Basic Information About Automotive Lifts

Almost all garages use automotive lifts to safely raise a vehicle off of the ground for repairs. Lifts help to promote safety while increasing mechanic productivity. Vehicle lifts, often capable of lifting as much as 25,000 pounds, are available in varying designs to accommodate different types of shops. They are built to hold compact vehicles on up to large utility vehicles.

Below, find some basic information about automotive lifts, the benefits of using them and how to safely operate them.

What Purposes Do Automotive Lifts Serve?

The auto repair industry finds automotive lifts to be extremely useful, in that they speed operations, boost productivity and foster an environment in which repairs can be done accurately. With equipment to lift a vehicle off of the ground and adjust the height level, a technician can access a vehicle effectively and perform more thorough examinations.

Auto lifts also allow a mechanic to work more comfortably in a natural position, which can improve focus and allow him to perform better auto maintenance.

What Type of Lifts Are Available?

Some of the more common types of automotive lift are listed below:

-In-ground lifts - These are positioned below ground. They comprise one or more pistons to lift a vehicle. For storage purposes and to allow for more floor space, this lift remains underground.
-Parallelograms and scissor vehicle lifts - These lifts are used for heavier vehicles and can move a vehicle up, down, frontward and backward. Scissor lifts can move a vehicle completely vertical.
-Wheel-engaging mobile lifts - For unconventional vehicles, like a bus, wheel-engaging mobile lifts have mobile lifting columns.
-Two-post surface mounted lifts - This type of lift can raise a wide range of vehicles, yet they do not take up too much space.
-Four-post surface mounted lifts - These are similar to the previous mentioned lift, yet with a convenient drive-on feature that allows for easier muffler repairs and oil changes.

Safe Operation of Automotive Lifts

When operating an automotive lift, one must take extra precautions to reduce the risk of injury or death. Workers should always wear protective gear, including a hard hat, safety glasses and coveralls. Each technician that uses the machine should be fully trained to understand safe and appropriate operation. Automotive lifts should be inspected for safety on a regular basis to prevent equipment failure. Should anyone spot a mechanical problem, operation should halt, and a supervisor should be notified.