Everyone loves the look of a jacked up truck. We’re gonna dig into the pros and cons of different lift kits so you can look fly without losing an axle.
Types of Lift Kits
There are 3 varieties of lift kits. Body Lifts, Leveling Kits, and Suspension Lifts, each with its own functions and drawbacks.
Body Lift Kit
Body lift kits come in as the cheapest option as far as parts are concerned. (don’t google body lift, I made that mistake so you don’t have to)
A body lift is adding plastic pucks or spacers, usually 1-3”, in between the body and frame. You often need longer body mounting bolts to make this work, but this kit takes minimal investment and is the easiest job.
I do not recommend doing this at home, as it’s easy to move the drivetrain or body on accident during the process.
If you have access to a lift (on base or a friends shop), feel free to comment or tweet me @BowTiedGreaseMonkey for any assistance you need installing a body lift yourself.
Shops will put the lift on your pinch welds, lock the wheels and undo the body mounting bolts. Next, you simply place your lift pucks in between the body and frame, throw the new, often longer, bolts into the holes and retorque the frame to the body.
Pros of a Body Lift
Installing a body lift will give you a slightly better look and improve clearance for bigger rims or tires.
Body lifts also won't alter your ride as much, since all your suspension travel and angles remain the same.
You won’t need an alignment after a body lift since your suspension angles didn’t change.
Cons of a Body Lift
Usually, you can see more of your frame, and often there will be space between your bumpers and body. If you are rusted or just don’t like the look of the extra metal, you will want to invest in gap guards and paint your frame with undercoating.
Your center of balance has raised so you’ll feel the tilt (body roll) more in corners and turns.
Leveling Kits
Stock trucks sit higher in the rear than the front. This is due to beefier suspension in the rear for towing and hauling weight.
A leveling kit adds spacers on the front struts or spring to make the front suspension sit level with the rear.
Leveling kits can be done in the driveway if you are comfortable removing struts and possibly springs. You will, however, need an Alignment after a leveling kit, as your front suspension angles have changed. Most vehicles are safe to drive from your driveway to an alignment shop, DM or comment if you are concerned. Check out my article on alignments for more info Here.
Pros of a Leveling Kit
Most people add a leveling kit for aesthetics. It gives your truck a slightly lifted look, without being over the top.
Level kits also increase ground clearance for your front bumper and radiator/condenser supports. This will better protect your truck through potholes or light off-roading.
Cons of a Leveling Kit
Your ride quality will suffer as you’ll feel bumps more.
People often complain of popping sounds when going over bumps or rough terrain.
Suspension Lift Kits
A suspension lift is the most involved and expensive of the lifts. Depending on how far into it you go, you will replace shocks, struts, tie rods, knuckles, sway bar links, control arms, and leaf springs, sometimes even crossbars.
Budget is about the only limiting factor on suspension lifts. They can range from 1” to the sky.
This can all be done in a driveway, however, you will need an alignment, probably badly, after installing a suspension lift kit. It’s not recommended to drive it far (really at all) after installation until you have gotten an alignment done. Alignment Info Here
Pros of a Suspension Lift
All the benefits of a body lift or leveling kit are also present if you go with a full suspension lift.
Road clearance for obstacles, potholes, offroading, and larger rims and/or tires.
More control over ride comfort, upgrading suspension components means you can deal with terrain better with a quality kit.
Speaking of terrain, the beefed-up suspension and clearance will get you through far worse environments while lessening the risk of getting stuck.
Many people enjoy the added visibility when driving as well. Sitting higher allows you to see things coming on the road quicker.
Suspension lifts can also increase your towing and hauling capacity, example being a half-ton vs 3/4 ton truck essentially. Keep in mind that’s rougher on your drivetrain though.
Cons of Suspension Lifts
Generally, every part you don’t upgrade will be wearing faster, including your drivetrain. Heavier suspension and tires require more work from your drivetrain to get and keep rolling. Suspension parts you don’t upgrade will be more stressed.
Most lift kits are stiffer than stock suspension so will beat you up a bit more daily driving.
Handling will decrease the higher you go. You are raising your center of gravity so body roll will be more and more pronounced as you go up.
Fuel economy will also take a hit. As I mentioned earlier, the added height, weight of the suspension, and generally bigger tires and rims put more strain on your drivetrain as it attempts to move more weight and size than it was designed for.
Getting in and out of a higher vehicle is not to be overlooked either.
Finally, lift kits can void some or all of your manufacturers warranty. Keep this in mind, and consult your local dealerships service department to verify before installation if your vehicle is still under warranty.
Whether you are looking to install a lift kit for appearance or functionality, hopefully you can make an informed decision now on what’s best for your needs and wallet.
If you decide to pull the trigger and get yourself lifted, be sure to shoot me a pic on Twitter and show me how mean your ride looks now @BowTiedGreaseMonkey
As always, comments and DMs are always open for questions or just to show off what you’ve done to your vehicle lately. I look forward to seeing the progress.