First, check how tall the car is on a flat surface, then decide how high the suspension needs to be raised.
- Set the torsion bars at the desired rate by using a Hex-head wrench.
- Increase the size or speed of coil springs.
- Install shackles on leaves springs if they’re needed.
If you want to make your vehicle more suited for rough, uneven routes, there are plenty of ways to go about it.
Alongside fitting body armor or a winch, improving your vehicle’s ground clearance could make a big difference in your off-roading enjoyment. This would prevent the car’s underbelly from rubbing against obstructions and give the vehicle more space to take road shocks.
The excellent ground clearance of an off-road vehicle is supposed to be between 8.8 inches and 10.8 inches or more, depending on the challenges you are trying to conquer.
If your vehicle’s clearance is smaller than you’d prefer, think about these strategies to boost the clearance of your vehicle.
How much does it cost to raise a car suspension?
They could cost as little as $100-$500. If you’re looking to purchase suspension lift kits, which are preferred by enthusiasts who love performance, the costs for that choice are considerably higher. These upgrades could cost up to $1,000 or $5,000.
How to Increase Car Suspension Height?
Change the size of the Tyre and the Rim
Most manufacturers allow variations in a tire or the rim size to adapt an automobile to various driving conditions. Check the owner’s manual regarding the tires and rim size permitted for your vehicle.
You could switch to tires with a greater profile for a height increase. You can increase your height by switching to rims with smaller sizes that can take larger profile tires.
This method effectively increases the height of your vehicle while remaining within the manufacturer’s specifications. The disadvantage of using high-profile tires is that they can decrease vehicle effectiveness and performance.
The upside is that following the manufacturer’s guidelines will not invalidate the insurance coverage.
Changed Coilovers
When you upgrade to higher and more rigid shocks and coil springs, you can significantly increase the height of vehicles. This must be carried out by a qualified garage expert in vehicle suspension.
The coil-overs must be the same specifications and must be purchased brand new. The advantage of this method is a significant rise in the height. Its disadvantages include a reduction in stability and could cause the insurance to be canceled.
Height Spacers
Height spacers are extensions placed in a vehicle’s suspension to increase its height. They are among the most sought-after because they’re cheap and simple. However, we strongly discourage using height spacers for one of the reasons listed below.
For starters, it is true that most height spacers sold in Kenya are not of good quality and don’t meet the requirements. In addition, they impact a vehicle’s stability when driving at high speeds, introducing oversteer and understeer.
If you’re considering using spacers for height, make sure they’re high-quality, machine-made, and from a reliable manufacturer. The hand-crafted aluminum spacers sold in Kenya represent a significant security danger and must be avoided at all times.
Coil springs with upgraded coils
Coil springs assist with your car and help keep it steady. When you come across potholes or dips, they expand when you bump into bumps or climb over things.
It is possible to get an air spacer (a piece made of coiled polyurethane or rubber) placed on the coils in the spring suspension to limit the growth and contraction. This can increase the clearance of your ground by about 10-15 millimeters.
Air suspension installation
It is the most costly method of maintaining and installing the car to improve ground clearance. The system operates in auto mode and can independently alter the ground clearance based on the condition of the road and its speed.
Spacer to improve the clearance of the ground
Installing spacers in your vehicle is an easy and reliable solution. Spacers that increase ground clearance are positioned beneath the springs or between the attachment point and the car body.
In the first instance, the material used for manufacturing is extra-strong rubber with the highest density level. It can also be plastic or a blank that is based on polyurethane.
Materials made from steel or aluminum spacers can be placed under the shock absorbers.
Spacers are not always the best choice.
- The center of gravity is moved upwards Of gravity, consequently deteriorating the road’s handling.
- The entire calculated technology for the reliability of functioning of the device has been violated. The information will alter by changing the maximum angle, as well as the angles of inclination for the wheel’s steering axis.
- Then you will experience less steering due to it being incompatible with the car’s suspension system. In turn, the life span of the whole device will be reduced.
- The shock absorber’s location (average) is a consequence; it might be damaged. This is because the piston rod hits the cover of the shock absorber in the course of movement. In this situation, it is possible to use the attachment with the kit and the shock absorber itself to eliminate the difference.
