Car Lifts Key Terms

Learn about car lifts before you spend big money on one

Anyone who works on cars, from professionals to shade tree mechanics, either has or wants a car lift. Whether you're looking to buy one for the first time or are thinking about upgrading from your current model, a basic knowledge of car lifts terminology will allow you to shop and research with confidence. So, before you browse your favorite automotive sites or start calling around, learn the following car lifts key terms.

 

Maintenance lifts

Maintenance lifts are designed to allow users to quickly and easily raise and lower cars for regular work. These are the kinds of lifts you see in repair garages. Most maintenance lifts are hydraulic, though there are also screw lifts and drive-on lifts.
Try: The Automotive Lift Institute defines and illustrates a wide variety of maintenance lifts.

Storage lifts

Storages lifts also lift cars, but they are primarily designed to store cars, not work on them. Since storage lifts aren't meant to raise and lower cars on a regular basis, the process of raising and lowering cars on them typically takes more work. They are also designed so that another car may be stored underneath.
Try: Stinger illustrates the typical usage of storage lifts.

Hydraulic lift

Hydraulic car lifts are typically the most expensive type of car lift. They're also among the easiest to use - push a button and up or down it goes. Hydraulic lifts can lift the heaviest of trucks with ease.
Try: Complete Hydraulic Services & Sales discusses a wide variety of hydraulic car lifts.

Scissor lift

A scissor lift is a car lift, usually hydraulic, that functions by extending its arms in a scissor-like "x" configuration.
Try: Watch a small scissor lift in operation at YouTube to get a better idea of what scissor lifts look like. Scissor lifts are also discussed in detail at Car Tuning Central.

Two-post lift

Two-post lifts are hydraulic lifts with two vertical posts. Each post has two lift arms that are manuevered to lift points under the car for hoisting.
Try: Mohawk Lifts shows several different two-post lift models.

Four-post lift

Four-post lifts allow users to drive onto the lift surface for hoisting. Since it's lifted by its tires, the entire bottom of the vehicle is available for work at the same time.
Try: Automotive Service Equipment has illustrations and specifications for several four-post lifts.

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