2 post lift question

[Piper]

HI

This is may be a really bone head question but I'm don't understand this. I have seen in my travels many cars up on lots of different 2 post lifts. Often times it seems that one side of the car is slightly lower than the other. Now any time I've seen this it's always when I'm driving and happen to look at a garage and not in the shop to have a closer look.

Is this normal? planned? an accident waiting to happen?

Just wondering

PIper

 

[bmwpower]

HI

This is may be a really bone head question but I'm don't understand this. I have seen in my travels many cars up on lots of different 2 post lifts. Often times it seems that one side of the car is slightly lower than the other. Now any time I've seen this it's always when I'm driving and happen to look at a garage and not in the shop to have a closer look.

Is this normal? planned? an accident waiting to happen?

Just wondering

PIper

When you say "side", do you mean, LEFT/RIGHT or FRONT/BACK?

In my experience, front/back is common to have a delta since not all cars and trucks have jacking points at the same height on the car. For example, my 4Runner needs to be jacked up on the frame rail in the front and the suspension bracket (not sure what it's called) in the back. Both are at different heights and my flip up adapters don't offer the ability to make the truck level.

As far as side-to-side, that sounds like the equilizing cables/valves are not working properly. Also, the posts might not be a the same height. One would hope that in all cases the arms are actually on the locks! You never know with some mechanics...

 

[Aahz]

It could be a few things....(not counting the natural sideways tilt our good friends in Canada seem to have)

First...as you're driving past, you will get a distorted view..that would account for most sightings, I imagine.

2nd...If the shop isn't picking up by the same point (left and right sides) on the vehicle, the vehicle may very well be uneven.

3rd..The lifts you are seeing are hydraulically equalized..(Ford Smith, Mohawk and Snap-On's Wheeltronics are all well known for this)...the hydraulic adjustment gets out of whack and the haven't bothered to equalize it properly.

 

[MarksM]

My new Rotary does this. One lock engages lower than the other.

 

[brownbagg]

My bend pak does it too. The hydraulic lifts the car by pulling on a chain, there is a cable that equalize the height. the locks do not click at the same time but close, so when the lower lock click the other side could be couple inches higher. this is the point you seeing. Once you turn it off, the hydraulic will leak down and set on top of the lock, then it be equal. its no big deal, cable need adjustment. main air in hydrulic line.

 

[sha_ba_do_bang]

my lift is also slightly unlevel with a car on it(right to left) the posts are perfectly level, but the floor isn't

If i was to tighten the chain to bring the left side up and make it level then the arm will not lay flat on the ground and i won't be able to get it under some cars

Brendan

 

[CJseven]

One other thing is that if the vehicle is to one side and not centered the arms have to be extended out farther and allow more droop on that side.

 

[Aahz]

On cable equalized lifts (ie. Rotary, Bend Pak, Raptor, etc.) There should be enough adjustment on the cables to get the locks to click at approximately the same time. You need to play with those adjustments when the lift is new and then again in a year or so due to cable stretch.