"If you don't pull a wheel off straight when working on a vehicle equipped with ceramic brakes, it can be easy to bump and crack the rotor," said Ron Lainhart, parts and service manager for Rotary Lift.
"The MW-200 takes the risk out of the operation, You just position the wheel on the raised lift and roll the lift backward. There's no strenuous lifting, pulling or jerking involved."
Since ceramic discs are so expensive to replace, Mr. Lainhart said, investing in a mobile wheel lift "could pay for itself after just a few jobs."
It's not known what percentage of new cars come with ceramic disc brakes, but their use is limited thus far to high-end marques such as Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche models, along with the Chevy Corvette.
Replacing a set of ceramic discs could run as high as $10,000, according to various sources.
The MW-200 features three large rollers for holding and rotating wheels and tires weighing up to 200 pounds, Rotary said. The rollers allow the technician to align the wheel and hub without straining to hold a heavy load. The lift has a rise time of just six seconds to keep the repair process moving at a quick pace.
To use the MW-200, the operator simply connects the included air hose to a compressor capable of providing 100 psi. The lift's single-lever control allows for quick operation; an additional air tool hookup on the column reduces the number of hoses running through the shop.
The MW-200 weighs 135 pounds and stands slightly more than 5 feet tall. It lists for about $1,900, but distributor prices likely will vary.
Rotary Lift does not yet have a demo video posted.
