Originally Posted by NWGACarGuy

So, after all the excellent explanations and research done by my fellow Forum members, I am now a newly converted "Extraction From The Top" Car Guy. All I have to do is save up the money for the equipment (and survive the current total brake job I am doing, but more about that later...)

There has actually been one more happenstance that helped with the conversion. I took my Porsche Boxster to my trustworthy and expert Indy shop for a full suspension refresh (yeah - at age 74 those days are behind me - thank goodness!). While I have touted the benefits of crawling under the car for an oil change and inspecting the components and parts underneath at the same time, it turns out that I missed some things that could only be discovered on a lift (or by a person with a rubber neck and X-ray vision). As you can imagine, most of the issues involved aged rubber parts and bushings that had broken in spots practically impossible to see on one's back. My Indy (who has done great work on my Crossfire) will actually do these inspections free (no mystery as to why, but they are scrupulously honest). So, henceforth, I change the oil from above, and let the pros with the lifts do the inspection underneath. On behalf of my back, my neck, my shoulders, and my skull (yeah - I invariably bounce my head off of something under there) I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for showing me the error of my ways, and pointing me toward the light (NO not THAT light! I am a young 74 year old Car Guy) Thanks!

I would appreciate some recommendations about some of the better units out there for topside extraction.