2 post lift parts are the wear items on the two-column vehicle lift in your shop – equalizer cables, hydraulic cylinders, arm restraint pins, lock ladders, pad adapters, motors, and hoses. If the lift you own is a symmetric or asymmetric 2 post lift (Rotary, Challenger, Forward, BendPak, or something older), this page walks through what we stock, how to identify the right 2 post lift parts for your specific lift, and how the fitment-check process works.
Rotary, Challenger, Forward, BendPak. In stock ships same day.
The three symptoms every 2 post lift parts call is about
Ninety percent of the 2 post lift parts phone calls we take are about one of three specific problems:
- One side climbing or dropping faster than the other – almost always the equalizer cables, replace as a matched set.
- Lift dropping or bleeding down over 24 hours empty – the hydraulic cylinders or their seals. Often the seal kit is enough, sometimes the whole cylinder.
- Arms drooping under load or feeling loose – arm restraint pins wearing out. Pin kit fixes mild wear, arm restraint assembly for severe wear.
Match your symptom to one of the three and the 2 post lift parts search gets much faster. Give us the lift model, serial number, and symptom on a phone call and we usually have the right SKU on the shelf within a minute.
Where to find your 2 post lift model and serial
Every 2 post lift ever built has a metal data plate riveted to one of the columns. Almost always on the drive-side (motor-side) column, front face, about waist-high. That plate shows the manufacturer, the model number, the serial number, and often the year of manufacture. Snap a phone photo of the plate before you call for 2 post lift parts – having those numbers on hand cuts every parts conversation in half.
Common 2 post lift parts we stock by brand
Rotary 2 post lift parts
The classic Rotary 2 post lift lineup – SPO/SPOA symmetric and asymmetric families in various capacities. Top-turn parts: FJ7101, FJ7114, FJ7122, FJ7421, N346 cylinder, N372 and N378 cables, arm restraint kits, lock ladders. See our Rotary lift parts page for the deeper breakdown.
Challenger 2 post lift parts
CL10, CL10V, CL12, CL15V, CL16, and heavier lineup. Different part number system from Rotary – do not cross-shop numbers. Common items: equalizer cable sets, arm restraint kits, cylinder assemblies, lock assemblies. See our Challenger lift parts page.
Forward 2 post lift parts
Forward is Rotary’s sister brand under VSG (Vehicle Service Group). Many Forward part numbers cross to Rotary and vice versa – we can look up either way. If your Forward parts book is missing, hand us the model and serial and we will confirm the current number.
BendPak 2 post lift parts
XPR-series and HDS-series 2-post lifts. Separate parts family from Rotary/Challenger. Common items: cables, hydraulic power units, arm restraint components. Lead times sometimes longer than Rotary/Challenger – if your lift is down we will tell you honestly.
OEM versus aftermarket 2 post lift parts
Safety-critical 2 post lift parts (cables, cylinders, lock ladders, seals) – stick with OEM or true OEM-equivalent. The tolerances on these parts are exact. A cable a fraction off the correct length will not equalize the lift correctly and wears the sheaves prematurely. A cylinder with the wrong bore cannot achieve rated capacity. Do not shortcut on load-bearing parts.
Aftermarket is fine for consumables – bumper pads, decals, cosmetic covers, hydraulic fluid, general mounting hardware.
Shipping and lead time
In-stock 2 post lift parts ship same-day when ordered by early afternoon Central time. Non-stock or specialty items come in from our distributor or the manufacturer in three to seven business days. Anything backordered we flag before you check out, not after. For emergency shop-down situations, mention it on the call and we route the fastest option.
Install and service help
Many 2 post lift parts are DIY-friendly for a shop tech – cable sets, pads, hoses. Others are jobs where a mistake creates a safety problem – complete cylinder swaps, lock ladder replacements, motor and power unit changes. Our install crews handle these every week and can quote a service visit alongside your parts order. Central Iowa is our home zone; outside that we handle remote diagnosis-plus-shipped-parts, which works well when your team is comfortable on the wrench work but wants a second opinion on which parts to order.
What to do if you are unsure
Call 800-674-9302 with your 2 post lift model, serial, and a description of what the lift is doing. If you can send a photo of the failed part or the symptom (cable fray, oil leak location, motor housing) that closes the diagnosis fast. We do not push 2 post lift parts you do not need – if a $60 seal kit will fix the problem instead of a $700 cylinder, we tell you.
Wear expectations on 2 post lift parts by mileage
How often do 2 post lift parts actually wear out? Rough guidance from what we see in the field: equalizer cables typically go 8 to 12 years on a busy shop lift, longer on a home garage lift that only runs a few times a week. Hydraulic cylinders last 10 to 15 years before seal replacement, often 20+ before the cylinder body itself needs swapping. Arm restraint pins usually go 10 years or more. Lock ladders often outlast the rest of the lift. Motors and power units are usually the second thing to fail after cables – most last 10 to 15 years of shop service. Every one of these numbers assumes you are doing basic maintenance (fluid changes, cable inspection, lubrication) – a neglected lift wears out much faster.
Buying 2 post lift parts for older lifts
If your 2-post is 20 or 30 years old, do not assume 2 post lift parts are unfindable. Rotary, Challenger, and Forward all keep production runs available for older lifts, and many parts crossed-referenced through revisions still ship as current numbers. Older Ammco lifts (absorbed by Challenger years ago) have crossover into current Challenger part numbers. Wheeltronic, Direct Lift, Ben Pearson, and other legacy brands still have parts available for common items through the aftermarket. Bring the plate photo and we will tell you honestly what we can source.
Ready to order 2 post lift parts? Search our store or call with the plate data and we will confirm fitment first.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three most-replaced 2 post lift parts?
Equalizer cables (one side climbing faster than the other), hydraulic cylinders (lift dropping or bleeding down), and arm restraint pins (arms drooping under load). Match your symptom and we will pull the right SKU.
Do I have to replace both equalizer cables on a 2 post lift?
Yes. Always replace as a matched pair. A fresh cable installed opposite a stretched old cable will still cause uneven travel because the two sides are at different working lengths.
How long do 2 post lift cables last?
8 to 12 years on a busy shop lift. Longer on a home garage lift that only runs a few times a week. Any visible broken strand means take out of service per ALI.
Can I buy 2 post lift parts for a lift that is 20 years old?
Yes, in almost every case. Rotary, Challenger, and Forward keep older production runs available and many older numbers cross-reference to current parts.
Should I buy OEM or aftermarket 2 post lift parts?
For safety-critical items (cables, cylinders, lock ladders) go OEM or true OEM-equivalent. For consumables (pads, fluid, cosmetic covers) aftermarket is fine.
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