Installing a 2-Post Automotive Lift in your repair shop or home garage can help free up extra valuable space. This can massively boost the workshop’s efficiency and productivity. Automotive lift failure can be costly due to repairs and property damage. Car lift failure is dangerous that can cause a fatal accident or even death. If you wonder what a 2 Post Lift is and how to prevent and fix a 2-Post Lift concrete failure, then this article is for you.
Nearly every repair shop we encounter uses 2 or 4 post-car lifts. To suspend a vehicle above the mechanic to do repairs. As an auto repair enthusiast at home, you can place a car lift in your garage. The only thing you need to worry about is the suitable space for it.
Installing a 2-post car lift will give you a boost to maximize efficiency for your favorite home restoration.
Let’s learn more about 2-Post Lift, 2-Post Lift Concrete Failure, concrete requirements, and safety factors.
What is a 2-Post Automotive Lift?
A 2-Post Lift is an automotive hydraulic or hydraulic electric lift that raises heavy car parts or vehicles above the ground to allow mechanics or DIYers to work conveniently on the underside of vehicles.
The automotive charge is made up of two upright columns that have four adjustable arms that are attached to two hydraulic cylinders and a carriage assembly.
As opposed to the 4-Post lift, which is wheel engaging, the 2-Post lift is frame engaging. The 2-Post automotive lifts have two parts in the market: symmetric or asymmetric. It functions by using the hydraulic fluid that pushes the piston up to allow the platform to move up.
For the platform to move downwards, the valves in the lift have to open to allow the fluid to flow back to the reservoir through the gravitational force of the lift.
Apart from two-post and four-post automotive lifts, other types of lifts are:
- Portable auto lifts.
- Inground automotive lifts.
- Automotive scissor lifts.
- Parking lifts.
- Mobile column auto lifts
- Alignment auto lifts.
What’s the Best Car Lift for Your Garage?
A car lift for your garage can come in three main types based on the type of car you have:
- 4 post car lift
- 2 post car lift
- scissor car lift
Garage parking is not possible with scissor lifts because you cannot park underneath them. Their lifting capacity is also usually lower and they are better suited to hoisting vehicles temporarily rather than storing them for long periods of time.
Therefore, there are two main options for home car lifts: a 4 post lift and a 2 post lift. This article will simplify a few issues surrounding the debate between a 4 post car lift and a 2 post lift.
What are the Prerequisites for the installation of a 2-post lift?
Before installing a 2-Post lift, the following requirements must be met.
- In order to prevent the concrete from bursting under a load. The 2-post lifts with wide or large base plates are better than those with narrow base plates.
- Lifts should not be installed over surfaces other than concrete, such as asphalt. Furthermore, the concrete must meet the minimum compressive strength, thickness, reinforcement, and age requirements. Putting the lift over hand-mixed concrete is also unsafe.
- It is important that the concrete floor on which your lift is placed is level. The minimum concrete thickness recommended by some 2-Post lift manufacturers is 4 inches.
- Nevertheless, 6-12″ of flooring thickness is recommended as a safety precaution. A car lift’s weight should determine how thick the floor should be.
- The thickness of a concrete floor must be 4″ for a 2-post lift that weighs 8500-10000 pounds, and 6″ for a lift that weighs 12000-18000 pounds. To verify the concrete thickness of the floor, you can use a hammer drill. A floor concrete mix must also follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to install a 2-post car lift?
Firstly, glue the columns to the floor. In the next step, drilling will take place. This will generate a lot of dust and noise. If you’re sensitive to dust or noise, wear an earplug and a dust mask.
The lifting capacity of certain lifts determines the lift’s depth. Drill the main side column holes first, then the other one, using the existing holes in the base plate as a guide.
To make the holes, use a hammer drill. After clearing the hole, blow on it to remove any dust to improve holding power. Place the bolts in the holes, but don’t tighten them yet. Hammer the bolts until the washer rests against the base plate.
The Top Trough Assembly is next. A forklift is usually needed to raise the bar, but two ladders and two men on each side can also be used. Place the bolts on top and tighten them. Once the structure is in place, the hardest part of the lift will be done. Retighten the anchor bolts if they became loose while tightening the top bar.
The next step is to install the hydraulic power unit. Despite the hydraulic unit’s weight, you can install it with help. Usually, the unit comes with a vibration dampener, which needs to be installed between the hydraulic unit and the column. After installation, it will take approximately four gallons of hydraulic oil to fill the hydraulic unit.
How to Install a 2-post Lift on a poor SLAB?
