Suspension Lift Kit: What it does for your truck

Why you should install a suspension lift kit on your truck

If you frequently go off-roading, rock crawling, or driving on rough terrain. Installing a lift kit will improve your experience because it provides better ground clearance, approach and departure angles, and the ability to tackle challenging obstacles. But really, most truck owners lift their trucks so they can install bigger tires and get a better, more aggressive look. There are several types of kits to choose from. Leveling and body lift kits get you more fender-to-tire clearance, but they don’t help much for ground clearance because they don’t raise the frame off the ground. Only a suspension lift kit can do that. Suspension lift kits come in a variety of sizes, with the biggest lifts costing the most. Here’s what you need to know before you raise your vehicle.

Understanding what a suspension lift kit does

Your engine, transmission/transfer case, steering, and differential all mount on the truck’s frame. If you plan to go off-roading, you must raise the frame to get more ground clearance. A suspension lift kit includes the components needed to raise the frame while still providing drive power, steering, and braking to the wheels.

Extends the distance between the frame and the front wheels

All suspension lifts include longer and stronger front control arms to increase the distance between the frame and the steering knuckle. Although some truck owners reuse the factory struts, it’s generally not a good idea, especially if you install bigger wheels and tires. Bigger tires mean more weight, and that requires heavier-duty struts and springs to prevent tire-to-fender contact.

Extends the distance between the frame and the rear wheels

Depending on the type of rear suspension, the kit can include longer rear struts and heavier-duty springs or spacer blocks and U-bolts in the case or rear leaf springs.

Example of a 3″ lift kit

Here’s an example of a 3″ lift kit for a 2020 Ford F150. The kit is made by roughcountry.com and costs $1,050.

Rough Country 3″ lift kit contents for a 2023 F150 truck

Other components you may need

Depending on the lift height and make and model of your truck, you may need additional components like:

• Longer axle shafts
• Longer flexible brake lines
• Longer stabilizer bar end links
• Longer tie rod ends

Larger lifts require more parts and may require frame modifications

Here’s an example of the additional components needed to make a 6-inch lift on a Ford F-150. Because of the much higher lift, this truck needs longer, stronger steering knuckles. To mount the new knuckles and larger struts and shocks, the truck also needs new cross members as well as numerous brackets and U bolts.

Notice the additional components needed to perform 6-inch lift

Understanding the pros and cons of a suspension lift kit

PROS:

• Provides ground clearance between the frame and the ground. This is different from a leveling or body lift kit that just provides fender-to-tire clearance.

• Prevent ground contact with the engine, transmission, steering, and differentials.
• When designed properly, it will provide a more comfortable ride and provide more stability in turns than a body lift kit.
• The higher the lift, the more expensive the kit and the more complicated the installation.
• Requires professional installation by an experienced company

CONS:

• The most expensive of all lift options and the most complicated to install. May require drilling and frame modifications, depending on the lift height and the kit brand.
• Reduces gas mileage by 20% or more and reduces towing capacity
• Puts more stress on suspension components like ball joints, control arm bushings, struts and tires.
• Changes the vehicle’s steering geometry, resulting in different handling characteristics, as well as accelerated suspension and tire wear.
• Results in a reverse rake when the bed is loaded, causing a nose-up condition with less steering control. If you haul heavy loads, you’ll need to add additional equipment to raise the bed when loaded.
• Requires a complete ADAS re-calibration and, in some cases, may render ADAS completely ineffective.

©, 2024 Rick Muscoplat