Step-by-Step Guide to Adjusting Car Lift Arm Height

News 11/08/2024

Well, if you’re lookin’ to adjust them car lift arms, it’s not as hard as it might sound, but ya gotta pay attention, or else things won’t line up right and you’ll be in a pickle. First thing’s first, make sure that lift is up and runnin’, ’cause you gotta check them arms while the car’s lifted, ya know? Don’t do this stuff when the car’s sittin’ down on the ground, it just won’t work right.

Now, what you want to do is get yourself a handy tool. Some folks use a Spanish builder’s lazer—now don’t ask me why they call it that—but it’s just a plastic tube filled with colored water. You take that and use it to check if both lift arms are at the same height. If one arm is higher than the other, well, then you gotta adjust ’em. If you don’t get it right, the car might not be lifted properly, and that could cause a whole mess of problems.

Next thing to do is find that height adjustment mechanism on the lift. It’s usually a big ol’ screw or a bolt, something that you can twist or tighten to change the arm height. Once you find it, you can start turning it, but don’t go overboard—just a little at a time. You gotta be careful not to mess up the balance of the lift.

If you notice the arms are still uneven after adjustin’, sometimes you might need to add a rod extension. What you do is take that rod, cut it to size if needed, and insert the ends into the lift arms. Tighten up the screws on both ends so the rod stays in place. This’ll help make sure that everything’s properly balanced. Just remember, make sure it’s all tightened real good, or you’ll be in for a bumpy ride when lifting cars next time.

When you’ve got both arms at the same height, check ‘em one more time with that lazer tool. Everything should be nice and level now. If you’re still havin’ issues, it might be time to check the pump or the mechanics of the lift itself. Sometimes, a problem with the pump or hydraulics could throw things off, so don’t forget to check under the hood of that lift.

Now, don’t forget that efficiency is important, too. If you’ve got a busy shop, you want to make sure them arms lift the car up quick and steady. You don’t want to be wastin’ time ‘cause you’ve got uneven lift arms, or else your techs will be cussin’ and you’ll be losing money. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your ceiling’s high enough—at least 12 to 14 feet if you’re workin’ with a four-post lift. More space means less hassle.

All this adjusting and tinkerin’ is important to make sure that the car lift is workin’ the way it should. You don’t want the car tilted or uneven when it’s up in the air. That could lead to accidents, and I don’t need to tell ya how bad that could be. So take your time, check them arms, and make sure everything’s straight as an arrow before you start liftin’ any more cars. Ain’t no need to rush if you don’t want trouble down the line.

So, in short, check the height, find the adjustment mechanism, tighten everything up, and use that lazer tool to double-check. Keep your lift in good shape, and you’ll be good to go.

Tags:[car lift adjustment, lift arm height, car lift maintenance, auto repair shop, adjusting car lift, lift tool, vehicle lift setup]