Concrete slabs that aren’t up to par can still be made work. There are a few ways to safely accommodate the lift if the concrete is too thin or damaged or worn.
You will need additional tools and be prepared for extra work in this case. Make sure you dig a hole large enough to fit the lift’s columns. It should be at least a two-by-two-foot hole with a depth of 10 to 12 inches.
After pouring concrete into the holes, your 2-post lift is now secured to a working slab. With any new slab, you should follow concrete requirements so you know your workshop is safe.
How to Fix a 2-Post Lift Concrete Failure?
When your 2-post lift concrete fails, there are steps you can take to fix it or strengthen and stabilize it to prevent another failure in the future. Determine the cause of the damage.
When concrete fails, it could be because the floor surface the automotive lift is on does not meet the minimum requirements for automotive lift installation.
Poor installation or maintenance can also cause 2-Post Lift Concrete to fail. In the case of poor installation, you will require the services of an installation expert to prevent further damage to the concrete.
Determine the type of repair needed based on the severity of the concrete damage on the automotive lift. It is best to remove the 2-Post lift first if the damage is widespread. Specialized tools and proper planning are required for the removal.
Depending on the extent of the damage, repair the concrete floor. When a small hole exists in the floor, it can be patched up, but if the hole is widespread, it will require concrete to be repaired.
Using the help of an installation expert, you can reinstall the 2-post lift after repairing it. To enhance the support and stability of the automotive lift, you can also use a slab.
Test the lift to ensure it meets safety standards after the car lift repair is complete. To ensure the safe and proper operation of the lift, check the anchor bolt, alignment, and other parts.
What You Need to Avoid 2-Post Car Lift Failure?
Concrete floors are not the only reason for the car lift’s failure. You need to avoid these.
These are some of the reasons:
Faults in design that lead to failures.
- The car lift installation is incorrect.
- By using the lift’s adjustable arms incorrectly, the vehicle is not properly secured.
- It is necessary to fix substandard cheaper alternatives.
- The consequences of these errors can range from serious injuries to fatal accidents, deaths, and property damage. Preventing the failure of a 2-post automotive lift can be prevented by taking some precautions.
- During the process of lifting the car, evaluate the center of gravity of the car to determine whether it will shift to one side.
- If you need to remove heavy vehicle parts before raising the vehicle above ground, follow the instruction manual of the automotive lift.
- Prevent accidents by inspecting the lift’s chock devices before and during lifting.
- Whenever you notice that the car lift is not well secured or about to fall off, lower it.
- Make sure the lifting points and adapters are free of corrosion. Wet or oily surfaces can also lead to slip-and-fall accidents.
- Keep the lift’s maximum lifting capacity under control to avoid overloading it.
- When lowering an automotive lift, make sure there are no people or equipment in the way.
- On drive-on lifts, choke the wheels properly.Repairs should not be done with only rotary points on an automotive lift.
- Worker training is necessary to ensure the lift is used properly.
- Lift accessories such as lift adapters are manufactured according to automotive lift standards.
- Be careful not to override safety features.
- You should review the recommended lifting points where the automotive lift should contact the vehicle. To ensure the lifted vehicle will be stable, perform this visual check.
How to Prevent a 2-Post Lift Concrete Failure?
Before installing the lift, you should have the standard floor requirements set up. Two-post lifts also require proper maintenance after they are installed.
You need to do a proper concrete installation. Then adequate the concrete thickness. Use high-quality concrete.
When cracks around the lift’s anchor points, the lift’s posts sink, uneven lift operation, and excessive vibration happen immediately check. Take the necessary steps to prevent them.
2 Post Car Lift Safety
It is always imperative to keep safety in mind when installing heavy equipment, so before attempting to install a 2 post lift on your own, keep these things in mind:
Car lifts with two posts are dangerously heavy and should be treated carefully. To prevent injury, even upon initial delivery of the lift, a second person should assist you in lifting the parts. The best way to make this work is to make it a team effort.
Make sure you follow all directions and use the correct tools. Consult manuals for more information. Ensure you follow your lift’s manual to ensure you are following the correct requirements.
In case you find the project too challenging, you might want to consider hiring a professional automotive equipment installer. When problems arise during the process, you’ll know you’re in good hands.
You will be safe if you keep these things in mind when you attempt your own installation. The following are important considerations, but they are not the only ones. If you want your installation to be truly safe, you should follow the strict requirements for 2 post lift concrete.
