Vehicle by automotive lifts in a repair shop

Is It Time to Replace Your Automotive Lift?

When technicians are working under a vehicle weighing 3,000 pounds or more, they want to know it’s supported safely and securely. It’s reported that thousands of vehicle technicians are injured every year when using lifts, and regrettably, fatalities are also common.

While some injuries and fatalities are caused by lack of training, others are caused by neglect, primarily a neglect to perform needed repairs or maintenance.

Lifts become faulty and get damaged in a variety of ways. Accidents, like reversing a truck into a post, can occur, but the more common problems are wear and tear, and especially overloading.

Just like any piece of equipment in your shop, automotive lifts need to be professionally inspected at least annually for wear and tear.

Signs of Damage

  • Leaking fluid
  • Safety features are malfunctioning
  • Foundational cracks or fissures
  • Worn-out adapters
  • Deteriorated cables
  • Performance decline (e.g., slow operation)
  • The lift won’t raise

While it can be easy to spot signs of damage, it’s not as easy to determine if these signs reflect a need to repair or fully replace your lift, which is why it’s critical to schedule an ALI-certified inspection.

Generally speaking, most automotive lift issues can be resolved through repairs. However, the following situations usually indicate that a replacement will be more cost-effective for your shop:

You Can’t Find Adequate Replacement Parts

When repairing a lift, always use OEM or OEM-equivalent parts. These will be made of the right materials and processed appropriately to ensure they have the strength and durability needed. You can also be confident they’ll fit correctly, too.

If a lift manufacturer goes out of business, the supply of these trustworthy parts will quickly dry up. If you’re not absolutely sure the replacements you’re looking at are OEM standard, don’t buy them. It’s not worth the risk.

Unfortunately, this means that if your lift manufacturer has disappeared, your damaged lift will need to be replaced rather than repaired. That is costly, obviously, but it’s better than taking a chance beneath 4,000 pounds of car!

Too Many Components Need Replacing

Major spares for an automotive lift, like pumps and motors, can be expensive. If you’re presented with a lengthy list of replacement parts needed to keep your lift performing optimally, a new lift may be the more sensible decision.

What’s more, a lift that needs a lot of work has almost certainly seen a lot of use and may have been overloaded more than once. If that’s the case, there’s a good chance something else will fail soon anyway. Plus, an annual inspection might uncover other faults that need to be addressed.

Rather than risking a lift becoming a money pit, you may be better off shopping for a new unit.

Your Lift Has Been Frequently Repaired But Is Still Experiencing Ongoing Performance Issues

If repairs don’t resolve performance problems, there’s obviously something else going on. Perhaps there’s distortion in the floor or of the columns, or problems with cable or chain alignment, or hydraulic cylinder wear.

Many of these are not easily addressed, and repeated component replacement and lift adjustments clearly aren’t the answer. You could invest more time and money in trying to solve problems like reduced lift capacity, but at some point, it’s time to draw a line and decide to buy a new lift.

Your Lift Consistently Malfunctions

Repeated operating problems suggest some possibly serious faults. Servicing is the first step, but if the lift continues to malfunction, a replacement may be the most cost-effective and safest option.

There Is Extensive Damage to the Frame or Columns

Accidents and overloading can damage frames and columns in ways that cause ongoing problems. Even minor distortion can increase wear and operating forces, reducing capacity and shortening operating life.

Cracked welds are a particular concern, as these are a real safety issue. An annual lift inspection will identify this kind of damage, but it’s important to recognize that welds can’t be repaired.

So, the bottom line on any structural damage is that it’s difficult to fix. If any of this occurs, replacement is usually a better option than repair.

Find Your Replacement Lift Today

If you need to replace your automotive lift, Allied, Inc. can help. Our available lifts are engineered by an established manufacturer, Rotary, that has been in business since 1924, and is known for producing incredibly reliable, high-performance equipment.

Our team can help you find the best lift option for your shop, and can even provide facility design consultations if you are planning to expand or downsize your shop. If your shop is located in Michigan or northern Ohio, we can also provide ALI-certified inspections and repair services.

Visit our website to learn more about our available lifts, which are available for shipment across the U.S., or contact us today to speak with one of our product specialists.