What transmission jack is everyone using?

I've got a 4 post lift and want to get a transmission jack. Was having my lift serviced today and was talking to the tech about getting a bridge jack to lift the car off the deck.

He suggested getting a tranny jack instead and lifting the car, placing the jack, then lowering the lift. That'll lift the car off the deck and let me place my jack stands. Says alot of his customers use them like that.

Sounds good to me, so what is everyone using? I'd like a high capacity one if I plan on supporting the back end of a car with it, even for a short period of time...

Maybe I am wrong, but to me thats not a good idea.

I'll use as an example my e36 M3. If you lift the tranny like that, the transmission mounts and even the motor mounts would not last. You would be hanging the car off of those rubber pieces.

If you place the jack under a cross member ... How much weight is a tranny jack good for?

I say you buy the bridge jack you were originally thinking about and not cut corners when lifting a car.

Just my 2 cents.

Bridge jack won't work with my lift. I wouldn't use the tranny jack under the tranny like that, I'd put it under the rear diff and the front cross member.

I do have the same reservations as you though, the tranny jacks I've been seeing for sale have a 1000lb capacity. That's not enough for my intended use. Unless I get one that just spins up by hand, no hydraulics in it. I believe that's what the tech was suggesting...

I'm not 100% sure of what the heck was described in the first post..

But the correct answer is 2 post lift and buddies lured over with beer to pull the trans.

I already have a 4 post lift. I'm not going to sell it to get a 2 post lift.

Wait a minute.

Do you want to pull a trans or just lift it so the suspension is drooping?

If so - Ranger Quickjack on the decks seems like a solid plan. You didn't state what you're lifting, if its a unibody car no problem, if it has frame rails that are located further in may not work.

Edit:

What I'm looking for is a good way to lift the car up off the deck of my 4 post lift. That way I can place jack stands on it and do wheels off work.

Just looked up the Ranger Quickjack. Not sure the stack height will fit underneath my 951. Plus I'd have to get the 5000lb+ capacity one so it'd lift my Cayenne and my wife's GX470.

Not cheap at over $1000. At that point I'd be better off selling my current 4 post lift and just buying a brand new 2 post lift.

From what the tech was talking about I just dual purpose a tranny jack. That way not only would it support the car long enough for me to place jack stands, but I'd also have it for tranny removal.

So in summary I'm looking for a safe, relatively cheap (like a few hundred dollars) way of lifting my car/SUV's up off the deck of my 4 post lift so I can do wheels off work on them...

Doh forgot that link before:

http://www.bendpak.com/Shop-Equipment/QuickJack/

The 5k goes 22in high. There are SUV adapters available too for more height:

http://www.bendpak.com/Shop-Equipment/QuickJack/SUV-and-Light-Truck-Adapter-Set.aspx

I'd personally go the Quickjack route and IF you ever need to pull a trans, just buy one of these. I use something similar to this at work:

http://www.garageautoequipment.com/mobile/product.aspx?ProductCode=RTJ-1100&gclid=CILf7--VmscCFZSCfgodWPYIAA&Click=1016&utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=shoppingengine

Edit: if getting a 2 post is out of the question They're just so much better for doing actual work and not being in the way IMO. Is it used primarily just for storing multiple cars in one space or something?

What brand/model 4 post do you have?

It's one of the basic 4 post hobby lifts, 8000lb capacity. I picked it up used locally and it appears to be a no name lift. Works well, just today I had the pump and reservoir replaced.

Pretty much all of these lifts are made in China, including the Bend Pak and Rotary branded ones, so they're all very similar. However some are setup to use a bridge jack with and some aren't. Apparently mine isn't and I wasn't even aware there was that distinction when I got it.

My plan was to eventually get a bridge jack so I'm a bit bummed to find out one won't work with my lift.

Hmm, just found this...

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_150887_150887?cm_mmc=Aggregates--Shopping--Automotive>Commercial%20Trucking-_-143521#close

Looks like it'll do what I'm looking for. Easily has the capacity to hold up one end or the other of my cars/SUV's while I can place jackstands...

What do you guys think?

Here's a bridge jack that may work. Looks like I can configure it so it sits on the main deck of my lift. No wheels on it though, so moving it forward/aft may be a PITA.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sliding-Bridge-Jack-Automotive-Auto-Car-3500-lb-Capacity/261087029552?_trksid=p2050601.c100085.m2372&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D32105%26meid%3Dc104f54db3d946fc86825a3202fbdd5b%26pid%3D100085%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D261087029552%26clkid%3D8136734701442531938&_qi=RTM2067267

It could be very unstable depending on where/what you're lifting.

I'll occasionally use pin jacks(like that but not rated as overkill) to compress suspension to torque down an a-arm or something(when on a 2 post lift), if you try to do it to both sides at once the whole car will sway side to side and its pretty scary.

I'd be concerned intentionally lifting one end like that with such a long pivot point for it to sway one way or the other.

It may be more stable with 2 wheels on the deck as opposed to lift arms securing the opposite end, but I'd not be wanting to do it when the other end is on jackstands. Which WILL want to slide around on the 4 post deck unless you do something to prevent it.

My $0.02.

docwyte wrote: Hmm, just found this... http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_150887_150887?cm_mmc=Aggregates-_-Shopping-_-Automotive>Commercial%20Trucking-_-143521#close Looks like it'll do what I'm looking for. Easily has the capacity to hold up one end or the other of my cars/SUV's while I can place jackstands... What do you guys think?

That's more like an extra tall heavy duty jack stand. I can't see raising a vehicle by turning those short handles. However, I think you could use it for what you want. Raise the car up on the lift, put the stand under the diff, lower the lift, and put your jackstands under. It could then act as an extra jackstand to help support the vehicle.

Hal, nope I'd do exactly as you describe.

Lift the car up on the lift, place the stand under the diff or front crossmember and lower the lift until that end of the car is up in the air. Then place my jack stands under the car and drop it down until the car is now supported by the jack stands.

That way I can do wheels off work on the car while having it on my lift. Seems like that Northern Tool stand will do exactly what I need it to do and give me the flexibility I'm looking for and not cost a ton of money...

Looks like Amazon sells them and ship free for Prime members. Plus they're cheaper than Northern Tool. They have a few different models, but I can't see any difference between the SJ-35 and the SJ-35H or SJ-40 other than price.

You'd think the more expensive ones would have a higher weight capacity or lift higher, but all three seem exactly the same in that regard.

Here's a table with differences. Mainly height and base bottoms. Edit: there are a few different SJ35 models one goes higher than the rest.

http://www.vestilmfg.com/products/ldsol/stabilizing_jacks.htm

Hmm, looks like they're all the same with the exception of the SJ35-EF, which has wheels, can go up another 6" and weighs more than twice as much.

Might as well just get the SJ35 then, since my lift will be raising the car...

The difference between the SJ35 and the SJ35-2H is the number of handles!