How Lift Kits Work: A Beginner’s Guide to Boosting Your Vehicle's Stance and Performance
Lift kits are a popular modification for trucks and SUVs to increase their ground clearance, improve off-road performance, and add a touch of rugged style. But how do these kits actually work? In this article we’ll explain the basics of how lift kits work, and break down how they raise your vehicle and the factors to consider when choosing a lift.
Types of Lift Kits
There are two main types of lift kits:
Suspension lift kits: These kits adjust the suspension to create lift and increase ground clearance. Suspension lifts can involve adding spacers to provide extra height, or replacing your vehicle’s springs or shocks with new lifted components. Suspension lifts can raise the vehicle by as little as one or two inches, or up to six inches or even higher.
Body lift kits: These kits use spacers or blocks to physically raise the body of your vehicle off the frame. This lifts the vehicle, but as you’re not altering the suspension directly it doesn't actually increase the suspension travel or articulation.
How Lift Kits Work
The way a lift kit works depends on the type of kit you install. Here's a breakdown:
Suspension lift kits: Spacer lift kits work by extending the length of your vehicle's existing struts or shocks. This is done by installing spacers to elongate the struts or coil springs, which effectively increases the ride height of the vehicle.
Alternatively, a suspension lift may use a replacement coil spring, leaf spring, or strut with a greater spring rate compared to the factory suspension. The increased spring rate provides more support to the weight of the vehicle, resulting in lift and improved off-road performance.
Body lift kits: Body lift kits simply raise the body of your vehicle off the frame without impacting the suspension directly. This is done by installing spacers or blocks between the body and the frame of the vehicle.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Lift Kit
When choosing a lift kit, it's important to consider the following factors:
Your make and model: Not all lift kits are compatible with all vehicles, and you’ll usually have to buy a kit designed specifically for your vehicle’s year, make, and model.
Your desired lift height: How much higher do you want your vehicle to sit? This can affect pricing and installation, along with the number of parts needed for the lift. Typically, lift kits above a 3 inch lift height will require more components.
Your budget: Lift kits can range in price from less than a hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. The higher the lift, generally the higher the price.
Your off-roading needs: If you plan on doing a lot of off-roading, you'll need a kit that can increase your ground clearance. It’s important to select a durable kit that will hold up to the rigors of off-road use.
Your driving habits: If you mostly drive on the pavement, you may not need the most extreme or tallest lift kit.
Lift kits can be a great way to increase your vehicle's ground clearance, improve off-road performance, and elevate your rig with a more impressive look. However, it's important to choose the right kit for your needs. With the right kit and installation, you can transform your vehicle into a capable off-road machine that's ready to tackle any challenge. Please contact us if you’d like us to recommend a lift kit for your vehicle! -TORCH