A Complete Guide To Suspension Lift Kits And Which One To Choose

1 What Is A Suspension Lift Kit?

A suspension lift kit is an aftermarket product that allows you to modify your vehicle, most commonly SUVs and trucks, by raising it a few inches and increasing ground clearance. This improves the vehicle’s off-road performance and helps avoid obstacles while driving through rough terrain. A suspension lift kit helps in improving the angle of approach and descent, which makes the vehicle more capable while climbing and descending. These kits also provide extra room under the fenders so you can install larger wheels and tires suitable for rough terrain. Apart from suspension lift kits, body lift kits and leveling kits are also used to change the vehicle’s height and ground clearance.

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2 Which Is The Best Type Of Suspension Lift Kit?

There are multiple lift kits offered in various sizes, ranging from smaller lifts to big lifts, depending upon the terrain and the vehicle you drive. The suspension system of a vehicle mainly uses two types of springs: leaf springs and coil springs. The following section will help you understand the various types of lift kits and which type is suitable for your suspension system.

Spring Over Axle Lift Kit

In many four-wheel-drive vehicles, the axle is positioned on top of the leaf spring. A spring over axle conversion is done by mounting the axle underneath the spring to achieve additional ground clearance and lift the vehicle. A spring over axle suspension lift kit is popular among rock crawlers who are looking for maximum articulation. This setup is useful on vehicles with leaf springs on both the front and rear axles. On vehicles with leaf springs at the rear only, a taller coil spring needs to be placed on the front suspension to match the raised height of the spring over the axle in the rear. The spring over axle lift kit is the easiest and most cost-effective way of lifting a vehicle.

Shackle Reverse Suspension Lift Kits

Shackle reverse suspension lift kits are specifically designed to offer a smooth ride to drivers when they are traveling through mild terrain areas such as deserts, forests, and scenic trails. Shackles are used to connect your leaf springs to the frame of your vehicle, and they allow the spring to move back and forth during the suspension cycle. One side of the shackle is connected to the frame and the other side to the eye of the leaf spring via a spring eye bolt. 

Shackle reverse kits allow the front suspension to travel in a more natural action when the spring compresses. In a stock suspension system, when the front tire comes in contact with an obstruction, the impact is partially transmitted back to the frame via the solid rear pivot point. Reversing the pivot point at the front of the axle allows better impact absorption by the spring and shackle. This kit allows you to use the factory leaf springs, saving you hundreds of dollars. Furthermore, some aftermarket leaf springs do not offer a high load rating compared to a factory spring because it is hard to duplicate. You can get a 10-inch and a 6 to 8 inch lift on your front and rear spring with a shackle reverse suspension lift kit.

Coil Suspension Lift Kits

Coil suspension lift kits are one of the most popular choices for several experienced off-road drivers, as these systems provide an excellent ride quality. Coil suspension lift kits use taller springs that have a higher spring rate to bear the weight of your vehicle and other modifications. These springs are stiffer than the stock springs and provide the desired stability to the vehicle by lifting its height. These kits come with bump stops and longer sway bar links that have to be replaced with the spring. Although these kits don’t include shock absorbers, you can replace them to get an excellent driving experience.

Shackle Suspension Lift Kits

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to increase the height of your truck is to replace your stock shackles with lifted shackles. Shackles are a vital part of a leaf spring suspension placed at one end of the spring pack and allow the change in length of the spring due to compression and expansion. You can increase the wheel travel and ride height by increasing the length of your shackles. Longer shackles ‌provide 50% more lift. For example, a 2 inch long shackle provides 1 inch of lift. Although longer shackles are cost effective and can be installed easily, they should be used in a limited manner. We also recommend using polyurethane spring eye and shackle bushings because they are more durable than rubber bushings.

Adding A Leaf Spring

Adding a leaf to your existing leaf spring suspension is another way of increasing the height of your vehicle. If you own a 4×4 vehicle with a leaf spring suspension, you can add an extra leaf to the leaf pack and achieve the required lift. There are several aftermarket options available, but this suspension lift kit comes with a downside. Adding an extra leaf increases the spring rate, making the ride stiff and rough compared to the factory setup.

Spacer Suspension Lift Kits

A Spacer kit is an inexpensive and easy way to increase the ride height of your vehicle. They can be attached to your vehicle without replacing or changing your factory shocks, struts, and springs. These suspension lift kits feature heavy-duty rubber washers that can be attached to the top and bottom of the spring or strut. This increases the distance between the axle and the frame of the truck. However, spacer lift kits do not offer any structural support to the suspension system and should not be used to lift the vehicle more than 4 inches.

