Things To Consider When Selecting A Suspension Lift For Your Offroad Vehicle

Making changes to your offroad truck or 4-wheel drive can have a positive impact on your vehicle and how it performs offroad. Suspension lift kits are among the first modifications most people make, allowing larger tires, more ground clearance, and more suspension movement when necessary.

Suspension Lift Kits

Several styles of suspension lift kits are available on the market, depending on the type of suspension your vehicle had from the factory. Some are easier to install than others. A leaf or coil spring suspension system can use replacement springs to increase the vehicle height, but there are limitations to how high you can go before the alignment starts to change. 

More complicated suspension lift kits replace some hardware like control arms, A-arms, and steering components to bring the alignment back to factory specifications. However, these systems are often more complicated to install than basic spring replacement kits, and it is often easier to hire a professional mechanic to install the suspension lift kit. 

Benefits Of Lifting Your Truck

Many people do not understand why lifting your 4-wheel drive truck improves off-road performance. While the lift does add more space between your truck's body and the ground, the real benefit of adding suspension lift kits is the ability to add larger tires to the vehicle. 

The lowest part of your 4-wheel drive is the space under the differential, and the only way to increase the clearance is with larger tires. Suspension lift kits open up space under the fenders for the bigger tires, and the tires increase ground clearance under the differentials and suspension.

On vehicles with independent suspension systems, the differential and suspension are mounted to the frame, and the larger tires are the only way to get more height under it. However, these systems can suffer from more alignment issues than a standard solid axle suspension.

Lift Kit Installation

The first step when installing suspension lift kits is to find a kit that fits your truck and is made to bolt on easily. Some kits use replacement mounts requiring you to remove the stock mounting locations and bolt new ones in place.

Once you select the right system, you need to remove all the old parts from under the truck and replace them with aftermarket components. If you have limited experience with suspension work, it is often better to hire a mechanic that has experience with suspension lift kits and suspension work. 

Once the lift kit is complete, it is essential to take the truck to an alignment shop and have the suspension adjusted to ensure the truck drives and handles properly. For more information on suspension lift kits, contact a company near you.