Garage lifts and doing damage to suspension

[WARP TEN]

A little semi-related observation: Marc and Bob Haibeck don't have any lifts in their shop. Their shop is small and they are constantly moving cars around so a lift would take up to much permanent space and limit how many cars the can get in at one time. They use jacks and jack stands for everything they do (plus an engine hoist naturally). Of course, Marc is skinny as a mouse. I used to do a lot under the car on jack stands myself, but I'm not sure I would fit underneath a Vette now even with tall jack stands! --Bob

[32valvZ]

Im all about my Kwik Lift... 2 jacking bridges and I can do pretty much everything I need to....

[Jagdpanzer]

If it weren’t for BenPak HD-9 four post lift I installed soon after acquiring my ZR-1 it would probably still be stock. Don’t miss the old creeper one bit.


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[Ccmano]

Originally Posted by Jagdpanzer

If it weren’t for BenPak HD-9 four post lift I installed soon after acquiring my ZR-1 it would probably still be stock. Don’t miss the old creeper one bit.


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I’m with you Phil, getting too old to crawl under the car. Hence may recent purchase. Don’t know have Haibeck does it.
H

[spork2367]

Originally Posted by WARP TEN

A little semi-related observation: Marc and Bob Haibeck don't have any lifts in their shop. Their shop is small and they are constantly moving cars around so a lift would take up to much permanent space and limit how many cars the can get in at one time. They use jacks and jack stands for everything they do (plus an engine hoist naturally). Of course, Marc is skinny as a mouse. I used to do a lot under the car on jack stands myself, but I'm not sure I would fit underneath a Vette now even with tall jack stands! --Bob

Originally Posted by 32valvZ

Im all about my Kwik Lift... 2 jacking bridges and I can do pretty much everything I need to....

Totally depends what kind of work you're doing and how much you're doing. Between my parents and my family we own 12 road worthy vehicles (and I own about 6 more in various states of work/repair). Jacking them up by hand, placing jack stands, etc. would waste a huge amount of time in the course of a year.

If you're doing engine work, it totally depends on the vehicle. I can drop a subframe, engine, and trans out of an import car in 45 minutes. Pulling it out the top/front would require the entire front clip of the car to come off and take 4 hours. Suspension work on the ground or on jack stands is hard on the back, knees, and just takes longer.

But if utilization of a small space is critical, sometimes a lift isn't practical because it's always in the same place. A four post lift wastes a TON of floor space. The only reason for a four post lift is because you're also storing a vehicle.

Pictures are worth 1000 words. Which looks easier for working on a car? Which looks easier for storing a car? I'd take the triple decker personally...lol.

[Periokid]

What about something like this? Drive on single post lift.

https://aclifts.com/lifts/m-1-single-post-car-lift/

[Anniv88]

I use my 2-post lift to store my Z. I just remove the wheels.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Anniv88

I use my 2-post lift to store my Z. I just remove the wheels.

Question, why would you need to remove the wheels when storing your car off the ground?

[Mr.Yuck]

I have had Multiple two-post lifts over the past 3 decades and have stored multiple Corvettes for 6-8 months at a time. Never have I had a suspension issues or suspension damage because it was hanging? Engineer's design parts to be used through the full range of motion, it's the way it was designed. Tires on and off over the winter months for brakes or other projects has never made a difference on any suspension component on my Vetts. Everybody's situation is different and I agree the convenience of a drive-on is awesome. Personally I just can't justify the suspension damage claim? I would love to see some evidence of hanging suspension damage??Screenshot_20200226-081703_Photos.jpg

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[Ccmano]

For those with 4 post drive on lifts, I discovered a quick and inexpensive way to lift the car on the lift. I bought a 2 bag air jack on Amazon for about $100. It’s the perfect height to slide under the Z and lifts the car in seconds so a jack stand can be placed under the frame. No more pumping a hydraulic jack! Also works to lift from the center if you have jack bridge (but no jack). They are also on EBay. Only the 2 bag will fit under the frame. The 3 bag is too tall. Take a look.
H