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Nearly every repair shop you encounter across the country uses 2 or 4 post car lifts to suspend a vehicle above the mechanic to do repairs. For the auto repair enthusiast at home, you can even place a 2 post car lift in your garage if you have the right space for it. Perhaps you are one of those DIYers who wishes to install your own 2 post lift, or you’re a professional opening your own shop for the first time. To maximize efficiency for your shop repairs or favorite home restoration project, installing a 2 post car lift will give you the boost you need. However, you may be curious if your space meets the right requirements before you get started setting up any equipment. We will explain more about 2 post lift concrete requirements, safety factors to consider, and what you can do if you do not meet the right concrete specifications.  

2 Post Car Lift Safety

Safety should always be the absolute top priority when installing heavy equipment, so before you attempt to install a 2 post lift on your own, keep a few things in mind:

• 2 post car lifts are dangerously heavy and thus should be treated with care. You should always have another person to help you lift the parts to prevent injury, even upon initial delivery of your lift. In general, it’s best to make this a team effort if possible.
• Consult manuals to make sure you are using the proper tools and following all directions. Your manual will be your ultimate guide to ensuring you are following the correct requirements specific to your lift.
• If the project becomes too much of a struggle, you would be wise to recruit the help of a professional automotive equipment installer to help you get on track. This way you will know you will be in good hands if any problems come up during the process.

Keeping these things in mind will keep you safe if you are willing to try the installation yourself. But they are not the only considerations to note. You will need to follow the strict 2 post lift concrete requirements to ensure your installation is truly safe.

2 Post Lift Concrete Requirements

First, it’s important to note that any kind of car lift must be installed on solid concrete surfaces only. Do not attempt to set up a lift on any defective concrete, including any expansion cracks, without fixing the slab first, we will explain more on this later. Lastly, the concrete should never be hand mixed if you’re planning on installing a lift over it. These considerations should be taken very seriously, since ignoring them could result in auto lift failure that can risk major personal injury.

The concrete slab also needs to be at a certain depth to safely install a car lift. A minimum of four inches of reinforced concrete is the standard, however, ideally, you should have at least six inches, and as much as twelve. If you’re using the opportunity to install a new slab in preparation of your lift installation, plan on creating a deeper slab that is anywhere between six to twelve inches deep and has a minimum PSI of 3,000 for the most optimal condition.

How to Install Lift on an Imperfect Slab

Even if your concrete slab isn’t up to par, there are still ways to make it work. If the concrete isn’t thick enough, or is too damaged or worn, you have a few options to modify the slab to safely accommodate the lift. In this case you will need to be prepared for some extra work and have additional tools ready.

Measure where you will place the two columns of the lift and dig holes large enough for the columns to fit. The hole should be at least two feet by two feet and around ten to twelve inches in depth. Simply pour concrete into the holes and you now have yourself a working slab to secure your 2 post lift. As always, you should adhere to the concrete requirements with any new slab so you know your workshop for your car lift is a safe environment.

SVI International: Connecting You with High Quality Automotive Equipment

If ever in doubt about what kind of lift or auto lift parts you need to complete a maintenance repair on your vehicles, SVI International is always here to help. As a leader in repair parts for automotive lifts, you can always expect a prompt delivery from one of our three warehouses across the United States. Reach out to us at (800) 321-8173 or complete our online contact form. Browse our selection of lift accessories and supplies or reach out if you are in need of something custom for your space!

You will not be able to run a successful auto repair shop without the right equipment. Without it, nothing separates you from a person with a home garage and a toolbox. Investing in some large equipment will elevate the level of service you can provide. Ideally, you would like to get started purchasing all your equipment before you open your shop. This way you can spend the time to find the best quality products, and the best sales.

When you wait to buy something until the moment you need it, you may deal with out-of-stock products or miss out on sale prices by rushing to make an impulsive purchase. This could even potentially push back the timeline of a repair, which won’t help the reputation of your shop. If you want to feel best prepared, here is a list of automotive service equipment every new shop needs.

Vehicle Lift

The heart of your shop, this will be front and center of any automotive repair space and thus will be used frequently. This is a purchase you will need to put some thought into before pulling the trigger since your safety is at risk if you go with a cheaper lift model. There are also many types of lifts to consider, from symmetrical and asymmetrical, to 2 post or scissor lifts. Figure out what kind of lift will best compliment your area of work, but as always, take notice of the quality you’re purchasing.

Air Compressor

You won’t get very far without an air compressor since it’s required for the operation of many other tools. You should look for the largest capacity compressor within your budget and power limitations. This will likely be your first purchase, so make sure it’s quality!

Jacks

Jacks come in all different sizes and are equipped with different capacity features. You know your repair work will require you to lift vehicles often, so investing in a high-capacity jack for your shop is essential. Since you are heavily relying on the safety of your floor jacks and pole jacks to avoid injury, never overlook the importance of getting top-quality.

Transmission Jack

While it’s important to have basic floor jacks, at times something more robust is necessary. If you plan on offering services where you will need to support large transmissions, consider purchasing a transmission jack. You should be able to find several additional uses for a transmission jack, as having it around will come in handy anytime you need to hoist something heavy.

Brake Lathe

While brake work can be done without one, having a brake lathe in your arsenal will allow you to perform brake repairs way more efficiently. Commonly used to fix noise issues, brake lathes help extend the life of brakes and therefore earn a valuable place in any repair shop. You may purchase an on-car or off-car brake lathe, which simply differs in how the lathe is mounted. Either one will accomplish the same goal.

Hydraulic Press

If you’re in need of crushing or bending metal material, look into the expensive, but useful hydraulic press. With this, you can separate rusted parts and straighten bent metal, which can really speed up certain repairs.

Engine Hoist

This will come in handy if you plan on doing work on engines that requires you to take them apart. Know the weight of the engines you will be servicing, as you will need a hoist that fully supports the weight. You will really appreciate this when it comes to installing engines in tight compartments.

Workbench

This may be something you didn’t think about, but most of your work will be done on a workbench. Make sure you have one durable enough to withstand strong impacts. Expect steel benches to last much longer than wooden ones.

Where to Get Your Equipment

Overall, you will need more than just the equipment mentioned above, but it serves as a good place to start since it covers most of the larger purchases. Start purchasing vital equipment as you can afford it and put them aside for when you’re ready to open your shop. You could keep an eye out for quality used equipment to save some money, just ensure all safety features are up to standard, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make sure the instructions are included.

As mentioned above though, it would be best to keep an eye open for quality equipment and tools. Partner with a reliable distributor to get you the parts you need when you need them.

SVI International: Connecting You with High Quality Automotive Equipment

If ever in doubt about what kind of lift or lift parts you need to complete a maintenance repair on your vehicles, SVI International is always here to help. As a leader in repair parts for automotive lifts, you can always expect a prompt delivery from one of our three warehouses across the United States. Reach out to us at (800) 321-8173 or complete our online contact form. Browse our selection of products and reach out if you are in need of something custom for your space!