Working With a Four Post Lift

[jerkyboy]

So here's the big question; for those of you who have a four-poster, is it easy to do brake/suspension/exhaust work? I am definitely leaning toward a four post but I do all of my own brake work and would like to be able to use the lift to work on any suspension/exhaust/****** issues too. What options are necessary to make the four-poster user friendly in this manner?

I definitiely like the fact that the four post is easily moveable (with the casters) and that you can store a car underneath it, but I'm worried that it will limit my ability to work on my cars and truck.

My garage is 32'x36' with a 12' ceiling. Should I be considering one with the extended length/height, rolling bridge jack, etc.?? The biggest vehicle I'll be working on will be an '02 Chevy 2500 extended cab pickup.

Oh, BTW, GREAT site and thanks for all the good info.

 

[mikeyr]

yes, its easy. Its a extra step but its a quick step. Jack bridges and jack it up and do your suspension work. If you do your suspension and brake work correctly the first its not something that you will be doing often and if you don't do your brakes correctly well you wont be needing that 4post anyway.

 

[JerseyJim]

Just a couple quick comments...

1. You can do just about any type of work with a four post. It helps to have a sliding jack and a creative mind. Certainly not as convenient for working under a car as a two post. But if storage counts, it's the way to go.

2. Check your lift dimensions carefully. Your pickup may not be able to go all the way up utilizing an extended height lift with a 12 foot ceiling. My pickup roof is about 75 inches high. If memory serves me correctly my standard lift is 75 inches to the top of the runway. So even with a standard lift, I need more than 12 feet.

 

[jerkyboy]

Yup, just measured to the top of my truck and it's 75". Since I'm only 5'6", I think I'd still have enough room to work underneath it. Which one do you own, and what options do you have.....and of course, would you recommend it?

thanks

 

[sixtnut]

Measure the height of the two tallest vehicles you have. Add the height total plus 6 -9inches. You should have plenty of clearence.
I have a Direct Lift Pro Park 8 Plus. My cars are almost 18 feet long. (see profile) I have plenty of room on the lift. I had my ceiling raised and the contractor made a 24' x 9' opening. Cars and my full size Dodge Ram 1500 fit fine. My lift is 8000 lb capacity. My vehicles don't weigh 4,000 lbs., less than half of what rack is rated. I bought the Plus 8 due to the fact my cars are long and I'm 6'1". I thought I'd be hitting my head. I have all the head clearence I need. I can stand on my tip toes to reach items. I just did a 4 wheel brake job on one of my 60 Chevy's. Only problem I had was raising the car one end at a time, which was really not a problem. But, I ordered and just got an extra jack tray yesterday. Shipping and all was $102.00. Now I can raise both ends to do my brakes and rotate my tires without doing one end at a time. I went to Harbor Freight and bought two 12 ton hydraulic bottle jacks for $9.95 each, which I also had a 20% discount coupon. I have plenty of room to use the handle. I don't need a $600.00 plus air jack that can do the the same thing my jacks can do. Sure, mine are slower, but so what. I'm 60 and retired, I don't get in a hurry anymore. Now, I do use 3 ton jack stands, one on each side. Now, I'll use 4.
Try directlift.com and ask to talk to Michael. Their service is great and I really love the lift. This company has been in business over 75 years and have several certifications. Just do your homework, compare and make your own decision. For what I needed and the money I paid, I feel I made the decision that was right for me. I also liked the low shipping rate of less than $155.00.
Tim

 

[e-tek]

I have a BP 4 post and there's NOTHING I can't do with it and several things I think I can do better. I remove engines with the car on the lift, which I raise just enough to slide the cherry pickers legs under. This way I can move the car up or down to best lift the engine out. Of course, with a sliding jack, any brake or susp work is easy and if you want to leave the car there for a while, you don't have to worry about it falling off!

 

[kchalle]

I agree

 

[scofo]

Several things that CANNOT BE DONE on a 4post. Seperating cab from frame on Ford and Dodge late model trucks to access cyl. heads etc.. Lift body off of subframes to do engine/ clutch/trans replacements Ford Focus, Nissan Sentra and lots of other cab over designs like minivans and GM F bodies. I,ve used the leg of a 2post to remove engines like a crane. Other uses that elude me now.

