fixing up an ugly, beat up car

If you are considering installing a lift kit in your Jeep or truck, there are some things you need to decide before you buy the kit. The lift kit will alter your suspension system's geometry, and it is critical that everything is still aligned correctly or the handling of the vehicle can be adversely affected.

Determining the Height

When you first start looking at Jeep lift kits, you need to think about how high you want the lift kit to be, and there are some things that can affect that decision. The primary reason to put a lift kit on a Jeep or truck is to allow for larger tires on the vehicle. 

Select the tire size you want to run on your truck or Jeep first. Then you can find a suspension lift kit for your truck that will allow you to install the tires you have chosen. Keep in mind, not all tires are going to work without a lot of other modifications to the Jeep or truck. The truck lift kit is the first place to start, but large tires come with many other problems to solve, so talk with the lift kit manufacturer about what else you may need. 

Lift Kit Installation

If you do not have the tools or the place to do your own lift kit installation, it might be best to take your truck to a local four-wheel drive shop and have them put the kit on for you. If your kit comes with new springs and steering components, the tech working on your truck will be able to install them without too much trouble, but the truck will need to have a full alignment after the parts are installed. 

The Jeep lift kit will change the way the axles sit under the Jeep and the angles of the steering links, and if these angles are not corrected, the Jeep or truck may be nearly impossible to drive down the road. The alignment will bring the steering and suspension angles back to the original positions or very close to it. While the truck is going to handle a little different than before, it will be manageable after the alignment.

Wheels and Tires

When it comes time to install the tires on your truck or Jeep, you may run into issues with the tires rubbing the frame or suspension because taller tires are often much wider than stock ones. Mounting your new tires on a new set of wheels designed to move the tire out away from the frame and widen the truck's stance is a good choice. Talk to the four-wheel-drive shop about the wheel options you have for your truck or Jeep.

For more information, contact a Jeep lift kit supplier.