3 How To Install Suspension Lift Kits On Your Vehicle?

Installing a new suspension lift kit is both difficult and easy because it depends on the type of vehicle you own and the lift kit. While some lift kits like strut spacers are easy to install, modern suspension lift kits with increased suspension travel are offered with differential drops and augmented brackets that need fabrication and expertise. We highly recommend consulting a professional for advice in case you don’t know which type of lift kit is best for your vehicle and how to install it. However, if you are planning to lift your vehicle using strut spacers, the following step-by-step guide will help you.

Tools Required:

• Jack
• Jack Stand
• Lug Wrench
• Threadlocker
• Rust Loosening Spray or WD-40
• Wheel Chocks
• Ratchet
• Socket Set
• Torque Wrench

4 Installing The New Spacer Suspension Lift Kit

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal to avoid electric shock or damage to electrical components during replacement.
2. Park the vehicle on a level ground and place wheel chocks to keep it from moving.
3. Use a lug wrench and loosen the lug nuts of the wheel.
4. Jack the front of the vehicle to a height that’s adequate for you to get underneath your vehicle and place the jack stands. Make sure there’s a jack stand are secured properly to keep your vehicle level. Be sure jack stands are rated for your vehicle’s weight.
5. Place a floor jack underneath the control arm to take some weight off of the suspension.
6. Remove the wheels.
7. Use a socket and wrench to remove the engine skid plate and splash shield to gain better access to the suspension assembly.
8. Now, disassemble the suspension components. Before doing that, disconnect the electrical wires and brake hose from the control arm and safely place them aside.
9. Start by loosening the sway bar and sway bar links. You can place a jack under the lower control arm and lift it to release the tension and remove the sway bar link easily. Use a rust loosening spray or WD-40 if the nuts and bolts are rusted.
10. Use a wrench to loosen the top and bottom strut bolts and remove the strut completely. Loosen the three bolts at the top of the strut where they connect to the upper control arm. You can also refer to our guide on how to replace a car strut assembly for easy disassembly.
11. Place the strut spacer on top of the strut mount and align the bolts. You can use threadlocker on the studs of the strut to prevent the spacer from loosening. Tighten the nuts and the spacer to the strut assembly.
12. Install the strut assembly back to the control arm and align the bolts on the new strut spacer with the holes in the upper control arm. 
13. If you removed your lower or upper control arm while removing the strut assembly, ensure they are adjusted properly. Failing to do so can mess up the wheel alignment of the vehicle. However, you can perform wheel alignment yourself at home to save money on labor costs.
14. Assemble the strut assembly back using a torque wrench and ensure that all fasteners are tightened exactly as described in the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
15. Reattach the brake hose and electrical connections. Replace your worn out brake hoses if they are damaged.
16. Reinstall the wheel and hand tighten the nuts before lowering the vehicle.
17. Remove safety stands and carefully lower your vehicle, keeping it level. Re-clamp your negative battery terminal.
18. Repeat the above steps for the left or rear suspensions. Installing spacers on the rear suspension is usually simpler, because of simple construction and lesser parts.

5 Precautions While Installing A Lift Kit On Your Vehicle

Installing a lift kit on your vehicle isn’t just about raising its height but also improving its capabilities and ride quality. There are many factors to consider when installing a suspension lift kit on your vehicle. A few precautions required while installing lift kits are mentioned below: 

a. Driving Dynamics

Installing a lift kit on your vehicle changes its driving dynamics. Raising the height of a vehicle provides better ground clearance for traveling on bumpy terrain with rocks, gravel, mud, and other uneven obstacles, but it also increases its center of gravity. The high center-of-gravity increases body roll and can also cause it to tumble over. So it is necessary to take measures to correct this and consider the manufacturer’s recommendations.

b. Riding Perspective

Driving a lifted vehicle can provide you with a clear vision of the road when looking far, but in the near vision, you may have many blind spots that can cause an accident. To reduce these blind spots and increase visibility from a heightened angle, you need to install bigger mirrors, blind spot mirrors, and relocate your side and rearview mirrors.

c. Overall Safety

Installing a lift kit and raising the height is not sufficient for making your vehicle ready to perform. You may have to make further modifications such as installing extended brake lines, better brakes and replacing the stock tires with larger tires to balance the look of your lifted vehicle. Changing your tires with bigger ones also affects your vehicle’s gear ratios. Also, lift kits have effects on steering geometry as well, and to balance this effect, you need a CV driveshaft, stronger U-joints, or steering stabilizers.

