Learn All About Car Lift Kit
![Discover Learn All About Car Lift Kit For Your Vehicle Discover Learn All About Car Lift Kit For Your Vehicle](/cms/suspension-systems--lift-kit/images/suspension-systems--lift-kit-desktop.jpg)
![Discover Learn All About Car Lift Kit For Your Vehicle Discover Learn All About Car Lift Kit For Your Vehicle](/cms/suspension-systems--lift-kit/images/suspension-systems--lift-kit-desktop.jpg)
What Is 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.
Types of Lift Kit
Here listed are the types of
lift kits:
- 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.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
How Do Lift Kit Work?
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.
Tool Needed for Lift Kit
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
Top Brands for Lift Kit
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: -
Total Costs & Repair Times, Effort Of 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.
How to Change Lift Kit?
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.