What is Symmetric or Asymmetric: Which should you buy?You can buy either type, neither is wrong, you just need to learn the difference. The two types were designed as a sales tool for lift manufacturers. Asymmetric lifts are not as wide as symmetrical. Hence you can fit more lifts in a given space. That is translated: "sell more lifts".
Now there are differences which possibly can make a difference to you. This is what you need to know about the differences between the two.
SymmetricA lift that sits square in the work bay. All four arms are the same size and shape. Also the same capacity in weight lifting. The auto being worked on is parked in the middle of the reference point of the two columns. Half forward of the columns, half rearward. This configuration works for vehicle, it is particularly good for service trucks where the on-board load is not the same on each quarter of the truck or car.
AsymmetricA lift that is mounted closer toward the front wall of a work bay. Often the columns are turned out, they sit at an angle related to the square of the work space. But not all asymmetric lifts are turned at angles. Some have the clevis of the column carriage built at an angle, still others do it by a design that mounts the swing arms at an angle.
The point is this: the vehicle sits with 1/3 of it's length into the lift with 2/3 of the vehicle out toward the bay entrance. To mount a vehicle this way the swing arms are different, right side or left. Each arm may have a different shape and the front arms are short, the rear arms are exaggerated long. the "center of gravity" of a vehicle sitting on an asymmetric lift is 18 to 20 inches behind (outside) of the lift center line. Thus you can open the doors wider than on symmetric lifts. the front arms are normally at right angles to the center line of the work bay, the rear arms are way stretched out toward the rear wheels.
Advantages vs. DisadvantagesRecall what I said at first, the primary reason for asymmetric layout of lifts was to sell more lifts. So, there is little reason to buy them other than a salesman gave you no other choice. Therefore, few reasons to buy one; you can open the car doors wide which is certainly a help if you are a big person, you do air conditioning service work, window or lock repair or trouble-shoot nasty electrical troubles. So, asymmetric is good in that respect.
Disadvantages: Not good for work on vans and commercial chassis. Dangerous for use with pickup trucks because 80% of the weight of pickups is in the front. Just removing the rear wheels of a pickup can cause its weight change to be precariously light in the rear. I have seen many teetering on a lift, even showing daylight under the lifting points! Always use under lift (tall) stands to supplement balance of vehicles lifted on asymmetric lifts.
Symmetric lifts pose no inherent dangers other than normal safety procedures with raising two to four thousand pounds or more six feet off of the ground. Then standing under it, beating on it, prying on it and leveraging it. BE CAREFUL! remember what I said previously about lifts beingthe same level of danger as a pet snake! More pet snakes bite people than snakes in the wild.
Good compromise Many lift manufacturers today make a lift design named VERSAMETRIC. It is a design where the front arms allow you to mount the vehicle in either configuration. You, the operator of the tool, decide where you want to position the vehicle. It is a better idea about lifting cars and trucks. You are going to be responsible for errors you make. Why not give you control of 100% of each situation? Remember to read your operators manual, be aware of safety rules as well as automotive lift industry safety standards. You can judge if your lift is junk or quality by what the seller gives you as literature. If you lift is cheap, you will not get any good literature with it to help you be safe, cheap lift builders do not care.
NOTE: You can contact the Automotive Lift Industry Association in Courtland, NY. They have training,
literature, videos, a whole building full of good information.
https://www.autolift.org/A good source of good information by good people.
