 | Richard Smith has been in the Auto Body Industry for 26 years. He is ASE Certified Master Collision Tech, an I-Car Platinum Tech, and an I-Car Instructor. He and His wife own and operate Sharp's Auto Body & Collision Inc. located at 202 North Elm St. in Pittsburg, Kansas. He is a father of 5 children, Ex Military E-6 Staff SGT. and is active in his home Church. The one thing he enjoys doing is educating the public about the safety and proper repair of automobiles, no matter if it is a vehicle that has been in a collision, a small dent, or a complete restoration. The shop is always equipped with a skilled professional to handle your auto needs. |
Automotive Service & Repair
2012-02-28 09:54:05
Things to consider in lift kits
Q: I have had a truck for the last couple of years. It’s a nice looking pickup, but I’d like to add to its overall look (and performance) with a lift kit. What are the considerations or recommendations?
A: It’s hard not to be impressed with a vehicle cruising down the road sporting towering lift kits and monstrous tires. However, if turning heads is your only goal, you might want to think about the investment. While installing lift kits can improve the look and performance of your vehicle, it also requires some hard work, a bit of technical savvy and consistent upkeep and attention to your vehicle’s components.
There are essentially two main purposes for installing truck lift kits, which you mention in your question, look and performance. It’s important to consider which purpose you most wish to pursue, as it will assist you in making the correct modifications to your vehicle.
Modifying your kit involves knowing the subtle nuances that depend on exactly how you intend to use your vehicle, whether it’s slow-speed rock crawling, high-speed desert racing, general purpose 4 wheeling, mud racing, or long distance open country treks.
It is also important to remember that some installations can be quite involved, requiring some welding or cutting in order to add some necessary components. Taller tires also mean that a number of additional components may require part upgrades or some tuning to compensate for the changes. For example, a truck’s engine is tuned at specific gear ratios to propel the vehicle. Adding taller tires will change the gear ratios, since the engine has to spin much larger, heavier tires.
The main reason to install a lift kit is to increase clearance, but keep in mind that such modifications do not necessarily increase performance. Larger tires can result in instability and tend to wear faster with regular highway or street driving.
Still, the options are endless and well worth investigating, whether you want to lift your truck significantly or modestly. Before you dive in; talk with someone knowledgeable to help determine the products and components that are best for your needs.
