A standard four-post lift is built for storage and general service. An alignment lift is a four-post platform with slip plates, turntables, and a level, precision-flat pair of runways so the aligner can read true. If you already own a four-post and want to add alignment work to the bay, the middle path is a 4 post lift alignment conversion kit. This guide covers what is in a typical kit, what base lifts are eligible, how much shop time the conversion takes, and when it makes more sense to buy a purpose-built alignment lift instead.
What Is In a Conversion Kit
A 4 post lift alignment conversion kit is a bundle of the components that turn a general-service four-post into an alignment platform. A complete kit usually includes front turntables (turnplates), rear slip plates, pockets or brackets welded or bolted into the runway to hold both, rolling jack trays if the base lift did not have them, and, on some designs, replacement runway sections that carry precision-machined pockets. Kits from lift manufacturers are engineered to the specific runway they mount on, so the pockets line up and the plates finish flush with the driving surface.
Compatible Base Lifts
Not every four-post accepts a conversion kit. The base lift needs to be capacity-rated for the vehicles you plan to align, its runways need to be flat and straight, and there has to be enough runway width and length to fit turntables at the front and slip plates at the rear. Rotary and Challenger both offer alignment conversions for specific four-post models in their lineup; a general-purpose storage four-post from a low-cost brand is often not a candidate because the runway tolerances were never held to alignment precision.
Before you commit to a 4 post lift alignment conversion kit, confirm with your lift manufacturer or an authorized dealer that your exact model and serial number is on the approved list. Older lifts that have sagged, twisted, or been resurfaced may not measure true even after the plates are installed. If you are shopping a base lift right now with the intention of converting it later, spec an alignment-ready four-post from the start.
Install Effort
Installing a conversion kit on an alignment-ready base is usually a one-day job for two techs: lift the runway, drop in or bolt on the plate pockets, install the plates and lock pins, install jack trays, and verify runway level from front to rear and side to side with a laser or precision straightedge. Runways that need to be replaced outright to add pockets are a longer job. Level is the single most important step. An alignment rack that is out of level in any direction will not read true no matter how good the plates are.
Kit Contents Detail
Read the parts list before you order. Some kits include the plates and pockets but not the jack trays or rolling jacks. Some include the plates and jack trays but assume you will source air lines or hydraulics. Confirm exactly what is in the box and what you are expected to supply. For a full breakdown of what a four-post lift needs and how the pieces fit together, read the 4 post lift parts guide.
Front and Rear Components
The plates themselves are the same components you would buy on any alignment rack: front turntables that let the wheels pivot for the caster sweep, and rear slip plates that let the rear axle settle laterally. Both must be locked during drive-on and released before measurement. See our companion guides to alignment turnplates and alignment slip plates for how each half works.
Rotary and Challenger Kits
Both Rotary and Challenger sell factory conversion kits for their alignment-ready four-post models. The kit is matched to the runway pockets on that specific lift, and the plates arrive already sized and rated for the base lift’s capacity. Browse the Rotary aftermarket parts and Challenger aftermarket parts collections to see kit availability, or use the parts lookup tool with your lift model.
Convert or Buy New
The decision between a 4 post lift alignment conversion kit and a purpose-built alignment lift comes down to age, condition, and price. If your existing four-post is a current-generation alignment-ready model, a conversion kit is the right move; the base lift is already engineered to hold alignment tolerances. If the existing lift is old, sagged, or was never spec’d for alignment work, the kit will not fix runway problems and a new alignment lift is the cleaner answer. Our alignment lift buying guide covers what to look for in a purpose-built rack.
Budget Math
A conversion kit is typically a fraction of the price of a new alignment lift, but only if the base lift is a candidate. When you factor the conversion cost, the install labor, and the aligner itself, the total often lands close enough to a new alignment platform that the new-lift path is worth pricing side by side. Ask for both quotes before committing to a 4 post lift alignment conversion kit or a new rack.
Talk to a Specialist
A 4 post lift alignment conversion kit is the right answer for some shops and the wrong answer for others; the base lift decides. We help confirm whether your specific four-post is eligible, source the correct kit from Rotary or Challenger, and quote a purpose-built alignment lift as an alternative so you can compare. Call Auto Lift Services at 800-674-9302 with your lift make, model, and serial number, and we will lay out both paths and price them.
Our Clients Include: