2-post lift install q's...

[BITRBO]

inspiration

[img]

Can't wait!

[Gujuhammer]

I was watching this video showing how long it takes this 57 year old guy to setup his MaxJax system. At the beginning he explains why he is setting it up and notes "I have a friend thats going to come over, we're going to do some work on his car...." I should have figured that the car needing work would end up being a B5S4 lol

That's my buddy Jay and yes he's talking about my car.

[getslideways]

/\ /\ Thats awesome, I was hoping it would end up being someone on here considering how many modifications were visible in the video. When are you convincing Jay to accompany your S4 with his Viper to collect some footage in Mexico? lol

Also I hope you were a good friend and bought him a new, stronger, container for his bolts

[jballou]

Wow, that took him a long time.

[Gujuhammer]

/\ /\ Thats awesome, I was hoping it would end up being someone on here considering how many modifications were visible in the video. When are you convincing Jay to accompany your S4 with his Viper to collect some footage in Mexico? lol

Also I hope you were a good friend and bought him a new, stronger, container for his bolts

He's a great guy and has taught me so much about cars.He's become very familiar with my car and hates the B5 S4 with a passion . That's me in the pic under the car replacing the front axles (Raxles)...You can see a seat there that he custom made so he can lounge while working on the car. I should be under that sucker this week to replace my lower control arms.

I'll see if we can get some footage in Mexico...He doesn't take it out too often (he has too many cars). He did get a stronger container ;).

This is one of the best investments he has made...The Max Jax is awesome. He has all types of cars and all of them fit on it.

It's a bit slower than a commercial lift but not slow. There is no difference btw the speed with or without the car on it.

[jpurre]

BITRBO, I'm coming over man. Let me know when the lift is ready

[BITRBO]

BITRBO, I'm coming over man. Let me know when the lift is ready

lol - no prob man. I'll warn you though, Wifey doesn't know it's coming yet so you may wanna keep your distance till the dust settles

[jpurre]

lol - no prob man. I'll warn you though, Wifey doesn't know it's coming yet so you may wanna keep your distance till the dust settles

LOL! I'll bring beer for us and chocolate for her

[BITRBO]

So my lift finally arrived last night and I'm starting to mock up the location. Just curious if folks centered their lifts at the mid point of the car or slightly forward (i.e. closer to the front bumper) to balance the load better? I know these cars are hella front heavy, but not sure how much.

The only downside to pushing it closer to the back of the garage is if I ever have the car in the garage reversed, the rear bumper will have to be really close to the back wall to get the same weight distribution. Then again, the only reason I'd really have the car in that position is for a motor pull, in which case the front end will be REALLY light so it's probable better to situate the car slightly rearward on the lift anyway.

Anyone have any thoughts?

[Monty23]

Well you are going to lift the car at the jack points under the car, so that should tell you where your need to place the arms of the lift. Also, I'm not sure how much room you have, but I would try and have the lift far enough forward so that you can park your car and fully open the doors.

[BITRBO]

So assuming the joint between the front and rear door is roughly the middle of the car, I would have to shift the lift posts rearward by at least 12" to clear the front door, which would really exacerbate the weight distribution issue IMO since I would be cantilevering more weight past the CL of the post. Alternatively, I could shift the lift posts forward, but it would probably have to be a lot more since the doors would basically be opening into them. I anticipate this would actually be too much weight shift toward the back of the car and I think it would risk stability even more...

Just out of curiosity Monty, is opening the doors 100% super important or just nice to have? Remember, I basically only have one (1) stall for my lift as the other 1/2 of my garage has storage racks and other crap, so I don't really have that much room to work with anyway.

[Monty23]

Opening the doors easily when parking your car in the garage and not using the lift is just a nice to have. I wasn't sure if you park your car in your garage a lot and it's something most people wouldn't think about until after the lift is installed, so i figured I would mention it. I would highly suggest purchasing some bumpers/pads for your posts to protect your doors in case someone accidentally opens a door and hits the lift. Also keep in mind the first part of the door to hit is usually at the very bottom of the door on the arm of the lift.

Maybe search for pics on Google to help answer your original question:

[jballou]

I have a map somewhere of the exact deminssion I used, from how far away the lift was from the garage door, to how far away it was from the front wall. Will have to see if I can find it.

[EuroxS4]

Im planning on putting in a lift in my garage next year.I'm probably gonna go with a full rise scissor lift only because it can be installed flush with the floor.So when its down nothing is in the way.I personally think thats the way to go.Only drawback is you cant really put anything on the lift that has a frame and not a unibody.Which is fine for me cause a truck wount fit into my garage anyway.Here what im planning on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxpr-6XvsSc


The only thing that might suck is access to underbody panel and fuel lines.However I believe they give you 3 or 4" rubber blocks to put under the pinch welds of the unibody if you need access to those areas,also the distance between the 2 platforms is about 43inches thats plenty to remove a trans or exhaust system.

[BITRBO]

Oh, that's slick! It's not like a standard scissor lift, cause it's split into two separate parts so you can work/walk under the middle of the car. Still a bit limited along the sides like you mentioned, but it looks like it goes much higher than a standard scissor lift which is nice; basically as high as most 2-post lifts, I reckon. I like it.

However, you'll have to heavily modify your garage slab in order to install this, unless of course you're building a new house in which case it can be incorporated into the design. The prior would be a ton of work though, and I'm not sure how much that Twin Busch unit costs, but to do both won't be cheap...

The nice part about the Triumph and the MaxJax is they portable systems that can be unbolted and stored off to the side if you want the garage space. You can also take them with you if you move, where as this might not be so easy...

[Ribbie]

I'd buy anything called "Twin Bush"..... wait different subject.

I have also bee considering lifts, and this is a great thread, great links.

Monty, what is the height of your garage door opener? I would have a similar interference concern. Especially if I put the wife's SUV on the lift.

[EuroxS4]

Wellon that note yes the slab to be modified.The good thing the lift comes with instructions for the slab.You have to cut out a square section of the slab and dig down 2 feet and use some 5000psi concrete or better.Overall install is not too bad.

This unit is bolted to the slab and can be removed.


In regards to garage opener solutions lift master makes a opener that has a jack shaft and can be mounted on the side of the garage door frame.If you worried about clearance of the actual door there is also high lift kits for the garage doors that charge the angle of the door.Instead of having a 90 degree bend and the door coming overhead over the vehicle they have rails that have 45 degree bend or less.


Reason I recommend this method.Well you can with a roll up door but they never insulate well and are a bit noisey and expensive.

Other solution is to wire a switch to the lift when it's in the up position it kills the power to the garage opener.