safe spots to place 4-point lift arms?

[Delorean3610]

I have yet to have a problem with my car, but it pays to be prepared. If possible could someone reply with photos or a visual diagram of where it is ideal to place the lift points of an offset car lift. I only ask so if its an emergency I won't be delayed trying to find out. Thank you.

[DMCMW Dave]

I have yet to have a problem with my car, but it pays to be prepared. If possible could someone reply with photos or a visual diagram of where it is ideal to place the lift points of an offset car lift. I only ask so if its an emergency I won't be delayed trying to find out. Thank you.

There are 4 lift pads at the corners of the fiberglass body just inside all 4 tires. About 2 inches in diameter. Lift there.

[Delorean3610]

There are 4 lift pads at the corners of the fiberglass body just inside all 4 tires. About 2 inches in diameter. Lift there.

Thanks.

[jawn101]

Be VERY careful not to accidentally lift on the screws that hold the trailing arm shields. You're almost guaranteed to damage the tub around them if you do.

[SS Spoiler]

Wouldn't it be better to lift on the frame rather than the tub? You're depending on ten bolts to hold entire car.

[jawn101]

Wouldn't it be better to lift on the frame rather than the tub? You're depending on ten bolts to hold entire car.

Gonna say no on that. Think about it - if you lift from the frame, you'd either be using the front cumple extenision (NOT strong enough) and the engine cradle (maybe strong enough but the arms would be in the way of a lot of work you might want to do), or from the central spine - which would leave the car very unstable and liable to tip. Also, good luck lifting from the center spine without laying weight on the tub regardless.

Besides, you rely on those 10 bolts to hold the car together all the time anyway.

[delgato]

I have a question to add to this. I just bought a two post lift but have not set it up yet.

So should the posts be centered to the lift points?

The manual says the weight distribution is 38% front and 62% rear.

Should there be an offset of the posts to the rear to help balance the car while it is in the air?


Thanks

[jawn101]

I have a question to add to this. I just bought a two post lift but have not set it up yet.

So should the posts be centered to the lift points?

The manual says the weight distribution is 38% front and 62% rear.

Should there be an offset of the posts to the rear to help balance the car while it is in the air?


Thanks

No. The lift points are reinforced with steel plates. If you lift at the center on the fiberglass directly you will crack it.

[vps3922]

I have a question to add to this. I just bought a two post lift but have not set it up yet.

So should the posts be centered to the lift points?

The manual says the weight distribution is 38% front and 62% rear.

Should there be an offset of the posts to the rear to help balance the car while it is in the air?


Thanks

I will monitor this threat. I went to my friend to use his lift and he also has a two post lift. He said that he could see the lift start to lean when my car went up, so we only let it hover about two feet of the ground. He did not dare to lift it higher. He usually lifts VW Vanagons and Camper vans on it, which seem to be perfectly balanced, but the D is a different story. I was thinking of putting a few weights into the trunk to rebalance. Not sure if anybody tried this already.

[DMCMW Dave]

The car isn't that heavy, any 8000-pound commercial 2-post lift or higher will not even feel it.

Here's a car on the rack and the right lift points, no balancing necessary.

29934

29935

You will notice that we have the longer arms at the heavy end. Normally they would tell you do put the heavy and on the shorter arms but on a car that only weighs 2800 pounds its no big deal. It would be a big deal on a Suburban!

I have no idea why your guy is scared - does he ever lift pickup trucks?

[Mark D]

No. The lift points are reinforced with steel plates. If you lift at the center on the fiberglass directly you will crack it.

I think the question was regards to positioning the car relative to the lift and not the positioning of the lift pads. Yes, each pad needs to be in contact with the steel plate on the bottom of the fiberglass body, but there is adjustment in each of the 4 arms that will change how the car is positioned relative to the two lift posts.

Based on the uneven weight distribution of the car I would suggest getting the rear of the car closer to the two posts since the majority of the weight is over the rear crossemember.

[vps3922]

I have no idea why your guy is scared - does he ever lift pickup trucks?

Hmm, I do not know. He usually lifts all kinds of cars with it. And I guess that a VW Westfalia van is even heavier than our DeLoreans with all the camping cabinets in there.

Does it not increase the lever if you use the shorter arms on the front? I was thinking of using the shorter ones closer to the lift poles in order to decrease the lever of the heavier engine.

Sorry for sidetracking this post!

[vps3922]

Based on the uneven weight distribution of the car I would suggest getting the rear of the car closer to the two posts since the majority of the weight is over the rear crossemember.

My thoughts exactly.

[DMCMW Dave]

Hmm, I do not know. He usually lifts all kinds of cars with it. And I guess that a VW Westfalia van is even heavier than our DeLoreans with all the camping cabinets in there.

Does it not increase the lever if you use the shorter arms on the front? I was thinking of using the shorter ones closer to the lift poles in order to decrease the lever of the heavier engine.

Sorry for sidetracking this post!

Yes, ideally the shorter arms should go to the rear of the car, but the car is so light (2800 pounds) in comparison with what the lift is designed for (10,000 pounds) there is no problem. You could theoretically pick up the whole car with the long arms if you could balance it. Lifts are generally pretty over-engineered for obvious reasons. Unless you buy a very low grade one.

[Delorean3610]

Thanks everyone, the info you've been posting has been helpful. And when I have to eventually have to put it on the lift I won't have to worry about damaging the car.

[delgato]

Yes, ideally the shorter arms should go to the rear of the car, but the car is so light (2800 pounds) in comparison with what the lift is designed for (10,000 pounds) there is no problem. You could theoretically pick up the whole car with the long arms if you could balance it. Lifts are generally pretty over-engineered for obvious reasons. Unless you buy a very low grade one.

In my scenario it is not a heavy duty lift. In fact it is the Maxjax portable lift. It is rated for 6000 lbs so I would like to ensure safety when lifting a 2800 lbs item. Since the car is getting close to half the capacity weight I want to be as careful and mindful as possible.

Thank you all for your input.

[DMCMW Dave]

. In fact it is the Maxjax portable lift. .

That explains a lot. . . .