Learn All About Car Lift Kit

Aware about a lift kit? No? We have mentioned all the information that you should know about a lift kit. In order to raise the ride height of the vehicle, a suspension lift is used. Generally, it is done for the purpose of enhancing the off-road performance of SUVs or trucks and other off-road vehicles and sometimes also for cosmetic purposes. This allows steeper approaches, departure and breakover angles, higher ground clearance. Also, it helps in accommodating larger wheels and tires. Maximum safe operating angles are decreased due to raised centre of gravity. Road holding is also impaired at times.

A lift kit is an aftermarket product package that contains a number of parts that are required to lift a specific model of vehicles generally with instructions and customer support. Numerous kits are provided only with the rarer and lesser available parts, and the generic or off the rack hardware and parts are missing, thereby making the kit incomplete. Most of the lifts require a specific number of parts, for example, lift blocks, the spacers positioned between the axles and the leaf springs, and coil spring spacers and extended shocks, and special drifts, axles and a lot more. Increased number of extensive lifts need new suspensions steering’s and drive train components like replacement control arms, trailing arms, custom four-link system and drive shafts. Note that these changes are essential as raising the vehicle’s ride height impacts drive shaft length, steering geometry and brake lines. Installation procedures of suspension lifts often require legal permissions as many jurisdictions have changing laws on vehicle ride height and placement of lights and bumpers.

Here listed are the types of lift kits:

1. Lifted spring lift kits - We advise you to choose lifted spring lift kits if you are new with using the 4x4 vehicles. These allow you to fit the vehicle with larger tires and offer increased control in highway drives.
2. Coil lift kits - These offer superior ride quality, greater articulation and have cheaper springs as compared to the other kits. Although, for installation of these kits, welding of certain auto parts is essential (it works well with the truck works).
3. S/R (shackle reverse) lift kits - This kind of lift kits allow greater functioning or off-roading on mild areas that include forests, deserts and trails as it enhances for smoother ride experiences. We don’t advise these lift kits for high speed driving purposes (like freeways).
4. SPOA (spring over axle) lift kits - The SPOA lift kits offer maximum traction and make use of optimally lifted springs to keep other auto parts safe. SPOA lift kits are suitable for off-roading because of their optimal articulation.
5. Shackle suspension lift kits - If you are looking to add a few inches to your ride, then shackle suspension lift kits should be your first choice as they enable you to add larger tires to the vehicle. We don’t advise you to go for it if you have off-roading interests as they tend to affect the steering control.

Did you know that a truck lift kit tends to increase a truck’s off-road capability? Yes, it does so by creating greater ground clearance and increased space for large tires. These kits make travelling easier by allowing vehicles to clear bigger rocks and other obstacles that come in the way while driving off-road. Greater suspensions tend to smooth out bumps on a rough road especially while travelling at high speeds. We advise you to perform adequate research regarding the tire size and installation procedure before opting a lift kit for your vehicle.

There are a number of skilled auto mechanics who have a goal of opening their own car repair shop at some point in their career. But let’s face it; if you want to put up an efficient as well as profit making shop, then you might need much more than mechanical skills. There are a number of tools which you might need to perform the car repairs quickly as well as reliably. Auto repair equipment that you will need to repair your Lift Kit may include: 

• Jacks
• Jack Stands (be sure they’re properly rated for your vehicle weight)
• Wrenches
• Screwdrivers
• Torque Wrench
• Spring clamps
• Hammer

When it comes to vehicle owner’s choice, the brands really matter a lot. You might pay a premium for a specific car part brand, over time, as it has created a perception of quality, stability as well as trust. There are some leading car parts brands which are more than just products or services as they give rise to memories and emotions related with the quality. So have a look at some of the top brands for lift kit: -

Lift Kit replacement cost can differ wildly depending on application, the brand of the Lift Kit as well as who does the work. All you have to do is to replace your faulty Lift Kit with us online and then you can leave your car to the mechanic and pick it up a few days later. Just be sure that the car mechanic is highly skilled and has a good reputation. Sometimes the additional service level might cost you more than what you have expected. We also recommend you to take pictures of your car before you leave it with them so that you are sure that later on it is returned back to you in an unharmed condition. The cost for installation of a kit varies according to the manpower of the garage (exactly like the kits). If you get it installed through a professional, the costs will probably range from $400 to $1,200.

Often, removal of the suspension lift kit requires the truck to be realigned after the lift has been removed. Replace the wheels and tires according to the requirement if the lift is not over 2 inches. You can perform this checkup earlier in order to save time. Then when you will lower the truck, the tires and wheels won’t fit under the truck. The truck should be rested in jack stands until the process with the tires is performed.

Step 1

The truck should be raised on all four corners and be supported on jack stands. Then the rear should be supported on axle on either side. Jack up the axle properly in order to relieve weight on the spring. Finally, remove the nuts from the U bolts that hold the axle to the spring by utilizing the ½ inch air gun and socket.

Step 2

The bottom plate and the lifting block present between the spring and axle should be removed. Change the U bolts (with shorter bolts) by lowering the axle onto the spring. When the U bolts have been inserted through the holes in the plate, install the lower axle support plate. Perform the same procedure for doing it on the other side as well.

Step 3

Both the front wheels should be removed. Then move onto the front calliper, remove it and hang it up out of the way using a coat hanger so that it does not hang by it hose. Then the BAS wire should be disconnected. The floor jack should be placed under the lower arm control. Finally lift it so that it does not touch the control arm and remove the sway bar link.

Step 4

Remove the cotter pin from the bottom ball joint by making use of a wire cutter. Then you need to loosen the ball joint but make sure that you leave it on with five threads. Utilize a ball joint separator in order to remove the ball joint. Then remove the nut that is there on the top of the shock and remove the shock extender.

Step 5

Lastly, you need to lift the lower control arm using a floor jack enough to take the tension off the ball joint nut. Then the nut should be removed by lowering down the control arm. Then remove the coil spring too. Now the new coil spring should be installed by simply inserting it up into the frame housing. Grab the bottom of the spring and try to put into the receiver in the lower control arm as much as possible. Then the control arm should be raised slightly to force the spring until it fits into the receiver completely. You can also a pry bar to insert it into the pocket. Now that it has been inserted inside, raise the lower control arm to out in the ball joint into the bottom receiver of the spindle. Tighten the nut as soon as it has been inserted on the ball joint. The cotter pin should then be installed in the ball joint above the nut along with the shock to its original bracket. Tighten the nut and put in the sway bar link and then proceed to the caliper and connect it to the ABS connector. Perform the same procedure for the opposite side as well. Put the new tires and wheels after lowering down the floor jack. If not required, put the old tired and wheels back. 

Important: we advise you to be careful during the installation/removal procedure of the coil springs since they are under great pressure and can lose causing serious injuries.