Suspension Lift vs. Body Lift: Which One is Best for Your Vehicle?
Despite both offering a taller ride and room for bigger wheels and tyres, there are some significant differences between body lifts and suspension lifts. These differences include price, the centre of gravity, handling modifications, and ground clearance. In order to help you determine which lifting technique you need, we will look more closely at a few of these attributes throughout the following few paragraphs.
Lift Kits Defined
To start, it’s critical to comprehend the distinctions between a suspension lift and a body lift. A suspension lift raises every part of the vehicle by extending the suspension, whereas a body lift raises the body away from the chassis. A levelling kit is simply a front suspension lift that raises the front suspension to the same level as the rear suspension in a vehicle with a sloped stance. This levels the height of the suspensions in the front and back of the car.
Body Lift VS Suspension Lift
- Goals for Lifting Your Vehicle
Before we go any further into the differences, you must decide what you want to achieve when you lift your truck or crossover utility vehicle. Is it appropriate to install larger tyres? Would you like a higher riding position? Do you want to get the maximum ground clearance possible to test the limits of your car’s off-road capabilities? Although there are lift kit solutions that can successfully accomplish any of these goals, each of these options has a unique set of disadvantages. Even with an endless budget, getting the most significant and priciest lift kit may not always be the best choice if you are worried about how your car handles. That means that considering your options is all left to do if you know exactly what your goals are. ( How Long Does a Suspension Air Bag Last? )
- Ground Clearance:
The suspension lift wins out in the race for ground clearance. The only thing that body lifts can do is raise the body; the distance between the bottom of your car and the ground remains the same. A suspension lift raises the car’s frame, removing the axle, differential, and lower control arms. This results in a suspension lift that is three inches taller and gives you an additional three inches of ground clearance. Essentially, levelling kits raise the front suspension, but since the front of a truck or SUV with a raked stance is the lowest point on the frame, you will gain an overall amount of ground clearance equal to the height of the levelling kit. This is because the front suspension is still the frame’s lowest point.
- Price:
To answer the question, “How much does it cost to lift my truck?” the price depends on whether you’re talking about the truck’s ground clearance or ride height. Installing a suspension lift or switching to larger tyres are two options to raise your ground clearance. Nevertheless, a body lift is the most economical way to increase your ride height.
The total cost of finishing your lift will be considered if you try to modify your car on a tight budget. Without a doubt, the best exercise for this specific area is body lifts. These kits typically come with body blocks and usually don’t need adjusting the suspension or steering.
A complete suspension raise can easily double the cost of a body lift of the same size because it is a complex project that may involve changes to the spindle, suspension, and steering. Conversely, levelling kits are less expensive because they usually include just two strut spacers for the front Macpherson struts. A body lift will be the most economical option if your final goal is to increase the size of your wheels and tyres.
- Centre of Gravity:
Every single vehicle is designed with the placement of the centre of gravity in mind to ensure the best possible handling. Any method of lifting, including using tyres with a bigger diameter, changes the centre of gravity due to the weight of the vehicle being raised. This means you will experience more body roll when turning because the weight is higher on the car. The vehicle’s stability during a hard, fast turn may be impacted when the weight changes to the outside.
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- Lift Size:
A suspension lift will be your best bet if you desire the maximum ride height that is even marginally feasible. A body lift might be produced to give you an unnaturally high ride height, but the lift would look ridiculous. Most cars have a maximum height limit of three to five inches for body lifts. Suspension lifts have the potential to rise as high as nine inches or higher, but they will be quite costly and require extensive steering and suspension changes. The primary uses for these lifts are extreme rock crawling and enhancing the appearance of a truck or SUV that is exceptionally tall. Even the best-designed kits can only partially overcome the stability issues provided by a significantly raised centre of gravity when utilised at extreme heights.
- Handling:
One of the most often mentioned handling concepts is raising as much as necessary but as little as feasible. This is the concept that is frequently cited. Although it may seem like someone is attempting to dash your dreams of installing a rope ladder in your taxi, this advice is excellent.
Concluding Words
Hopefully, at this point, you have a firm grasp on the several lifting options available, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. Remember to lift as much as is necessary but as little as is practical, and think about the lifting objectives you have set for yourself. Installing a body raise, which also affects handling, is the most economical way to get your car to have bigger tyres and a higher ride height. A suspension lift is your best bet if you need some ground clearance when travelling over rough terrain. The best kits typically fall in the middle, such as levelling/lift kits that also come with body lift kits. This kind of package balances your vehicle’s price, performance, and handling characteristics.