d. Steering Articulation

After installing lift kits, you have a lot of room for wide and bigger tires. However, do not get carried away and ensure your steering system can be completely turned without experiencing rubbing. Any hindrance in the steering system can get you in trouble and is very unsafe while driving.

e. Invest In A High-Quality Suspension Lift Kit

One of the most common way of lifting a vehicle is by using a lift block. They can be used both for coil springs and leaf springs. Though they look like simple blocks of metal, you shouldn’t compromise on the quality to save a few bucks. Even basic lift kits are offered with U-bolts, long studs, longer brake lines, differential mounts, transfer case extension mounts, and longer driveshafts. A cheap lift can drastically affect the performance of your truck. Therefore, it’s necessary to invest in the best suspension lift kit and take a note of what’s involved in the modifications.

6 What Are The Benefits Of Adding A Suspension Lift Kit?

Other than SUVs, trucks, and off-road vehicles, suspension lift kits can also be added to passenger cars and muscle cars as well. A lift kit provides better under-body protection against rough roads, especially while off-roading, and adds to the looks of the vehicle. To explain it in detail, here are some advantages of suspension lift kits.

a. Increased Ground Clearance

A lifted vehicle benefits from a higher road clearance. This helps you stay safe when driving over damaged streets or rough roads. It also makes your vehicle capable of extreme driving, such as driving through rivers, climbing up steep hills, or sand dunes.

b. Improved Visibility

The lifted-up vehicle provides better road visibility both in congested urban zones and off-road areas. It also allows you to notice potential dangers sooner and provides a better view of various areas of interest, including scenery.

c. Easy Access To Under Body

Better access to the undercarriage makes it easy to inspect and repair the vehicle. Especially when you feel uncomfortable in confined spaces.

d. More Space For Bigger Tires

Bigger tires not just make your vehicle look more impressive, but they also deliver a better overall performance. Stock suspensions limit you to narrow tires that have limited capabilities on muddy and snowy terrain. A suspension lift kit allows you to use off-road tires, which help you get yourself out of any difficult situation while driving. Even if you use off-road tires extensively, it’s a good idea to keep a set of street tires as well, so you can swap them while driving long distances on the road.

e. Impressive Looks And Better Road Presence

SUVs and trucks equipped with suspension lift kits look more impressive and have better road presence. These modifications also offer a higher resale value. If you are installing wider and bigger tires on your vehicle, do not forget to install fender flares for protection from dust and debris. Check your province laws in Canada to ensure you don’t get a ticket. Fender flares also offer a rugged look to your truck.

7 What Are The Disadvantages Of A Suspension Lift Kit?

While a suspension lift kit can provide some significant benefits, it also comes with a few disadvantages. A few disadvantages of suspension lift kits are as follows:

a. Decreased Vehicle Handling

Installing a lift kit raises the center of gravity, which affects your vehicle’s steering and handling. That means if you have a lift kit installed on your vehicle, you must be cautious when driving at high speeds or negotiating corners. Taking a sharp turn too quickly could lead to increased body roll and, in the worst case, a rollover.

b. Reduced Vehicle Mileage

An increase in vehicle height changes the aerodynamics of the vehicle. An increased aerodynamic drag can negatively affect the vehicle’s fuel economy. The fuel economy is also reduced when drivers put on larger tires. The increase in rolling resistance and the added weight further increase the fuel intake required for vehicle movement.

c. Warranty And Insurance

The major disadvantage of installing a lift kit on a vehicle is that it can void your warranty and insurance policy. This depends upon your manufacturer and the terms and conditions mentioned in your insurance policy.

8 Things To Consider Before Buying A Lift Kit

Adding some extra inches to your vehicle’s height is a great idea. Not only does it enhance the appearance, but also improves the off-roading capabilities of your vehicle. However, you may want to consider the following points before installing lift kits on your vehicle.

a. Warranty 

Any time you alter the structure of a vehicle, you risk voiding your vehicle’s warranty. Manufacturers differ on what does and doesn’t affect the warranty. If the warranty protections are important to you, check with your vehicle’s manufacturer to ensure the lift kit you are considering won’t impact the warranty.

