Body Lift or Suspension Lift: What's the Difference?
A body lift or a suspension lift are essentially two ways to lift your Jeep, truck, or SUV. Both methods have their pros and cons that are typically focused on price, performance, and ease of installation, but let me explain the difference between the two.
A suspension lift raises the vehicle's frame (chassis) away from the ground. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways such as installing taller springs or spring spacers, differential drop brackets, lift blocks, cranked up torsion bars, or any combination thereof.
A body lift is much simpler in that it raises only the body away from the frame with spacers. The frame remains in the same location relative to the ground.
A suspension lift is recommended for anyone planning to use their vehicle off-road while a body lift is recommended for anyone that wants to make their vehicle look lifted without the real desire of ever driving off-road. Is this to say a body lifted vehicle can't go off-road? No. It's perfectly capable of going off-road. It just won't perform as well as a suspension lifted vehicle because it hasn't gained any ground clearance.
Most suspension lifts are built between 2-inches and 6-inches, while body lifts range between 1-inch and 3-inches (never higher because of safety reasons).
A suspension lift is more complicated than a body lift because it alters all of the suspension components that give the vehicle its factory ride characteristics. Taller springs are typically stiffer than factory engineered springs so the vehicle will have a bumpier ride than with soft factory springs. Longer shock absorbers will be needed. The center of gravity will also be raised considerably because the entire weight of the vehicle (everything except the axles) will now be raised further from the ground. In some cases (especially for short wheelbase vehicles), the transfer case will need to be lowered and the rear differential repositioned to minimize driveline vibrations.
Pros: Higher ground clearance, raised approach and departure angles, allows installation of larger wheels and tires.
Cons: Expensive, longer installation time, increased driveline angles (more susceptible to vibrations), brake lines need to be re-routed or lengthened, longer shocks needed, increased center of gravity.
A body lift is relatively simple in that it primarily consists of a set of spacers that are inserted at the mounting points between the frame and body of the vehicle. This leaves all the heavy parts of the vehicle (frame, engine, transmission, transfer case, etc) at their factory locations so the vehicle's center of gravity (though increased) will not be increased as much as a suspension lift.
Pros: Cheap, can be installed quickly with basic hand tools, allows installation of larger tires, simple (all components come in a container about the size of a shoe box).
Cons: Appearance (a gap between the body tub and the frame will now be visible), extra leverage is placed on the mounting points (this is especially true for higher lifts), no increase in ground clearance.
Ultimately, a body lift provides no benefits other than allowing the installation of larger tires whereas a suspension lift is designed for improved performance off-road (while also allowing the installation of larger tires). If you're on a budget and want to make your 4WD look like a tough off-road vehicle but have no real intentions of ever going off-road, then a body lift would be adequate for you. However, if cost isn't a factor and you're looking to make your 4WD more off-road capable and trail ready, then a suspension lift is highly recommended. - 21396
A suspension lift raises the vehicle's frame (chassis) away from the ground. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways such as installing taller springs or spring spacers, differential drop brackets, lift blocks, cranked up torsion bars, or any combination thereof.
A body lift is much simpler in that it raises only the body away from the frame with spacers. The frame remains in the same location relative to the ground.
A suspension lift is recommended for anyone planning to use their vehicle off-road while a body lift is recommended for anyone that wants to make their vehicle look lifted without the real desire of ever driving off-road. Is this to say a body lifted vehicle can't go off-road? No. It's perfectly capable of going off-road. It just won't perform as well as a suspension lifted vehicle because it hasn't gained any ground clearance.
Most suspension lifts are built between 2-inches and 6-inches, while body lifts range between 1-inch and 3-inches (never higher because of safety reasons).
A suspension lift is more complicated than a body lift because it alters all of the suspension components that give the vehicle its factory ride characteristics. Taller springs are typically stiffer than factory engineered springs so the vehicle will have a bumpier ride than with soft factory springs. Longer shock absorbers will be needed. The center of gravity will also be raised considerably because the entire weight of the vehicle (everything except the axles) will now be raised further from the ground. In some cases (especially for short wheelbase vehicles), the transfer case will need to be lowered and the rear differential repositioned to minimize driveline vibrations.
Pros: Higher ground clearance, raised approach and departure angles, allows installation of larger wheels and tires.
Cons: Expensive, longer installation time, increased driveline angles (more susceptible to vibrations), brake lines need to be re-routed or lengthened, longer shocks needed, increased center of gravity.
A body lift is relatively simple in that it primarily consists of a set of spacers that are inserted at the mounting points between the frame and body of the vehicle. This leaves all the heavy parts of the vehicle (frame, engine, transmission, transfer case, etc) at their factory locations so the vehicle's center of gravity (though increased) will not be increased as much as a suspension lift.
Pros: Cheap, can be installed quickly with basic hand tools, allows installation of larger tires, simple (all components come in a container about the size of a shoe box).
Cons: Appearance (a gap between the body tub and the frame will now be visible), extra leverage is placed on the mounting points (this is especially true for higher lifts), no increase in ground clearance.
Ultimately, a body lift provides no benefits other than allowing the installation of larger tires whereas a suspension lift is designed for improved performance off-road (while also allowing the installation of larger tires). If you're on a budget and want to make your 4WD look like a tough off-road vehicle but have no real intentions of ever going off-road, then a body lift would be adequate for you. However, if cost isn't a factor and you're looking to make your 4WD more off-road capable and trail ready, then a suspension lift is highly recommended. - 21396
About the Author:
Body lift kits and suspension lift kits are some of the specialties at MY4BY OFF ROAD. They are recommended as a premiere online source for off road parts and accessories.
posted by X - Men @ 4:25 AM
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