MG-05-010 Original Glove, Black, Large $12.99 Fits and protects like a second skin. Developed to protect racecar mechanics from cuts, scrapes and abrasions. Unlike ordinary leather gloves, Mechanix gloves provide so much feel you can pick up thin washers. Machine washable Clarino is soft like cotton and wears like leather. Hidden stitching eliminates snagging. Seamless thumb and index finger. Stretch knit/padded Spandex back. Streamlined elas… |
|
|
Doc Johnson Super Sucker UR3 Masturbator $8.61 Here is one mouth you will not mind feeding! Doc Johnson presents The Super Sucker, the masturbator with a real-mouth sensation! Our Super Sucker is ideal for guys that need extra stimulation to satisfy their cravings. Slip your penis in and feel the pronounced ribs that will deliver instant satisfaction. Made of UR3 for an incredibly lifelike feel, its luscious lips and open shaft are ideal for d… |
|
|
Cross Autocross AC192-1 Men’s Money Wallet Collection Folded ID Card Case (Black) $28.79 Cross introduces the Autocross, a line of essential leather accessories with sporty, automotive-inspired details. The rich, full-grain leathers are supple and soft, but crafted to stand up to daily use. Details include the “driving glove” perforated patterns and clean, rounded edges. The Folded ID card Case includes a mini pen with integrated loop, ID window, 2 card slots and a gusseted card compa… |
|
|
Walkman Car Connecting Pack for MD Walkman and CD Walkman (Model# CPA-9C) $10.12 Car-connecting pack with self-adjusting spring head & plug-in connection for on-the-go useUPC : 027242542112Shipping Dimensions : 8.75in X 4.25in X 1.00inEstimated Shipping Weight : 0.224… |
|
|
Journal of Inventions: Leonardo da Vinci $14.82 Summary:”I have always felt it is my destiny to build a machine that would allow man to fly,” wrote Leonardo da Vinci in his journal alongside a sketch for an impossibly ingenious invention he called his Flying Machine. Though never built, it takes flight here in Journal of Inventions: Leonardo da Vinci. This fascinating book is an exquisite collection of elaborate 3-D pop-ups and detailed illustr… |
|
|
Automatic Wristwatches from Switzerland: Self-Winding Wristwatches $52.95 An exciting area of collecting for clock and watch enthusiasts is literally opened up with this book. On the outside the automatic wristwatch is like its counterpart, but once the case is opened a different world appears. Here 200 watches are shown, each with three photos to show the dial, and the complete and partly disassembled movement. The book introduces all the Swiss manufacturers and provid… |
|
|
Mechanical Man: John B. Watson and the Beginnings of Behaviorism $31.25 This book is the definitive biography of the most influential American psychologist of his generation. Drawing upon a vast store of hitherto unpublished correspondence, interviews, and exhaustive research in more than 30 archival collections, Mechanical Man is the most authoritative full-length biography of Watson to be published to date. This carefully documented study provides a degree of accura… |
|
|
Casio Men’s DW9052-1V G-Shock Classic Digital Watch $44.88 The simply designed Casio G-Shock Classic digital watch for men offers shock resistance that’s great for your most vigorous sporting activities. The durable rectangular black watch case measures 45mm wide (1.77 inches), and it’s matched to a comfortable black resin sports strap. The face has two windows that show time (bottom) and date (top) as well as a circular display for the stopwatch function… |
|
|
Casio Men’s AQ160WD-1BV Ana-Digi Electro-Luminescent Sport Watch $29.00 Sporty styling and a full range of features make the Casio Electro-Luminescent the perfect watch for your day and nighttime adventures. It presents on a stainless steel band with a fold-over-clasp-with-double-push-button-safety, and offers a black dial with silver-tone hands and number, world time in 28 cities, day-date-and-month calendar, a countdown timer, stopwatch, and hourly time signal. This… |
|
|
2010 Unique Men Magnifier AUTO Mechanical Wrist Watch Day $19.59 Unique Men Magnifier AUTO Mechanical Wrist Watch Day |
|
|