Rules On How To Use Spacers To Improve Ground Clearance
- Attachments made of metal are not recommended if they’ve not been treated for corrosion;
- Restrictions for owners of front-wheel-drive vehicles: at the front of the car, the vehicle is permitted not to lift over 20mm.
- In the majority of cases (up to 80percent), if the shock absorber isn’t located near the spring to ensure safety, it is necessary to install spacers. Both beneath the springs and under the shock absorbers are necessary to ensure a synchronized operation.
- If you increase the clearance at the vehicle’s rear, ensure that your lean angle remains within acceptable limits, particularly when turning at high speed. The rule is that a maximum height of 30 millimeters is permitted.
- A rise in ground clearance greater than 30 millimeters can prevent the equipment from performing camber accurately.
- Ensuring the set is complete with bolts and studs of the proper dimension is crucial.
Every car owner would like their car in a position to get over obstacles effortlessly, but typically, the car’s clearance on the ground does not permit this.
Spacers are the best aids to increasing ground clearance, so we will put them in the car ourselves.
FAQ Section
Frequently asked questions about Increasing Car Suspension Height are :
Can you raise the height of a car?
The maximum ground clearance for the majority of vehicles is 15.24cm. Another option is upgrading to a suspension with a higher ride height.
This can be accomplished with the help of an adjustable Coilover suspension or an air suspension that is aftermarket.
How do I determine the best ground clearance for the car?
All- or four-wheel drive is essential, as is finding an automobile with sufficient ground clearance to traverse obstacles such as mountains, rocks, mud, rivers, etc, without inflicting injuries.
As a guideline, a car with 8.5 inches of clearance or greater should be safe.
Do strut spacers increase ground clearance? Â
Registered. So, yes, the lift spacers improve the clearance underneath the truck, but specifically, they will elevate the frame and the front end.
How can I increase the height of my car? Â
 A second option to improve ground clearance is to put higher-quality rims and tires on your car.
There are two ways to do this. One method is to increase the tire’s size but keep the rims. The other option is to use higher tires and taller rims.
Do bigger tires increase ground clearance?  Â
Better road clearance The most evident effect of bigger tires is that they raise the height of your vehicle.
You can raise the ground clearance several inches above the ground. This is the amount of space between the road’s surface and the car’s lowest part.
What can change the height of a vehicle?
What could alter a car’s height? The extra weight of a large load can cause a vehicle to stand lower than it normally would.
A car is usually higher when carrying a lighter load than an enormous one.
Is a higher clearance on the ground more effective?
A higher clearance reduces the vehicle’s aerodynamic characteristics, which means that more speed means lower stability and speeds.
This is why sports cars with low clearances can handle faster speeds than SUVs with higher clearances.
Is a ground clearance of 180 millimeters enough for Indian roads?
Because the height of obstacles is not fixed and each car is subject to its limitations and specifications, experts say a ground clearance of 170-180mm will be ideal for Indian roads.
That is, the ground clearance must be at least 160mm to travel Indian roads safely and minimize the risk of damage.
Will new struts raise my car?
Also, it’s false. Shocks/struts aren’t able to adjust the ride height unless they are equipped with adjustable perches. They limit the rebound and jounce springs caused when riding over bumps.
Which is the best way to increase ground clearance? Â
Add another leaf spring to the leaf spring to increase the clearance to the ground.
This can also cause the ride to become more rigid and unsettling. The major alteration is to improve ground clearance on vehicles such as Maruti Gypsy or Mahindra MM540 (predecessor to the Thar DI).
Alter the Tyre Size and Rim Size Most manufacturers allow for a variation in the tire or rim size to accommodate your vehicle’s different driving conditions.
Consult the owner’s guide regarding the tires and rim sizes permitted for your vehicle. To increase the height, switching to tires with a higher profile is possible.
 Can a vehicle be modified to increase clearance? Â
Vehicles with stabilization control, lane-keeping, or collision avoidance systems must not be altered.
Sensors that regulate these systems adjust based on the vehicle’s height. Any changes could disrupt these systems and trigger a chain reaction.
Can a height spacer be used on a car?
Extensions are installed into the suspension system to increase the height.
They are the least expensive, simplest to set up, and, thus, most commonly used. We strongly discourage using height spacers for one of the reasons listed below.