You’re planning to improve your car’s off-road capabilities, so you’re looking for the right suspension modification. You come across a suspension lift kit. What is it all about? How do you install it? How does it affect the car’s driving conditions? Is it worth it? And finally, how does it differ from a leveling kit, given that their installation methods are somewhat similar? You’ll find answers to all these questions below.
Spacer lift vs. Leveling kit – differences
The difference between a spacer lift and a leveling lift mainly lies in the expected final effect, not the installation method. In both cases, we mainly use polyurethane or aluminum spacers, but the end result will be quite different.
In the leveling kit scenario, the goal is to level the car’s line, raising its front proportionally to the back. This is mainly to highlight its off-road character and fit larger wheels. The second scenario – spacer lift is not only about changing the vehicle’s slope but also raising the suspension and further increasing its ground clearance.
Spacer lift and leveling lift
How to increase ground clearance using spacers
When you know that your aim is to raise the suspension but you’re not ready for more advanced modifications, using spacers is a good solution. They are typically mounted above the suspension springs.
This type of lift, up to 2 inches, usually doesn’t require additional modifications like replacing factory vehicle components, in this case, shock absorbers. However, it may happen that they lack a bit of travel, especially if you intend to drive on more challenging terrain. In this case, just add relocation brackets, which you can easily install yourself with basic hand tools.
Unlike leveling the vehicle’s slope, installing a spacer lift typically involves both the front and rear of the car. There are several installation options depending on the specific build of your off-road vehicle.
Spacer lift – ways to perform
Not all off-road vehicles are the same. They can differ in many ways, including their suspension build. The type of spacers and the way they are installed will depend on their components. Possible setups:
- Vehicle with coil springs front and rear – Spacers are installed above the springs, which often requires extending the shock absorbers. This is the simplest and most basic scenario. Optionally, if there is a coilover in the front, just install an aluminum spacer on its top.
Spacer kit for coil spring suspension
- Vehicle with coil spring in the front and leaf spring in the rear (lift using a leaf spring block) – In this case, in addition to the spacers above the springs on the front, you need to use a leaf spring block in the rear. These blocks are placed between the leaf spring and the axle and are attached with u-bolts. So, extended u-bolts, also known as shackles, will also be needed.
Block kit for leaf spring suspension
- Vehicle with coil spring in the front and leaf spring in the rear (using a longer shackle) – Here, in addition to the spacers above the springs on the front, you need to use u-bolts (shackles) in the rear. In this example, the leaf spring can be raised by using a longer shackle.
Shackle extension kit for leaf spring suspension
- Vehicle with leaf springs front and rear – This case excludes the use of spacers and involves raising the suspension only with shackles or leaf spring blocks.
How this modification affects off-road driving conditions
An unquestionable advantage of such a lift is that it is very simple to install and uninstall. If you like challenges, you can do it yourself in your own garage workshop. We can say that it is a subtle modification. This means that raising the suspension by 2 inches will allow for the installation of much larger wheels (even larger than just leveling), but it won’t significantly increase the axle articulation or drastically affect the vehicle’s driving conditions.
The car’s center of gravity will slightly rise, but the driving experience will still be as optimized as they were from the factory. Moreover, crucial components most prone to damage, such as the differential housing, will automatically be raised, providing additional protection. There will be improvements, of course, in approach and departure angles. So, if you plan to venture into more challenging terrains, this is the perfect solution for you.
How much does it cost to raise suspension with spacers
Price is another huge advantage of this suspension modification. It’s essentially the cheapest possible configuration. Particularly, because the following costs associated with this lift are also greatly reduced. If you put in the effort, you’ll save on installation costs. You don’t need specialized tools – another plus and savings.
You will basically avoid buying other components altogether. Only the wheels will remain, and after all, it’s largely because of them that you’re doing spacer lift. So,
if you’re wondering how much lifting your off-road vehicle by 2 inches will cost you, we can responsibly say that in most cases, you’ll spend at least 140 euros for a pair of spring spacers.
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Klaudia Kusy
Author of the article
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