What is a suspension and car body lift

Today, an increase in ground clearance is relevant not only for SUV owners. The condition of domestic roads forces them to "lift" their cars, in order to avoid damage to the bottom, engine and transmission pallets. In the article, we will consider what a suspension and body lift means, how it is carried out, and what nuances arise during operation.

What is a car suspension lift? 

A suspension lift is a vehicle raised relative to the road surface by changing the design of the chassis. A body lift is called a body lift, where the body is raised relative to the frame using spacers. Both options are possible, but to choose the most suitable way to increase ground clearance, you should study the design features of the body and suspension of a particular car, and also understand where your car will be used.

The result of lifting is an increase in the height of the overhang of the front and rear parts of the body, which is extremely important in overcoming steep descents and ascents. Some jeep owners begin tuning by installing larger diameter wheels, and in most cases it is impossible to do without increasing the clearance.

Why use a suspension lift?

Basically, the owners of off-road vehicles are engaged in the suspension lift, which are used where there are no roads, but there are directions. On such cars, you can freely go hunting and fishing, overcome sand pits and deep soils, as well as cross difficult mud roads. 

Often, a suspension lift adds at least 30 mm of height to the clearance, which is very helpful when installing large mud wheels. If increasing the clearance by using spacers under the springs or beams is not enough, car owners go the way of a body lift.

Lift types

Today, two types of elevators are used:

• increased ground clearance by installing large wheels and spacers for suspension elements;
• installation of spacers under the car body.

If the second method is only possible for frame vehicles, the first is available even for cars with a monocoque body - it is enough to install a set of spacers, or make and weld special platforms for springs or shock absorbers.

Body lift (body lift)

This method works on a car with a frame. Lift is carried out by installing special metal or rubber (fluoroplastic) spacers between the bottom of the body and the frame. Due to this method, it is possible to install wheels with a larger diameter, as well as install high mud tires. Among other things, the angles of the propeller shaft and axle shafts remain in the standard working geometry, which means that the resource of the transmission hinge elements will not be affected.

Also, increasing the space between the body and the frame makes it possible to thoroughly and efficiently wash, and prevent hard-to-reach cavities from clogging with dirt. 

Depending on the lifting height, you will have to solve a number of the following issues:

• lengthening the brake pipes;
• adding pipes to the fuel line;
• redesign of the cooling system;
• installation of longer handbrake cables. 

Often, a body lift is carried out as an addition to the overall increase in vehicle clearance. 

Spring suspension lift

For tuning a leaf spring suspension in the form of a lift, there are two ways to install the springs - over the bridge and under the bridge. For the upper springs, a lining is provided between the bridge and the springs, as well as the addition of several root sheets.

At first glance, installing springs is a simple process, you just need to weld platforms and earrings under them, but the situation is more complicated. In this case, you need to balance the front and rear of the car to avoid longitudinal rolls. 

Further, the question is to increase lateral rolls, which can be avoided by installing more rigid or additional shock absorbers, a thickened anti-roll bar. Make sure that the propeller shaft is as horizontal as possible, otherwise there is a risk of it breaking off at the wrong moment.

Advantages and disadvantages of a lifted suspension 

With an increase in ground clearance, there are advantages that are difficult to underestimate, but there are also enough disadvantages.

On the merits:

• the ability to overcome difficult off-roads;
• protecting the engine, transmission and steering from damage.

About the disadvantages:

• increasing the clearance is a direct intervention in the design of the car, which means that problems may arise with the traffic police;
• with a suspension or body lift, it is necessary to additionally purchase components for the normal operation of all units and mechanisms;
• the cost of quality kits and their installation are not cheap;
• the resource of suspension and transmission parts sharply decreases due to an increase in the load from the mass of the wheels and the vehicle as a whole
• driving a tall car requires additional skills and increased care, especially if the dead zone in front is significantly increased.

Questions and answers:

What is body and suspension lift? This is when the whole car rises relative to the road surface (suspension lift) or only the body (the ground clearance remains the same, but the car is higher).

What is a body lift for? This type of tuning is used by those who want to put on the car wheels of non-standard sizes, even exceeding the factory recommendations for an alternative.