a 2 post is way better. I have 2 at the shop and one 4 post. The 2 post you can do everything on it. The 4 post is better to do exhaust work since the suspension is resting on the frame/wheels. If you did an exhaust job on a rear wheel drive or lowered car on a 2 post, most likely when you lower and remove the car off the rack you'll have the tubing on the frame somewhere. I just got a 10k 2 post rack and it is great! DO NOT GO CHINESE RACKS! they are prone to breakage and if you dont have a professional set it up using a laser, you'll be wondering why your car you are lifting is going up at a 45 degree angle on one side.... trust me! (another shop down the street bought a cheap chinese rack from ebay and now he wishes he didnt)
is it possible anymore to get the old fashioned lifts that do not use electricity? I used to work in a place that had a 2 post lift that did 2 cars...., one on either side with the posts in the middle of the bays. it had 2 arms that had to be brought out to the opposite side with a hook..
you mean the lifts that run on compressed air? we still have 2 of those at our shop. they are very strong, can lift a 4x4 pick-up truck with no problem. the down side on these lifts is when they finally go you gotta break the concrete floor to remove them and check to see if any hydraulic oil has contaminated the ground. i also would recommend the 2 post lift. ours is 10 years old with ZERO problems.
I agree that a 2 post lift is superior for working on you car. However, if you are going to have to convince your wife that its safe for her to park her car underneath your buick, you will probably end up with the 4 post. I dissagree on the blanket negative comments reguarding chinese lifts. Im sure there are different levels of quality on offshore lifts. I assume that my Bendpak is made in china. I have had no problems with it at all and it is well constructed. The only problem I have had is the quality of the concrete floor in my garage, and I can tell you that it wasn't poured by chinese guys :laugh:
any of you ever been inside a Pep Boys service area? Their lifts come out the ground with no posts. I like those.