4post are more mobile I suppose and work great for loading motorcycles into the back of a pick-up and almost required for alignments but I think a properly-sized 2post will make your work far easier.


Also I read lots of statements that 4post are used to park under, well you can park any vehicle that fits under a 4post under a vehicle lifted on a 2post.

 

[JerseyJim]

Yup, just measured to the top of my truck and it's 75". Since I'm only 5'6", I think I'd still have enough room to work underneath it. Which one do you own, and what options do you have.....and of course, would you recommend it?

thanks

I have a ProPark 8S. I have a sliding jack. I'm very happy with it.

As far as height considerations... I wasn't referring to the standing room under the lift but rather the ceiling height. My truck at 75" high, would not go all the way up with a 12' ceiling. My point being that you need to give dimensions careful consideration before buying an extended height/length lift. Also pay attention to width. My trucks are older and don't have mirrors that stick out like they do on newer trucks.

 

[ket-tek]

This debate comes up over and over. The are many pros and cons to both systems. If one has the space and the money get both. I will continue to refrain from recommending either style to anyone, everyone works on such different projects and has different space restrictions.

I will put out my own personal experience with my four post, and if you have the sliding hydro sissor jack then brake and suspension work is a BREEZE.. The other week I rotated the tires, installed brake pads, and changed the oil in my friends Si and it was quite fast.

Drive on, lift the car, picked up the rear with the hydro jack and stuck two jack stands under it, then slid the hydro jack to the front lifted/locked it, and it only took two minutes from the time he pulled up to the bay door.. Then yanked all four wheels, changed the pads, and slapped the tires back on in no time.

I also adjusted my wifes rear camber on her lowered honda recently using a Fastrax gauge with the suspension loaded and the tires on. Can't do that with a 2 post. I plan to get some turn plates soon to make front end alignments easier also.

******'s are easy and exhaust work is easy with a 4, and most exaust shops use four posts because you need to route the pipes around a loaded suspension to make sure it all clears. But dropping FWD k-members out the bottom of the car is a task for a 2 post..

It's so 50/50 for many tasks it's more about what type of work will YOU do at YOUR place to choose.. Don't go off of any postings claiming either style is a hands down winner because neither one is..

If I had the room I would add a 2 post also, but would not replace the 4 post with it.

 

[Fskof]

ket-tek
What model Bend Pak is that?

 

[ket-tek]

It's the HD-9XW long, tall, wide version.

The extra footprint really gets the posts aways from the vehicle. It's been very nice to work with.

 

[jerkyboy]

picked up the rear with the hydro jack and stuck two jack stands under it, then slid the hydro jack to the front lifted/locked it,

How much do the hydro jacks run, are they generic and fit most four posters, and would they lift my 6,600 pound truck?? Also, what is your garage size?

thanks

 

[ket-tek]

picked up the rear with the hydro jack and stuck two jack stands under it, then slid the hydro jack to the front lifted/locked it,

How much do the hydro jacks run, are they generic and fit most four posters, and would they lift my 6,600 pound truck?? Also, what is your garage size?

thanks

http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/4-post-bridge-jacks/

Bendpak makes many size jacks, but the RJ-45 is what is sold to work with the smaller 9k lift. It is rated at 4500lbs. Keep in mind your only lifting a portion of the vehicle weight picking up one end at a time.

I've used it to lift my Chevy Express van with no problem at all and it weighs in at 6800lbs..

I can not personally recommend to use the RJ on any other brand of lift. It may work, but I would contact the manufacture of the lift and bendpak to see what they advise..

They retail about $1200. Alot to choke down at first, but no regrets what-so-ever after the first few uses.

The garage is 28' deep x 38' wide x 12' high

 

[OldCarGuy]

I owned five four-post lifts long before I've added two two-post lifts in my home garages. Sure I used the four-posts lifts for storage, along with all the mechanical work. Since I acquired the two-post lifts, the four-post are used for storage only.

If I didn't have the room for both. I'd own a four-post lift with a pair of rolling hydraulic jacks... The biggest advantage of the four-post lift is that you simply drive the car on the lift. You don't have to get down low on the floor to set and double check the positioning of the arms...