5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE INSTALLING CAR SUSPENSION LIFT KIT!!
Aftermarket modifications such as suspension lifts capture every passionate car owner’s attention! Apart from rendering an aesthetic makeover, car suspension lift kits also contribute into elevating several aspects of its performance and character.
Lift kits are known to add style and value to your ride, along with bestowing that great feeling of driving a lifted vehicle.
But before you to go for that height boost and commit to a purchase, make yourself cognizant of the 5 things which you should know, without a refrain.
1.What makes car lift kits different?
Lift kits are basically meant to raise a vehicle like truck or 4wd, so that it attains a better ground clearance. Since these type of vehicles are designed to be driven on diverse terrains, it is essential that their chassis be lifted for gaining a better ground clearance, that allows drivers to take up the rocky and rough terrains, without fearing to damage their undercarriage.
On the other hand, car lift kits are basically meant for adding an aesthetic value only as cars are not designed to be driven off road. So car owners primarily go for lift kits to install larger tyres and enhance the looks of the vehicle.
- Know the difference between Body lift kit and Suspension lift kit:
The variations among these two types of lift kits is both financial and practical. Considering these differences is important here, because car lift kits are merely meant to enhance the aesthetic value of the car.
Body lift kits: Known to raise the vehicle without any adjustments to the suspension, body lift kits are one of the most common and simplest kinds of lift kits. A body lift kit gives the desired raise by lifting your vehicle up a few inches while leaving suspension and wheels at their original height. You need to add spacers over the vehicle's original body mount bushings. Body lift kits do not affect the ride quality or handling of the car in any way and precisely retains the factory suspension geometry and alignment.
Suspension lift kits: These types of lift kits raise the height of the vehicle's suspension. More intense on installation, the Suspension lift kit replaces the stock suspension components entirely to give a dramatic increase in its height. The modification also renders extra inches of ground clearance, helping the vehicle with an improved off road performance and provision for more aggressive and larger tyres. Taller kits, however, can have severe impact on the car's handling, making them precarious to drive on roads.
3.How to determine the correct size of lift kit for your car?
Determining the kind of lift kit you want for your car depends on the type of tyres you want to install and how high you want to raise your car in order to install them. Considering a few points can help you determine your lift kit size and make your choice accordingly.
- Year and make of the car.
- Model of the car
- Rim offset
- Width and diameter of the new tyre
You need to make sure to lift the car such that the tyres do not cut or rub onto the frame of the car. For this, it is best to measure the wheel diameter as well as the car's current clearance.
- Whether to use a wheel adaptor/ spacer or not: Unlike the truck or 4wd, when installing a lift kit on your car, it is imperative to determine if you also need to use wheel adaptor/ spacers or not.
Wheel adaptors or spacers are used as a solution to the intricacies that might emerge while installing big wheels on you car. This might happen when you try to install tyres that are somewhat larger than the normal big tyres. In such a case, the rims might rub on the frame or on its inside suspension.
In order to make a check on this problem, you could buy the wheels after buying the kit.
5.Facts to consider while driving and maintaining a lifted car: Lifting a vehicle, dramatically changes the way it drives. You might feel its handling altered, specially while taking the corners. So now you need to be more careful while driving to eliminate any chance of wrecking your vehicle.
The lift kit needs to be maintained and monitored regularly in addition to the general safety measures that are imperative to take up. As an aftermarket modification to the car, the maintenance of lift kit becomes a responsibility of the owner. A periodic checking of components to see if any slack is created while driving, needs to be attended to immediately.
Conclusion: Lifting your car is not just a financial investment but a decision backed by passion and excitement! As it can seriously impact its functionality and performance apart from its looks, it becomes indispensable to consider several aspects of choosing, installing and maintaining a lifted car, even before deciding on the purchase. Hope the 5 important aspects mentioned above make for a well- informed purchase for you!!
Happy Lifting!!