Lifting Vehicles Safely 1
What you need to know before lifting a vehicle 1) What type of body construction the vehicle employs 2) The arrangement of the Engine Drivetrain Drive wheels 2
Body Construction 1) Body-on-frame 3
2) Unibody Body Construction 4
Drivetrain Layout 3 ways that the engine, transmission and drive wheels are arranged 5
rear wheel drive front wheel drive all wheel drive 6
Four Wheel Drive 7
Using a Floor Jack A floor jack is used to LIFT a vehicle ONLY Jack stands keep the vehicle supported 8
9
Lifting a vehicle with a Hydraulic Floor Jack 1. Secure the vehicle apply the parking brake place transmission in park (automatic) or neutral (manual) place wheel chocks on each side one of the wheels which will remain on the floor (if on the 4 post place the wheel chocks on the front left tire) 10
Lifting Convertibles Is the car you are about to lift a convertible? If so, unlatch the top before you jack up the car! 11
Jack Placement - Unibody 2. On a unibody vehicle, the jack can be placed under the crossmember 12
Jack Placement - Unibody 2. On a unibody vehicle, the jack can also be placed under the tow hooks/eyes rear axle beam if equipped 13
DO NOT place the jack under the oil pan floor muffler 14
DO NOT place the jack under the steering or suspension parts 15
Placing Jack Stands 3. On unibody cars, jack stands can be placed under the rocker panel lips (pinch seems) 16
17
Lowering the car onto the jack stands 4. Lower the jack slowly & carefully! are the rocker lips rusty? if so, find an alternate spot to place the jack stands listen for strange noises! shake the car once it is on the jack stands check the jack stands again to ensure they are supporting the vehicle in the appropriate spot 18
Jacking up the front Lifting Body-on-Frame Vehicles Place the jack under the crossmember Jacking up the back Place the jack under the differential 19
Body-on-frame jack stand placement DO NOT place jack stands under the rocker lips! Jack stands should be placed under the frame & they can also be placed on the axle tubes 20
21
Lower the jack slowly & carefully! is the frame rusty? if so, find an alternate spot to place the jack stands listen for strange noises! shake the car once it is on the jack stands check the jack stands again to ensure they are supporting the vehicle in the appropriate spot Questions? 22
Using Automotive Hoists 23
Types of HOISTS In Ground 24
Types of HOISTS Surface mounted Symmetrical 25
Types of HOISTS Surface mounted A-Symmetrical 26
Types of HOISTS Surface mounted 4 post drive-on 27
Generic 2 Post Hoist Usage Guidelines ensure hoist s capacity is higher than vehicle weight be sure the vehicle is centered (front-to-back & left-to-right) automatic in park or standard in neutral adjust hoist to contact appropriate lift points refer to ALI Lifting Guide lift hoist until it just makes contact with vehicle verify hoist will contact correct lift points & re-adjust if needed raise vehicle 2-3 inches off the ground shake vehicle ensure it is stable! verify vehicle has not shifted on the hoist arms lift hoist to desired height lower vehicle onto mechanical safety locks begin working on the vehicle! when lowering vehicle: Yell coming down! 28
Examples of Contact Pads & Adapters 29
30
Body-on-Frame Contact Point note the use of pad extensions 31
Two-post Hoist Operation (Raising) Center vehicle front to back & left to right, once the vehicle is centered apply the emergency brake and follow these 8 steps to raise it: 1. Align contact pads with vehicle 2. Raise arms to first contact of vehicle 3. Verify placement of arms 4. Lift vehicle 10cm off the ground 5. Shake vehicle 6. Double check hoist arm placement 7. Raise to desired height 8. Lower onto locks Push this button to raise the hoist Push this lever to lower the hoist Yell Hoist going Up every time you lift the hoist. 32
Lowering the Two-Post Hoist 1) Make sure all people and equipment are clear and Yell Hoist going UP 2) Raise the hoist to clear the safety mechanism 3) Ensure the area under the hoist is clear of people, parts & tools and Yell Hoist Coming Down 4) Dis-engage safety lever 5) Push the lowering lever to lower the vehicle 6) Remove and place hoist arms in proper positions 33
Safety Stands Safety stands should be used when removing engine mounts, transmissions etc. they can also be used to stabilize the vehicle when loosening tight fasteners or when applying torque to parts during repair 34
Four-post Hoist Operation (Raising) 1. Center vehicle front to back & left to right on the ramps 2. Once the vehicle is centered apply the emergency brake 3. Place wheel chocks on the front left tire to make sure the vehicle will not roll 4. Yell Hoist going up 5. Raise hoist to desired height allowing all 4 locks to click 6. Lower hoist onto safety locks Push this button to raise the hoist Push this lever to lower the hoist 35
Lowering the Four-post Hoist 1. Yell Hoist going up 2. Raise hoist off all 4 safety locks 3. Yell Hoist Coming Down 3. Hold the lever on the right to dis-engage the safety locks 4. Push down on the lowering lever to lower the hoist to desired height (If you are not lowering it all the way to the floor you must place it on another set of safety locks) Push this button to raise the hoist Push this lever to lower the hoist Hold this lever to release the safety locks while lowering the hoist 36
37
That s it Got all that? 38