How a Suspension Lift Kit Gets You Ready for Off-Roading
When you’re ready to go off-road, one of the most important things you can do is upgrade your vehicle’s suspension system. This will do a host of things including increase your ground clearance, add articulation, and provide a more comfortable, controlled ride. So how exactly do suspension lift kits get you ready for off-roading?
Ground Clearance
One of the keys to off-road prowess is having ample ground clearance. Putting more space between the bottom of your ride and the trail beneath you lets you more easily go over obstacles, plain and simple. The more ground clearance, the less opportunity there is for damage to the vehicle’s chassis from rocks, stumps, logs, etc.
A suspension lift generally works by adding a taller spring compared to what came on the vehicle from the factory. This raises the vehicle up. A suspension lift kit also allows you to install larger tires. Bigger tires will also provide increased ground clearance and are the only way to get more space under the axles. (Springs just lift the body.)
Suspension Articulation
Suspension articulation refers to how much the axles can flex or move up and down. The more flex, the better the ability to maintain the tire’s contact patch on the ground. And the better you can do that, the fewer things will stand in your way.
Increased articulation is achieved by adding different springs, shocks/struts, control arms, and other suspension components. It’s not just one thing. However, depending on your objective, not all vehicles need miles of flex. For example, a Subaru Crosstrek won’t out-flex most Jeep Wranglers. But you likely don’t need it to. Activities such as rock crawling generally require more suspension articulation than overlanding.
Keep in mind that added articulation may require additional items such as longer brake lines or custom driveshafts.
Ride Quality
Many don’t think that ride quality and off-roading go together. But if you’re doing hundreds or thousands of miles off-road, having a suspension system that rides well makes all the difference between arriving fresh at your destination or feeling beat up.
Ride quality is an effect of suspension tuning. This means having shocks/struts that are valved properly for the application and pairing them with springs with the correct rates. IRONMAN 4X4 got its start in the suspension industry and knows a thing or two about how to make a suspension system that provides lift and articulation while providing a compliant ride.
Choose Your Suspension System Wisely
Some cheap suspension lift kits will ride poorly due to a lack of tuning know-how. So, finding a good-quality system is important since your suspension is the only thing connecting your rig to your wheels. It’s critical not to skimp. Because it’s not just a matter of performance or comfort, it’s a matter of safety.
There are a lot of factors to look at. This includes how much lift you want as well as your budget. IRONMAN 4X4 offers a host of options for a variety of vehicles. And with its origins in suspension, you can be sure that no matter your vehicle, you’re getting highly engineered, top-quality components no matter where the trail leads.