Things To Consider When Installing A Lift Kit On Your Vehicle

Lift kits look cool and offer some benefits for trucks and other vehicles that are used off-road, but some things need to be taken into consideration when choosing a lift kit for your vehicle. Not all lift kits are created equally, and some are safer than others by providing better control and handling, and are a better fit for your vehicle. 

Why Lift a Vehicle

People install lift kits in vehicles for many different reasons, but the goal of any lift kit is to allow a larger tire to be used on the truck. The addition of a larger tire on your truck moves the entire height of the running gear up and allows more clearance under the differentials, the frame, and the engine or transmission, and other driveline components. 

Installing truck lift kits is a popular way to make room for the tires, but cutting out some fender material and installing flares or wheel arches can help achieve more space with less lift and still run larger tires. Truck lift kits are made for just about any truck on the road, but they are not all the same, so it is essential that you know what your goal is and buy a kit that will help you achieve it. 

Suspensions Versus Body Lifts

Truck lift kits come in several styles, the most common being a suspension lift system. The suspension lift replaces things like springs, shocks, and sometimes steering components on the truck. The goal with these systems is to achieve the height you need for the larger tires and retain the stock handling or as close to it as possible. 

Often the truck will handle differently because the center of gravity is higher, but if the alignment and steering are corrected after the truck lift kit installation is complete, the handling should be close to the stock trucks. Professional truck lift kit installation is a good idea if you are adding a complete system to your truck. 

Body lift kits are different and often are nothing more than some spacers that replace the mounds between the truck body and the frame with taller mounts and spacers. Lifting the body off the frame will allow larger tires, but it can cause some problems with shift linkages, cooling, and other parts connected to both the frame and the body. 

Some trucks use a combination of suspension lift kits and a small body lift to allow for an even larger tire on the truck, but if you are going to use a body lift, it is a good idea to stay under two inches of lift, so you do not put too much stress on the mounts or other parts of the frame and body.


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