Avoid Spacer Lift Kits for a Better Ride: Insights from Southern California's Basil's Garage
At Basil's Garage, a vehicle outfitting service in Southern California, we often encounter customers dealing with the aftermath of having a spacer lift kit installed. They come to us with complaints about their vehicle's poor ride quality, unusual noises, and a sagging rear suspension. The root cause is typically a spacer lift kit they thought would serve as a proper lift solution. Unfortunately, this often leads to damaged parts and a truck that provides an uncomfortable ride. This article aims to shed light on the drawbacks of spacer lift kits and why it might be beneficial to consider other alternatives.
It's crucial to note that spacer lift kits do NOT increase your vehicle's load-carrying capacity. While your vehicle may seem taller post-installation, the spring rate remains unchanged. Therefore, additional load will cause the suspension to sag. For instance, the Tacoma TRD Pro in the images provided was fitted with a spacer kit on top of an already lifted front Coilover, with rear blocks installed to raise the ride height to accommodate a camper. The stock Tacoma leaf springs, designed to sag from the factory rake and sit level, were pushed past their limit by the lifted front end, resulting in a squatting rear end and light or loose feeling steering.
A typical coilover spacer lift kit comprises a block or spacer bolted on top of the existing coilover, which lifts the vehicle by lowering the coilover's mounting position. This alteration changes the points at which the shock fully compresses and extends. The factory-set limits, designed to prevent damage, are effectively bypassed once a spacer is installed. The result? The factory bump stops no longer engage and your shock becomes your bump stop. This can lead to poor ride quality and, more often than not, shock failure. Additional problems can arise at full extension, where the upper control arm overextends and contacts the coil, leading to damage to the upper ball joint over time and eventual failure.
We're not saying that spacer lift kits are universally bad. In fact, on some vehicles, they can be a reasonable option. The term "spacer lift" can refer to several different types of lifts, such as preload spacers, leaf spring blocks, coil spacers, and coilover preload adjustment, among others. However, it's important to do your research and ensure that the lift kit you're considering—or that a shop is proposing to install—is the correct one for your needs.
At Basil's Garage, we believe in helping our customers make informed decisions about their vehicles. If you're considering a lift kit for your vehicle and are unsure about the best choice for your needs, don't hesitate to reach out to us for professional advice."