2 Post Lift Concrete Requirements
In the first place, all types of car lifts must be installed on solid concrete surfaces only. Lifts should not be set up on damaged concrete, including cracks caused by expansion, without first repairing the slab. Finally, if a lift is going to be installed over the concrete, it should never be mixed by hand. Considering these factors is very important, since ignoring them can result in an auto lift failure that can cause serious injuries.
It is also necessary for the concrete slab to be at a specific depth so that a car lift can be safely installed. Reinforced concrete should be at least four inches, but ideally, it should be at least six inches, or even twelve inches. You should plan on installing a deeper slab, ranging from six to twelve inches deep, and with a PSI of at least 3,000 if you are going to lay a new slab before installing the lift.
What is the Difference Between Symmetrical and Asymmetrical 2-post Lifts?
By positioning a vehicle in the center, symmetric lifts balance its weight evenly from front to rear. The asymmetric lifts, on the other hand, allow you to open the doors more easily since the vehicle is positioned farther back on the lift. Additionally, some manufacturers rotate the columns at an angle of 30 degrees, which allows doors to open further.
Generally, automobiles are heavier at the front due to the location of their engines, and they balance out asymmetrically just fine. A vehicle with a rear engine, an extra-long crew cab dual truck, and a service van with a lot of equipment at the back balance out better when positioned symmetrically.
There is also the option of configuring the arms to be symmetrical on BendPak’s asymmetric 2 post lift. In this way, asymmetric models are truly unique and very versatile, since you can push a vehicle forward and make it symmetric if it doesn’t balance out well asymmetrically. The best of both worlds.
It is true that some manufacturers claim their floorplate lifts are asymmetrical, but they are not because the floorplate actually prevents the arms from going past halfway.
What Type of Drive System is Best for a 2-post Lift? (Chain, cable, or direct)
Comparing the different drive systems for a 2 post lift, direct drive is preferred, followed by chain, and then cable drive. Direct drive car lifts raise the carriage and arms directly by hydraulic cylinder, which makes them more efficient. You will be able to save money over the long-term life of the lift because fewer wear parts will be required, such as cables, pulleys, or chains. In addition to being safer than chain and cable drive lifts, direct drive lifts offer more control for the user, since if a cable or chain were to break during the lifting or lowering process, the drop would be controlled and gradual, rather than abrupt and fast. Two-post lifts with direct pull drives are cheaper, while two-post lifts with direct push cylinder drives are more expensive.
The chrome rod side of a direct pull lift is pressed to raise the cylinder. The chrome rod of the lift is exposed to the elements at all times, making it susceptible to scratches, dirt, dents, etc., when the lift is resting or fully lowered. Leaks will occur if the chrome rod becomes damaged. The most common problem with hydraulic cylinders is seal leakage. End cap wiper seals or U cups are typically the first to fail since they run over the chrome rod when returning back to the cylinder after being exposed.
To contain pressurized hydraulic fluid, direct pull cylinders also need both piston and rod seals. It is impossible to operate the cylinder if any one of these seals fails. Since BendPak two post lifts are push style, the fluid is only contained on the slave (back) side of the cylinder. In the case of a completely lowered cylinder rod, the rod is stored within the bore of the cylinder.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a 2-post lift is a valuable tool for automotive maintenance and repair facilities, particularly those with space limitations. It offers accessibility to the vehicle’s underside, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. However, its usage requires careful attention to proper lifting points, consideration of the vehicle’s center of gravity, and diligent maintenance. When used correctly and maintained well, a 2-post lift can greatly enhance the efficiency and capabilities of a workshop or garage.
FAQs
How does 2-post lift concrete fail?
An automotive lift with two posts can cause concrete failure, which is structural damage. Improper concrete installation, inadequate concrete thickness, and poor concrete quality cause this problem.
When does concrete fail on a 2-post lift?
Concrete failure signs include cracks around the lift’s anchor points, the sinking of the lift’s posts, uneven lift operation, and excessive vibration.
Is it possible to repair a two-post lift concrete failure?
Yes. Repairing 2-post lift concrete failure is possible in most cases. Repair methods will depend on the damage and underlying cause.
When two-post lift concrete fails, how can it be repaired?
There are a lot of ways to fix a 2-post lift concrete failure. You can patch it or resurface it, inject epoxy to fill cracks, reinforce it with steel or fiber reinforcement, or in some cases, just get rid of it and replace it.
Do two-post lift concrete failures cost a lot of money to repair?
Concrete failure repair costs depend on the extent of damage, the repair method, local labor and material costs, and other factors like accessibility. Getting an accurate estimate requires multiple quotes from reputable contractors.