I am here. Sorry about that. I did not even notice that I have PM's.
If your lift is squeeling, you can add Lucas modify to the ATF fuild. The "groan" sound is pretty normal. It is the sound of the pump.
I am around car lifts every day. I would not get under a lift that was not ALI certified. You have a lot of choices. My first choice is Rotary/Revolution. Second would be Bend-Pak.
I don't know of any other manufacturer that has a Double-catch system. With Rotary/Revolution, if the cable breaks while in motion, the car will not fall. With all the other lifts it will.
Look at the shipping weight alone, the Revolution is 500 to 1000 pounds heavier than the imported lifts = higher quality materials.
Since I started selling these lifts a few years ago, my cost has gone up over $1000 each. It is difficult to compete with imported lifts selling for $1800. I wish you could see the lifts side by side. You get what you pay for.
I have friends with these "imported" lifts. I won't walk under them, let alone do any work on a car on one. They make me way too nervous.
The August issue of Robb Report featured my garage and the Revolution lift.
Jerry