Asymmetric vs. Symmetric Two-Post Vehicle Lifts

Wrenchers Helps You Find The Best Working Angles

At Wrenchers we know that your workdays are busy in the garage. Pulling vehicles into the shop, jumping out of them, racking each vehicle on a lift, and making repairs leaves your days with a lot of items checked off of your To-Do list. One of the many things you have learned is that some vehicles fit the design of a particular two-post lift better than others. This means some two-post lifts might provide more room to enter and exit the vehicle next to the column, or have great drive-through clearance, and others really respond well to a specific weight placement while lifting.

Why is this? This is because two-post auto lifts are typically designed in one of two different geometric classes. Our engineers call these two designs by their technical terms, “Asymmetric” and “Symmetric” which often refers to the lift column positioning and lift arm assembly angles. Sure, there are dozens of added features available within each. However, both of the two basic styles provides unique working angles and vehicle lifting load centers, largely to best suit a range of vehicle weight distribution, vehicle sizes, and more. But which one is the better for what you do?

Yes, there are many benefits, features, and applications to consider. To start with, consider these 5 points first:

“Asymmetric” or “Symmetric”? Fast 5 Questions to Begin Choosing

1. Vehicle’s Weight distribution (Percent of weight at front and rear axles, 50/50 or 30/70?)
2. Vehicle’s Front door position
3. Vehicle’s Overall length
4. Vehicle’s Wheelbase
5. Any Extra weight (accessories or equipment) loaded in the vehicle

Asymmetric 101

See What Makes Asymmetric Two-Post Auto Lifts Different

“Asymmetric” auto lifts, as those provided by BendPak feature a 30-degree rotated column angle. This means that each post equally angles slightly outward toward the rear of the lift to allow useful vehicle door opening “swing” room. The 30-degree rotated column also enables the short and long lift arms to pivot asymmetrically, to complement the rotated column angles. The use of these short and long lift arms additionally allows the vehicle to be loaded on the lift as one-third to the front and two thirds to the rear. In other words, so the arm assemblies can reach farther to the rear. The benefit to this is that there is even more door opening room netted behind the column.

Since many of today’s passenger cars carry most of their weight over the front axles, the shorter front and longer rear lift arm assemblies are optimal for vehicles that are front wheel drive passenger cars, light duty pickup trucks, or crossover type SUV’s. This is because the asymmetric lift design allows a vehicle to be loaded on the lift with a rearward weight bias, thus netting a more equal overall balance.

Note that many other Asymmetric lifts from other companies do not use rotated columns, but instead simply use angled lift arm assemblies mounted to squarely placed columns, to provide asymmetric angles. Those types, do not have the added benefit of angled columns that open to the rear to allow more door opening.

Check out Wrenchers and look for BendPak lifts to find some great Asymmetric two-post lifts that feature Asymmetric rotated columns with accompanying short and long lift arm assemblies.

Symmetric 101

See What Makes Symmetric Two-Post Auto Lifts Different

When you think of a Symmetric two-post auto lift, think of a standard traditional two-post lift with equally situated columns and equal length lift arm assemblies. These “Symmetric” auto lifts incorporate squared columns (at right angles) so that the lift arm assemblies will pivot symmetrically through an even arc.

Since a symmetrical lift features equal length lift arms positioned from squared posts, they have the geometric ability to easily accommodate vehicles that are long, often heavy, and generally have a centered weight placement from bumper to bumper. This especially means many full-size long bed trucks and full-size SUV’s such as Suburbans. When vehicles as these are typically placed on a symmetric lift, the vehicle is positioned directly centered between the posts and the center-of-gravity moment is typically in the same area. Additionally, with larger vehicles this often means that since the front door is ahead of the posts, the front door can be fully opened.

Note that often trucks and SUVs with high ground clearance may require special adaptors (Car Lift Accessories) to contact the frame’s lift points. While the lift arms are of a symmetrical design, meaning the front and rear arms are of the same length, they also include points that can be extended to accommodate a wide range of vehicles with stackable adapters.

Remember

To choose the appropriate style lift whether “Asymmetric” or “Symmetric”, you will want to begin by evaluating what types and sizes of vehicles you commonly repair. This also means the vehicle’s weight distribution. Keep in mind vehicles that carry most of their weight over the front axle area will generally be best served with an “Asymmetric” lift than a vehicle that is heavier with more uniform weight distribution. In those cases, a “Symmetric” lift should serve larger, longer, and heavier vehicles best.

Also note that in many case a “Symmetric” two-post lift with adjustable lift arm assemblies can be adjusted to accommodate and lift many FWD vehicles, short bed pickups, and sports cars. However the benefits of an Asymmetric lift will not be available. But always be sure to check everything before lifting.