It only takes a few seconds to do a shake test. Skipping it? That can total a car, and ruin a career. A video showing the aftermath of a vehicle falling from a service lift is now being shared as a cautionary tale across auto tech forums and shop floors alike.
A viral TikTok from mechanic Connor (@user1n47xf406) shows him and a coworker who looks straight out of Dazed And Confused looking at what appears to be a Chevrolet truck that’s slid off the lift at their repair shop.
“Does this mean we can’t go to lunch early?” the coworker says.
Someone has clearly made a big mistake, which Connor uses as an opportunity to urge other repair technicians to always perform a shake test on the vehicle they’re preparing to work on.
What’s a Shake Test?
A shake test is a quick, informal check that serves as the final step before lifting a vehicle to full height. After positioning the arms and raising the vehicle a few inches off the ground, the technician rocks it side to side to confirm it’s balanced and secure on the lift pads. This ensures proper contact with the vehicle’s lifting points and that nothing is slipping or unstable due to surface coatings, pad misalignment, or operator error.
While it’s not part of any official Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirement, the shake test is common practice among seasoned technicians and is often emphasized in internal safety protocols and industry training. The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) encourages pre-lift inspections and procedural discipline as a way to reduce risk from what are, at their core, heavy industrial machines. A technician standing under a 4,000-pound vehicle suspended in midair has no margin for error.
What made Connor’s video resonate is that it illustrates a basic truth: even routine tasks require discipline. The moment you let your guard down is the moment something slips, literally.
The Risk Behind Everyday Repairs
Auto lifts are ubiquitous in repair shops, tire stores, quick lubes, and even DIY home garages. But despite their familiarity, they’re among the most dangerous pieces of equipment in the auto repair ecosystem. Improper use or maintenance can result in catastrophic damage to vehicles and the humans working beneath them.
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According to KPA, a workplace safety consultancy, many lift-related accidents stem from small oversights such as:
Misaligned lift arms or worn contact pads
Failure to verify lift point positioning (especially on newer EVs with different underbody structures)
Ignoring unusual lift noise or slowness
Lifting too quickly or skipping physical checks under time pressure
OSHA does not have a specific standard that directly regulates automotive lifts. However, employers are still bound by the General Duty Clause, which requires them to provide a workplace “free from recognized hazards.” That means OSHA inspectors may cite an employer if a lift-related incident occurs and there’s evidence that accepted safety procedures weren’t followed.
ALI, for its part, publishes safety standards under the ANSI/ALI ALCTV certification. It also maintains a Lift Inspector Certification Program, which requires annual inspections that extend beyond visual checks. These inspections look at hydraulic leaks, cable tension, chain condition, arm restraints, and safety locks. Vehicles falling from lifts, whether due to improper use or mechanical failure, are among the most serious risks a shop faces.
One detail in Connor’s video caption stands out. He writes, “Fresh frame wax will slide if you’re not careful.” That line hints at a real phenomenon that can contribute to lift instability.
Undercoatings, rust inhibitors, or frame waxes, often applied at dealerships or detailing shops, can create slippery conditions on lift contact points, especially when applied thickly. If a vehicle’s frame rails are coated and the lift pads are worn or not properly gripped, the vehicle can slide under even modest lateral pressure. This is especially true if lift arms are angled or if contact is made with rounded or uneven parts of the frame.
In most cases, rubber contact pads are designed to grip the frame and hold it in place. But pads can degrade, harden, or wear smooth over time. Combine that with a slick frame and you’ve got a recipe for exactly the kind of failure seen in the video. Lift arm adapters, which are like frame cradles or pinch-weld supports, and upgraded contact pads can mitigate the issue, but only if they’re used correctly, and only if someone takes the time to check.
As Connor and his coworker learned, it’s best to be sure.
Motor1 reached out to Connor via direct message. We’ll update this if he responds.
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