The following article is an overview of majority of different lift kit types, available for purchase and installation on the present-day market. It will help explain their different advantages and disadvantages, while proving or disproving any and all related questions.
An Overview for Beginning
If you own a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle while considering engaging in 4x4ing, off-roading, or showing your rig off at different automotive events, then getting a proper lift job should be on the list of things to do. Modern-day aftermarket offers a considerable variety of different types of lift kits, which are ideal for raising your vehicle several inches higher, stiffening handling, improving its driving characteristics, and so on. These kits are designed as true works of suspension-engineering art, while allowing the SUVs and pickup trucks to take on any roads, terrains, or onlookers. The products are offered by a range of different manufacturing companies, including ReadyLIFT, BDS, Skyjacker, Pro Comp, Rough Country, and various others. Engineering-wise, these kits work in different ways, all while attaining the very same goal – helping you raise your vehicle.
Essentials First
In general, the actual number of kits created to raise the vehicle's front amounts up to seven. Strut-extending kits are also called above-coil spacer kits. Pre-load kits are also known as in-coil spacer kits. Combination units come with spring seats, which can easily be adjusted, while also featuring in-coil spacers. Coilover kits are offered with durable new springs. Then there are drop-bracket, body, and spindle lift kits. Besides, solid-axle and long-travel products are also available. Rear-end lift kits include four major types. They come with shackles, leaf packages, additional leaves, and blocks. There’s some space for debating, however, one issue must be fairly understandable: the actual service life of the products you purchase and install depends on exactly how hard you are going to push your vehicle during off-roading or 4x4ing.
Front-End Lifting Methods
Above-Coil Kits
These kits are specifically engineered to elongate the coil assembly, thus lengthening the actual space between the control arms and rim hubs, all while raising the vehicle. Above-coil kits come with several advantages: first, one doesn’t need a proprietary spring compressor in order to complete their mounting; second, the kits are among some of the cheapest ones on the modern-day market. However, regardless of the aforementioned, above-coil kits are known to cause certain damages to the suspension, especially during full-down movement, aka full droop. In general, this occurs because the lengthened assembly is not compatible with O.E. suspension parts. Also, the arms' length should be increased altogether with the coil length. If you won't perform the latter, these parts will be outside of the engineered limits whenever the suspension moves fully down. Some other considerations should include above-coil kits damaging the upper arms. Besides, to mount one of these kits, one might require a special ratchet strap and pry bar, which are necessary for fitting the new coils in.
In-Coil Spacer Kits
These kits aren’t designed to lengthen the coil at all; on the contrary, they lessen the actual amount of tension by using up some space within the coil windings. In general terms, this is known as pre-loading, with the billet lessening the space inside the coil, thus shortening the spring length. In this way the coil’s spring rate is changed, which then lifts the vehicle up, with the coil offering greater resistance in its pre-loaded state. These kits have several advantages: if you can lay your hands onto a powerful spring compressor, then they become easy to mount, without any prying alike to the above-coil kits; in-coil kits are also fairly affordable. Unfortunately, the kits have certain disadvantages, including lesser up-travel and hence worse quality of handling. The inner mechanics work as following: the spring itself isn’t loaded, while only getting shortened, with the quality of ride not being affected by a stiffer / shorter spring. Besides, the lesser up-travel can also be problematic with these kits, with the vehicle getting more edgy during harsher driving, with the latter being detrimental to the suspension.
Combination Kits
These kits are created to utilize proprietary spacers, which are inserted either above or inside the coil, in order to attain greater lift. Because they utilize both of the aforementioned types of lift, the actual disadvantages of their designs are brought down to a minimum, with both benefiting from the advantages present. In general, majority of the kits using spacers on the inner side, including adjustable shocks, can be considered being in this classification. Leveling kits that are based on the shocks can provide excellent cost-to-benefit ratios. Their price can equal that of the above- or in-coil spacers, while also including brand-new shocks. However, one of their main disadvantages is that they offer only up to 2.5” of extra space. One should always keep in mind that the spacer lifts are usually used for raising and leveling the front end. If your vehicle won't be used for 4x4ing or off-roading, most likely you won't experience any negative issues.
New Coil Springs and Coilover Kits
Both the new coil springs and coilover kits are regarded as being among the finest in lift kit choices, aside from long-travel kits. Coilover kits come with such components as shocks, springs, and proprietary hardware. If you plan to purchase and install one of these kits, then you can effortlessly raise your vehicle by utilizing a special ring, which can easily be adjusted to lessen the spring tension. Coilover kits are considered to be better than just spacers, simply because they are offered with new springs, engineered for specific usage. These springs are ideally tuned for the actual lift that the kit is designed to ensure, thus lessening any and all damages to the suspension, which can occur because of considerable off-roading or 4x4ing.
