Help choose a lift for my garage?
I installed the Greg Smith 8000 lb 4-post lift 2 years ago. It works great, has been maintenance free. I also purchased the scissor lift that slides between the two rails which is perfect for wheel swaps, brake jobs, and suspension work.
One MUST is to anchor it to the floor. They say it is optional, but BS to that. It will "walk" if not secured to the garage floor.
Good luck.
One MUST is to anchor it to the floor. They say it is optional, but BS to that. It will "walk" if not secured to the garage floor.
Good luck.
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I have a Bendpac 2 post Asym. Going on 5 years old, lots of use, and trouble free. Installed it myself in an afternoon.
I went with the taller "clear floor" option as I designed the garage around the lift, so ceiling heigh was not an issue. I didn't order them but at the time Bendpak offered optional low profile arms for lowered cars. When I need to get my son's lowered M3 on the lift I use a set of foot-pump dollies to raise the car an inch or so, and then just wheel the car into place and swing the arms under the car.
Be ready to have a lot of new friends on the weekends...
I went with the taller "clear floor" option as I designed the garage around the lift, so ceiling heigh was not an issue. I didn't order them but at the time Bendpak offered optional low profile arms for lowered cars. When I need to get my son's lowered M3 on the lift I use a set of foot-pump dollies to raise the car an inch or so, and then just wheel the car into place and swing the arms under the car.
Be ready to have a lot of new friends on the weekends...
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Sorry for any confusion when I said I have a scissor lift - it is a scissor style jack that goes with the 4-post lift. This device sits between the two metal supports that you drive the car on to. The scissor jack then can slide under the car to lift either axle at the normal jack points on the car.
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Get the Rotary Brand SPOA7000 lifts with the "Porsche/BMW" low profile arms. It is the only way to go.
If the home is "modern construction", a foundation slab is probably 3000 psi concrete,
it needs to be 6" deep, and should be tested if not certified by your builder.
However, with these lifts ( I have two, for close to 10 years now, zero defects. ) I have serviced GT3's and Carrera GT's on them, not to mention all sorts of slammed 996's, and hot rod Audi's. Have owned many different lifts in the last 30 years, I wouldnt buy any thing else.
Jay Putnam.
If the home is "modern construction", a foundation slab is probably 3000 psi concrete,
it needs to be 6" deep, and should be tested if not certified by your builder.
However, with these lifts ( I have two, for close to 10 years now, zero defects. ) I have serviced GT3's and Carrera GT's on them, not to mention all sorts of slammed 996's, and hot rod Audi's. Have owned many different lifts in the last 30 years, I wouldnt buy any thing else.
Jay Putnam.
Sorry for any confusion when I said I have a scissor lift - it is a scissor style jack that goes with the 4-post lift. This device sits between the two metal supports that you drive the car on to. The scissor jack then can slide under the car to lift either axle at the normal jack points on the car.
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plus 1. You can get the low profile lift arms too. Although the lift I put in in my warehouse was bought through my local snap on guy. Not a rotary but the same exact thing only in black and no low profile arms, nothing hockey pucks could not fix!
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2 post makes life so much easier. The only downside is it requires a little thought getting the car centered between the posts and front to back. I purchased a set of the wheel dollies like mentioned above. It makes life so easy, just slide the car around to where it needs to be and lift.
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I have a 4 post, Direct lift, easy to drive on with lowered car,..
Sorry for any confusion when I said I have a scissor lift - it is a scissor style jack that goes with the 4-post lift. This device sits between the two metal supports that you drive the car on to. The scissor jack then can slide under the car to lift either axle at the normal jack points on the car.
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Get the Rotary Brand SPOA7000 lifts with the "Porsche/BMW" low profile arms. It is the only way to go.
If the home is "modern construction", a foundation slab is probably 3000 psi concrete,
it needs to be 6" deep, and should be tested if not certified by your builder.
However, with these lifts ( I have two, for close to 10 years now, zero defects. ) I have serviced GT3's and Carrera GT's on them, not to mention all sorts of slammed 996's, and hot rod Audi's. Have owned many different lifts in the last 30 years, I wouldnt buy any thing else.
Jay Putnam.
If the home is "modern construction", a foundation slab is probably 3000 psi concrete,
it needs to be 6" deep, and should be tested if not certified by your builder.
However, with these lifts ( I have two, for close to 10 years now, zero defects. ) I have serviced GT3's and Carrera GT's on them, not to mention all sorts of slammed 996's, and hot rod Audi's. Have owned many different lifts in the last 30 years, I wouldnt buy any thing else.
Jay Putnam.
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4" of concrete are enough as long as it is the correct PSI, at least for some smaller lifts like the MaxJax (each anchor bolt can withstand 10,000 lbs). 6" works as well, and if you have the $$ by all means go for it. The downside of a 4 post w/ the scissor jack is that it blocks alot of access to the midsection of the car.
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Overkill wont get you hurt, 4" of concrete can, even at 3000 psi. Most of the cars are not balanced like 944's. I have to strap CGT's to the front arms to keep them from tipping off, think of the mechanical moment involved in this arrangement.
6" is a minimum @ 3000 psi.
6" is a minimum @ 3000 psi.
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Overkill wont get you hurt, 4" of concrete can, even at 3000 psi. Most of the cars are not balanced like 944's. I have to strap CGT's to the front arms to keep them from tipping off, think of the mechanical moment involved in this arrangement.
6" is a minimum @ 3000 psi.
6" is a minimum @ 3000 psi.
Also, the tipping issue you speak of with the CGT, is that on an asymetrical or symetrical lift? Which do you recommend for my GT2?
Last edited by shtfrbrains; May 25, 2011 at 06:56 PM.