b. Laws In Canada 

Every province in Canada has its own laws and regulations. Some provinces allow vehicle modifications, whereas some states have made such practices illegal. So, before finalizing on a lift kit, ensure you adhere to the state laws regarding vehicle modifications and legal vehicle height. For example, in Quebec, Canada, the lifting of the springs is allowed only to a maximum of 6.4 cm (2.5 inches). Furthermore, in Quebec, adjustable air suspension is prohibited, except if the vehicle was originally fitted with one from the factory. Quebec also has a limit on the size of wheels and rims with a maximum tire diameter of 89 cm (35 inches).

c. Insurance

As long as it’s within legal limits, a lift kit shouldn’t increase your car insurance premium. But you should consult with your insurer and discuss the terms and conditions of your policy before installing these.

d. Parking Space

Raising your vehicle’s height may well mean it won’t fit in your garage. So you must ensure your parking space, whether your vehicle is going to fit in that space or not, after the installation of the lift kit.

9 Do Suspension Lift Kits Affect The Performance Of The Vehicle?

While installing a suspension lift kit, the vehicle’s performance depends upon how you are going to modify your vehicle. Although the effects are not substantial, they are enough to affect your driving experience. Installing lift kits raises your vehicle’s centre of gravity and affects its aerodynamics, which affects its performance.

a. Speed

The impact on speed from lifting a vehicle depends on the type of lift kit and the extent of the height increase. If you’re installing a body lift kit in your vehicle, you can only raise your vehicle a maximum of 3 inches. Although speed is not an issue, installing a suspension lift kit can significantly hamper the cornering capabilities of a vehicle. If you have installed the suspension lift kit and have gone hog wild with your modification, it’s recommended to keep your speeds low, especially on corners, to prevent a vehicle flipping over.

b. Towing Capacity

The selection of a lift kit depends on your requirements, whether you are doing this for just appearance, off-roading, or towing. If it’s towing, you probably want to stick with a body lift kit. A body lift kit is more about changing the vehicle’s cosmetics than changing the vehicle’s mechanics. Installing a lift kit on a vehicle doesn’t affect its towing capacity and hitch location. However, if you are towing with your bumper, then you have to drop the hitch to lower its height. Similarly, after installing a suspension lift kit, ensure the hitch height is the same as the trailer height to ensure safe towing.

c. Fuel Economy

The body lift kit adds a few inches to your vehicle’s height, which increases the air drag. This results in reduced aerodynamics and decreases the fuel economy of the vehicle. If you are also opting for larger tires, the fuel economy of the vehicle can decrease significantly.

10 What Is The Difference Between Lifting And Leveling The Vehicle?

Both lift kits and leveling kits are designed to raise the height of a vehicle to make extra room for larger tires and to increase the ground clearance of the vehicle. A leveling kit only levels the front end of the vehicle for a maximum of 2 inches to match the stock height at the rear. It also allows you to replace the front tires with the larger tires, but they do not offer big enough room for off-road tires like the lift kits. Leveling kits have a simple design and are easy to install. The process usually requires spring spacers or torsion keys to get the job done.

Whereas the lift kits raise the vehicle much higher compared to body lift kits and give you enough room to replace all the tires with the larger ones. Suspension lift kit replacement is a strenuous task that requires new springs, shocks, control arms, differential spacers, transfer case mounts, longer shafts, and other components to raise the vehicle. They are offered in various types depending on your vehicle, riding style, and terrain. One can opt for 2 inch, 4 inch, 8 inch and even 10 inch suspension lift kits to achieve the desired height. Such an articulation allows you to install wider and bigger wheels. However, running larger than sock tires can also result in increased wheel offset.

11 What Are Body Lift Kits?

A body lift kit raises the body of your vehicle up by a few inches by adding spacers over the vehicle’s original body mount bushings while leaving the suspension and wheels at their original height. Most vehicles today use a “body over frame” construction. Installing a body lift kit simply requires removing the body of the vehicle from the frame and installing the blocks or spacers of the kit between them. The frame is then reattached with longer bolts. While installing a body lift kit, no adjustments are made to the suspension or other mechanical systems of the vehicle.

Pros And Cons Of Body Lift Kit

Body lift kits are usually the least expensive option that allows you to have more space for larger wheels and tires on your vehicle. These lift kits are specially made not to change the quality of how your vehicle rides. The lift kit installation doesn’t require the shocks to be replaced, retaining the factory suspension geometry and alignment, giving your tires more clearance to move. However, a common complaint with lift kits is the frame visibility, where the frame is more visible than it was before, creating gaps in the fender wells. Lifting ‌the body also moves the center of gravity for the vehicle higher, which can seriously impact how a car handles.