Drop-Bracket Lift Kits
These components are fairly easy to understand. Simply go ahead and visualize a newly-installed sub-frame section, secured at the lower portion of your vehicle’s frame. Once in place, all of the parts are mounted onto it, while ensuring that the rig is raised by several inches. Drop-bracket kits offer considerable advantage over others - they are mechanically simple, while raising your vehicle by up to 6”. Such gains are fairly hard to attain by utilizing spacer lift kits. Besides, they will ensure that your vehicle’s handling qualities remain the same. However, these kits also have certain disadvantages. The primary one is their high price, which sometimes can get up to $2700, and that’s without the labor costs. These kits can be somewhat hard to mount, even more so if you are an amateur. They raise the vehicle’s gravity center, with the mechanical alterations being practically irreversible. Although, regardless of the aforementioned disadvantages, most of the HD lifted vehicles present on modern-day motorways are raised utilizing drop-bracket lift kits.
Body Lift Kits
These kits are created to perform like they are named, thus raising the rig’s body off of its frame by up to 4”. To accomplish the latter they utilize a certain number of spacers, which are also called “pucks”. Unfortunately, their primary disadvantage is that one has to mount over 20 spacers, in order to raise the vehicle. Besides, time-wise, it can take over several days to complete the whole installation process. One of their primary advantages is that they can easily be installed altogether with majority of other lift kits. Well then, the math adds up to as following: 5” of a drop-bracket lift with 3” of a body lift amount up to 8” of lift. If you have plenty of time while lacking considerable funds, then using a 2” body lift kit together with a 2” spacer kit is an ideal alternative to a much more expensive 4” drop-bracket kit. One more advantage of using these components is that they will lower the actual center of vehicle’s gravity better than a drop-bracket kit, thus helping you or anyone else getting behind the rig’s wheel to avoid those handling issues and/or rollovers.
Spindle Kits, Offered for 2WD Pickup Trucks
Fairly large lifts, from 9” to 12”, can easily be attained on 2WD pickup trucks by purchasing and installing a brand-new spindle kit, altogether with any other lift kit readily available in the aftermarket. Regardless of the somewhat limited 4x4ing and off-roading capabilities of the 2WD pickup trucks, it should be mentioned that they have enough appeal among pickup truck enthusiasts, all while being able to hold their own off the beaten path. Considering the aforementioned, these lift kits can be used on 2WD pickup trucks, while giving them plenty of additional clearance.
Long-Travel Kits
The products are among some of the finest suspension raising choices available on the market. Overall, a long-travel kit can be regarded as a brand-new front suspension for your vehicle. All of the main parts are replaced or upgraded, including shocks, coils, a-arms, and so on. Some of the kits also come with brand-new axles, used to increase vehicle’s height, while maintaining the suspension geometry within the range of the factory specifications. Majority of the long-travel kits present in the aftermarket come with components designed to perform better than stock parts under almost all conditions. Performance-wise these kits are ideal, however, their pricing may get too high, with just the kit going up to $2500, and labor prices being even higher than the initial price of the kit. It goes without saying that if you can do the job yourself, while having the tools and time, then you won’t have to spend as much on a professional mechanic performing the installation at the shop. One should always keep in mind that some of these kits may need modification of the body panels, including plastic fenders, bumper, etc., with the prices adding up in thousands of dollars. To sum the things up: if you need the finest in hardware, then long-travel kits are a sure way to go when it comes to lifting your vehicle, although, their cost can get over $5000, including the kit and labor, that’s why they can give way to spacer kits.
Solid Axle Changing
Swapping a solid axle can require substantial explaining. These components have gained considerable popularity among rock-crawling enthusiasts, exactly where they are reputed for their durability, robustness, and general ease of upkeep, maintenance, and repairs. If you have become interested in any of the aforementioned, then you can browse through a wide range of internet resources available including forums and threads. Swapping a solid axle can require plenty of labor and considerable understanding of your rig’s suspension engineering and geometry, hence it is a fairly good idea to consult with your local 4x4 modding shop and its professional mechanics.
Space Lift Kit Discussion
There’s an opinion circulating among off-roading fans that diminishes the spacer lift kits, while addressing anyone who mounts one on their vehicle with certain contempt. One of the negative opinions shared by some is that the spacer lift kits downgrade suspension performance, geometry, and proper travel. However, it must be noted that these kits are an ideally acceptable choice for most vehicle owners. In certain instances, some of the lift-kit manufacturing companies will try to bypass the inherent faults of their products, although, one shouldn’t deny the fact that spacer lift kits may decrease your suspension’s performance in certain ways. These kits can be regarded as being one of the more inferior ways of increasing ride height, especially when it comes to suspension performance. It is understandable that a long-travel kit is a much better option than spacer one, with the first being available at a considerably higher price.
A properly installed long-travel kit can easily raise your vehicle by almost 4”, with the factory suspension performing to the max. Such a kit can cost more than $2000, with the labor costs getting over that. Spacer kits go for $200-300 for components, with labor mounting up to no more than $300. These kits can ensure 2-3” of increased lift. Overall, these kits can lower your suspension’s performance, although, majority of owners cannot tell any difference.
Rear-End Lifting Methods
In general, automaker-supplied leaf spring suspensions are fairly similar in their designs and engineering, including spring packages mounted to the truck’s frame. Although, their simplicity can be quite deceiving, with the whole assembly having to allow for the axle to move and resist axle twist, all while transporting your vehicle’s cargo.