2010 Sport Men Rubber AUTO Mechanical Black Watch Day freeship $18.56 Sport Men Rubber AUTO Mechanical Black Watch Day |
|
|
wholesale Yellow Triangle Auto Mechanical Watch Men 6-hands NEW $18.56 Yellow Triangle Auto Mechanical Watch Men 6-hands NEW |
|
|
wholesale Geometry Case Auto Mechanical Men Steel Watch Date 24hr $20.62 Geometry Case Auto Mechanical Men Steel Watch Date 24hr |
|
|
Black Deluxe Army Military Auto Mechanical Men’s Watch freeship cool $18.56 Black Deluxe Army Military Auto Mechanical Mens Watch |
|
|
wholesale MUSK Marine Date Auto Mechanical Chrono Men Gent Watch FREESHIP $25.77 MUSK Marine Date Auto Mechanical Chrono Men Gent Watch |
|
|
Free ship Sport Men Rubber AUTO Mechanical Black Watch Day Mechanical watch Wrist watch $17.37 1. Brand new luxery Mechanical watch 2. Sepcial gift. 3. No battery required 4. Free shipping |
|
|
Luxuriously Leather Band Auto-mechanical Watch(Brown) $38.76 - Exquisite automatic mechanical watch – The excellent appearance watch is easy to match your cloth and it is also a perfect decoration – You can wear this watch in any occasions and it makes you eye catching – The watch is also a good gift for successful men – Provide you not just a great daily decor but also ensure each of your schedule never get early or late – This watch makes it a simple, versatile timepiece great for everyday wear – The small dials display date,second time and 12H |
|
|
Cool Leather Band Men Auto-mechanical Watch with Date(Brown) $73.36 - The excellent appearance watches is easy to match your cloth and it is also a perfect decoration – This well-made mechanical watches show your charm with this contemporary styling with advanced technique – Provide you not just a great daily decor but also ensure each of your schedule never get early or late – This watch makes it a simple, versatile timepiece great for everyday wear – You can wear this watch in any occasions and that make you eye catching – This watch comes with a metal gift box – The small dials show date |
|
|
Cool Red Dial Leather Band Men Auto-mechanical Watch(Brown) $64.7 - The excellent appearance watch is easy to match your cloth and it is also a perfect decoration – This well-made mechanical watch show your charm with this contemporary styling with advanced technique – Provide you not just a great daily decor but also ensure each of your schedule never get early or late – This watch makes it a simple, versatile timepiece great for everyday wear – You can wear this watch in any occasions and that make you eye catching – This watch comes with a metal gift box ? |
|
|
Cool Two Pointer Leather Band Men Auto-mechanical Watch(Black) $50.05 - The excellent appearance watch is easy to match your cloth and it is also a perfect decoration – This well-made mechanical watch show your charm with this contemporary styling with advanced technique – Provide you not just a great daily decor but also ensure each of your schedule never get early or late – This watch makes it a simple, versatile timepiece great for everyday wear – You can wear this watch in any occasions and that make you eye catching – This watch comes with a metal gift box – The small dial display second time |
|
|
Cool Rubber Band Men Auto-mechanical Watch(Black) $97.09 - The excellent appearance watch is easy to match your cloth and it is also a perfect decoration – This well-made mechanical watch show your charm with this contemporary styling with advanced technique – Provide you not just a great daily decor but also ensure each of your schedule never get early or late – This watch makes it a simple, versatile timepiece great for everyday wear – You can wear this watch in any occasions and that make you eye catching – This watch comes with a metal gift box |
|
|
Fashion Auto Mechanical Tungsten Steel Wrist Watch Black Dial $12.99 Gender: Men’s Movement: Mechanical Display: Analog Style: Wrist Watch Type: Casual Watches, Fashion Features: Water Resistant Band Material: Steel Band Color: Black Case Diameter Approx (cm): 4.6 Case Thickness Approx (cm): 1 |
|
|
Hot! Yellow Triangle Auto Mechanical Watch Men 6-hands Wrist watch Gift Free Ship $18.42 1. Brand new luxery Mechanical watch 2. Sepcial gift. 3. No battery required 4. Free shipping |
