My 2-post lift anchors failed after 4 years in Richmond

Last month my two-post lift in Richmond started wobbling on the passenger side when I had my old Mustang up there. I had the bolts torqued to spec and the concrete checked when it was installed 4 years ago, but sure enough the anchor points had shifted. I dropped the car and spent a whole weekend digging out the old epoxy anchors and re-pouring the footings. Now I'm wondering if I should have just built a mezzanine shelf for $900 and kept the floor space open. The lift cost me $2,800 with install and it's been great for oil changes and brake work, but that scare made me question the whole setup. Has anyone else had their lift anchors shift after a few years, or are you guys still team shelf for long term storage instead?

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avery62915d ago

Concrete is a living thing, it never really stops moving. It shrinks and shifts with moisture and temperature changes for years after it's poured, and Richmond's freeze-thaw cycles just speed that whole process up. That's probably why your anchors let go even though everything was done right at the start. It's the same reason fence posts lean and driveway slabs crack, nobody notices until something heavy is sitting on top. You did the smart thing by re-pouring, but honestly, nobody talks about this when they sell you the lift. The shelf idea has its own appeal, but it won't hold a car for brake work. Take this with a grain of salt, but I'd bet most guys with anchors that age are sitting on a ticking clock and just haven't had a scary moment yet.

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