Block Suspension Lift Kits
The kits are described as rectangular pieces of metal, which are machined to precise, exacting dimensions. Block suspension kits are engineered to remain between the leaf springs and the vehicle’s axles. If you are planning to use brand-new u-bolts, then your vehicle’s rear end can be raised from 1” to 3”. However, regardless of their affordable pricing, block lifts shouldn’t be your first choice of a lift kit, because they can cause the axles to warp, thus leading to a range of issues, including damaged shackles, blocks, drive shafts, shock absorbers, etc. After mentioning everything above, block lifts up to 1” won’t make your vehicle’s axles warp, with plenty of owners having no issues with block heights up to 2”. When it comes to majority of duties that trucks need to perform, including transporting, towing, and mild 4x4ing, blocks should work fine. However, if you are planning on engaging in considerable off-roading or rock crawling, then you shouldn’t install them.
Add-A-Leaf Kits
These kits are also a superb option for lifting your vehicle’s rear end. One should understand that even if they don’t measure up to the brand-new leaf springs, they can still provide plenty of the same advantages. Add-a-leafs are designed to raise your vehicle by improving the rigidity of the rear-end spring pack, however, they may also degrade with considerable mileage.
Besides, it must be noted, that because the spring pack’s rigidity is altered, one should go ahead and install brand-new shocks. Rig owners also need to consider the fact that the quality of ride with add-a-leaf kit will be fairly harsher than the one with spring packs or blocks.
New Leaf Pack Kits
The finest of ways of raising the rear end of your vehicle is a new leaf spring pack. You can always replace the old, worn-out springs with more durable aftermarket components, while making certain that axle warp isn’t going to happen, as well as ensuring plenty of additional lift. It must be noted that brand-new leaf spring packs are fairly costly, with a kit going for up to five times more than a new add-a-leaf kit. Besides, you need to remember that you will have to purchase new shocks too. However, alike to majority of the described products, these kits can drastically change your vehicle’s driving characteristics. Having a pack of racing leaf springs installed on a vehicle used for daily driving will make it handle too harsh, with you getting behind the wheel without as much joy as you did. One should also remember that it is possible to use new shackles, in order to help vehicle gain height. This method won’t alter the stiffness of the already-installed springs, while, in majority of cases, you’ll still be able to use O.E. shocks. Although, new leaf packs remain the primary option for gaining extra lift at the rear end.
Conclusion
Under ideal circumstances, if you need to raise your vehicle up to 1.5”, you have to purchase and install new coilovers. This lift will offer enough room to mount new rims and tires, which will be bigger in size than original ones. Such a relatively small lift will allow for you to maintain the original suspension geometry, while allowing for the suspension to function as it was engineered to, with the new parts ensuring superior performance. You need to keep in mind that the quality of ride won’t become worse, in fact, it will become better after the installation of new coilovers and shocks.
It must be noted that many vehicle owners would want to raise their vehicle by more than just 1.5”. It goes without saying that a proper lift can ensure superior performance during 4x4ing and off-roading, as ensured by big-size wheel-and-tire combos, greater clearance, etc., with some owners simply wanting to raise their vehicle as high as possible. Regardless of the type of kit that you are planning on purchasing and installing, you need to suit it to your own purpose. A spacer kit just simply won’t do if you are planning on racing in Baja, and purchasing a coilover kit for a daily driving pickup truck can also become a waste of funds. There are plenty of options and choices when it comes to the “best” lift kit; hence you should learn any and every thing about them as you are taking your time before making the actual purchase.
Issues Pertaining to Lift Kits and the Automaker’s Warranty
Majority of vehicle owners are fairly understanding about the fact that their lift or leveling kit might affect their automaker’s warranty. There are several things that can be said about the issue. In general, the law is on the side of the vehicle owners. In accordance with the Magnusson-Moss act, an auto dealer or manufacturer cannot void the vehicle warranty only because of the fact of vehicle’s modification. Your warranty can be affected in only one way - if the leveling or lift kit has caused the failure itself. To add to the aforementioned, some automotive dealerships may not be as “perceptive” about these types of kits as others. Depending on a vehicle dealer, you may run into strict refusals or embracing welcomes. In fact, if you see a dealership that sells raised trucks, then, most likely, you won’t run into a warranty issue about the vehicle being lifted.
Issues With Driveline Vibrations
It can happen quite often that when vehicle owners raise their suspension utilizing a new lift kit, which is over 3” in height, their drivetrain begins to experience considerable vibrations that weren’t there before the installation. In general, this takes place because of the altered suspension geometry. Several solutions can be used to correct the aforementioned issue, including carrier-bearing drop kits, rear axle shims, and single-piece driveshafts. Some vehicle owners testify that one of these products will surely aid in resolving the problem, however, the rig owner will have to consider his vehicle’s specific suspension geometry. Most of experts agree that each and every vehicle is somewhat different, hence it is better to either get an opinion of a professional mechanic or try one solution at a time. You also need to keep in mind that quite often new rims and tires are used after raising a vehicle. If the wheels are out of balance, then you can experience considerable vibrations, hence it is advised to have them balanced and aligned after installing a new lift kit or while fixing the vibrations issue.
