How to Put a Lift On a Car

Putting a lift on your car can give it a great sporty look while, at the same time, giving it better capabilities off-road. There are kits made specifically for an individual automobile, and others that are homemade, for example, out of hockey pucks. The recommended ones are obviously the ones made by manufacturers. These are safety approved.

Things You'll Need

• Lift kit
• Basic mechanics’ hand tools
• Jack stands
• Floor jack
• Something to compress spring with
• Drill and drill bits

Instructions

1. Raise the vehicle and support it with jack stands. Remove the wheels, front shocks, front sway bar end links, and clamps for the front spring retainer. Next, the front track bar should be disconnected from the axle end. Remove the front springs. This job will be easier if you use some type of spring compressor. Support the front axle with jack stands. Remove the lower control arms that were factory installed that are to be replaced. Remove the brake lines that were installed by the factory and replace with the lines supplied in the lift kit. Watch the line routing, use angle brackets and e-clips to secure the lines.

2. The lower spring pads will need a new hole, 5/16 inch diameter drilled in them. Threads need to be cut into the lower spring pad. The easiest way to do this is with a self-tapping bolt through the spacer for the bump stop extension. Remove the bolt and spacer. It will be installed with the spring. Next, install the lower control arms. Use the rubber bushing. This should be at the uni-body. Use the factory bolt and nut at the mount for the uni-body (it is important to leave these bolts loose until the vehicles has all four tires on the ground again). Install the superflex joint at the axle. When you mount the offset tube you want it to be mounted as low as you can get it.

3. Look at the new springs. The longer ones go in the front. Install the front springs with the 2 inch extension for the bump stop inside of the coil. The use of coil spring compressors can save a lot of time and energy. Once you have the spring set, thread the bolt into the lower spring pad. Rotate the coil so that it lines up the spring with the lower coil cup. Install the clamp for the spring retainer that you removed earlier. You will need new front shocks that are longer. Install those now. You may need to put bar pins through the eyes on the bottom of the shocks. If you do, use a little bit of light grease on the pins. Install the disconnects for the sway bars.

4. The front track bar bracket for the axle will need to be re-drilled. The new hole should be ¾ inches center to center towards the driver’s side. Reconnect track bar. Use the new hole.

5. Remove the rear shocks. Remove the end links for the rear sway bar. Use jack stands to support the rear axle. Disconnect the rear track bar from the axle. Remove the lower control arms that were factory installed. Next, remove the rear springs. Remove the plastic dust shield that covers the bolt that holds the rear track bar on to the mount on the axle housing. Throw it away. Remove the bolt with the Torx head. Disconnect the axle end of track bar.

6. Install the bracket and spacer for the track bar. Once you have the track bar bracket in place, drill two holes, 5/16 inches diameter, in the axle mount where the plastic dust shield used to be, one on top and one on the angled surface. Install the hardware in the new holes. Shim if necessary to stabilize. Install the track bar in the track bar bracket. Be sure to use the Torx bolt. Set the length on the rear lower control arms. Install the lower control arms. The rubber bushing mounts to the uni-body and the super flex end to the axle. Again, be sure to mount the offset tube as low as you can. Remove the rubber piece from inside the rear bump stop. Remove the bump stop cup. Install the spacer between the frame of the uni-body and the bump stop cup. The lift kit should provide longer hardware to accomplish this. Reinstall the rubber bump stop.

7. Install the springs. Install the new end links for the sway bar. Install new rear shocks that are longer. Install all tires.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to bleed brake lines and check for leaks.

• Double-check all nuts and bolts to factory torque specs.

• Test drive and adjust drag link to center steering wheel.

• Align vehicle as soon as possible.

• Recheck all bolts again after 50 miles and every off-road trip.