|
|
Gift Unique Golden Mechanical Auto Mens Watch UN1 $19.19 Gender: Men’s Movement: Mechanical Display: Analog Style: Wrist Watch Type: Business Watches Features: Water Resistant, Hollow Engraving Band Material: Alloy Band Color: Multicolor Case Diameter Approx (cm): 4 Case Thickness Approx (cm): 1 Band Length Approx (cm): 23 Band Width Approx (cm): 1.8 |
|
|
Gift Unique Golden Mechanical Auto Mens Watch UN5 $18.99 Gender: Men’s Movement: Mechanical Display: Analog Style: Wrist Watch Type: Casual Watches Features: Water Resistant Band Material: Alloy Band Color: Multicolor Case Diameter Approx (cm): 4 Case Thickness Approx (cm): 1 Band Length Approx (cm): 23 Band Width Approx (cm): 1.8 |
|
|
Gift Unique Golden Mechanical Auto Mens Watch UN4 $18.99 Gender: Men’s Movement: Mechanical Display: Analog Style: Wrist Watch Type: Casual Watches Features: Water Resistant Band Material: Alloy Band Color: Multicolor Case Diameter Approx (cm): 4 Case Thickness Approx (cm): 1 Band Length Approx (cm): 23 Band Width Approx (cm): 1.8 |
|
|
Gift Unique Golden Mechanical Auto Mens Watch UN3 $19.19 Gender: Men’s Movement: Mechanical Display: Analog Style: Wrist Watch Type: Casual Watches Features: Water Resistant Band Material: Alloy Band Color: Multicolor Case Diameter Approx (cm): 4 Case Thickness Approx (cm): 1 Band Length Approx (cm): 23 Band Width Approx (cm): 1.8 |
|
|
Gift Unique Golden Mechanical Auto Mens Watch UN2 $19.19 Gender: Men’s Movement: Mechanical Display: Analog Style: Wrist Watch Type: Casual Watches Features: Water Resistant Band Material: Alloy Band Color: Multicolor Case Diameter Approx (cm): 4 Case Thickness Approx (cm): 1 Band Length Approx (cm): 23 Band Width Approx (cm): 1.8 |
|
|
Gift Unique Golden Mechanical Auto Mens Watch UN6 $18.99 Gender: Men’s Movement: Mechanical Display: Analog Style: Wrist Watch Type: Casual Watches Features: Water Resistant Band Material: Steel Band Color: Multicolor Case Diameter Approx (cm): 4 Case Thickness Approx (cm): 1 Band Length Approx (cm): 23 Band Width Approx (cm): 1.8 |
|
|
Luxuriously Golden Display Leather Band Auto-mechanical Watch(Brown) $59.23 - Exquisite automatic mechanical watch – The excellent appearance watch is easy to match your cloth and it is also a perfect decoration – You can wear this watch in any occasions and it makes you eye catching – The watch is also a good gift for successful men – Provide you not just a great daily decor but also ensure each of your schedule never get early or late – This watch makes it a simple, versatile timepiece great for everyday wear – This watch is with day with the week display function |
|
|
Hot! Sport Men Rubber AUTO Mechanical Black Watch Day Wrist watch Gift Free Ship Men watches 2012 $17.89 1. Brand new luxery Mechanical watch 2. Sepcial Xmas gift. 3. No battery required 4. Free shipping |
|
|
1101-2 Hollow-out Round Dial Stainless Steel Men’s Mechanical Watch $19.66 ? Basic Specification Product Name Watch Type Men’s watch Band Material Stainless steel Movement Auto mechanical Dial Dia. 40mm Band Width 20mm Full Length 240mm Waterproof Water resistant, not for swimming Accessory Functions NA Features – This Mechanical Wrist Watches make it a simple, versatile timepiece great for everyday wear – You can wear this Mechanical Wrist Watches in any occasions and it makes you eye catching – The Mechanical Wrist Watches are also a good gift for successful men – Provide you not just a great daily decor but also ensure each of your schedule never get early or late – The excellent appearance Mechanical Wrist Watches is easy to match your cloth and it is also a perfect decoration – The three small dial are not working! – Come with red gift box Package Included 1 x Watch 1 x Box ? |
|
|
Oakley Men’s Mechanical Boardshort $60 Liberate your wave riding in the Oakley Men’s Mechanical Boardshort. With mechanical stretch and uncompromising style, these ultra comfortable boardshorts are designed for unrestricted movement, resiliency and freedom in and out of the water. With no-side-seam construction, the Oakley Mechanical Boardshorts for men ensure nothing will catch or bind. |