What is BodyLift?
Body lift is a technique used to lift/elevate the body or cab of a vehicle from its chassis. Body lift is achieved by adding polyurethane or aluminum blocks between the vehicle body and the body mounts.
The body lift is the simplest solution for lifting a vehicle and is easy to install. It is relatively cheap and costs a few hundred dollars. The body lift is built on top of the stock suspension setup, so wheel alignment is not required.
The body rise is not substantial, it can be up to 3 inches. There may be a gap between the body and the chassis.
The body lift raises the ride height and adds fender clearance to allow the installation of larger tires. It’s not affecting suspension geometry, ride, or ride quality. It is more related to the appearance of the vehicle than its performance. It makes the vehicle look better, but it’s not really useful for unpaved and dirty terrain.
Body lifting should be done carefully as installing larger tires can make it difficult to separate the tires.
What is Suspension Lift?
Suspension lift is a technique used to raise/raise the height of the vehicle’s suspension. This is the most popular lifting solution. Lifting is made possible by replacing the vehicle’s stock suspension components with new ones including longer coil springs, coil spring spacers, torsion bar braces, raised leaf springs, etc.
The suspension lift provides improved suspension and allows the use of wider and larger tires without hindering vehicle clearance.
Ground clearance after a suspension lift can be increased by up to 12 inches.
Suspension lift is more expensive than body lift. It can be difficult to install and takes more time.
Unlike a body lift, there is no visible gap between the body and the vehicle chassis.
Suspension clearance affects suspension geometry, thus requiring wheel alignment.
The suspension lifter manipulates or replaces the stock suspension frame, leading to a significant improvement in shock absorption capabilities. Affects vehicle handling and provides effective ground and tire clearance. It makes the vehicle adaptable to rocky and uneven terrain and is very helpful in terms of off-road driving.
Suspension lift should be done very carefully, as excessive lift can affect steering geometry. This can result in vehicle instability and cause significant tire wear on independent front suspension platforms or alignment problems on solid axle platforms. The high center of gravity can increase the tendency of the vehicle to turn.
Difference Between Body Lift and Suspension Lift
Definition
Body lift: Body lift is a technique used to lift/elevate the body or cab of a vehicle from its chassis.
Suspension lift: Suspension lift is a technique used to raise/raise the height of the vehicle’s suspension.
Method
Body lift: The lifting is done by adding polyurethane or aluminum blocks between the vehicle body and the body supports.
Suspension lift: The lift is done by replacing the vehicle’s stock suspension components with new ones including longer coil springs, coil spring spacers, torsion bar braces, raised leaf springs, etc. It can be difficult to install and takes more time.
Cost
Body lift: The body lift is relatively inexpensive, costing a few hundred dollars.
Suspension lift: Suspension lift is more expensive than body lift. Increases the fuel consumption of the vehicle.
Body Lift
Body lift: Body elevation can be up to 3 inches.
Suspension lift: Body lift can be up to 12 inches.
Chassis lift
Body lift: The body lift does not lift the chassis, only the body itself.
Suspension lift: The suspension lift raises the body and chassis together.
Floor Clarity
Body lift: Body elevation does not add ground clearance.
Suspension lift: Suspension lift adds floor space.
Geometry Changes
Body lift: Body lift does not affect suspension/wheel geometry, so no realignment is required.
Suspension lift: Suspension lift alters suspension/wheel geometry and requires realignment.
Off-road performance gains
Body lift: The body lift provides no off-road performance gains.
Suspension lift: Suspension lift adds ground clearance and improves off-road performance.
Safety and Comfort
Body lift: The body lift does not affect comfort or safety.
Suspension lift: The suspension lift raises the vehicle’s center of gravity and can compromise safety. It affects comfort in the city and on the highway.
Difference Between Body Lift Vs Suspension lift
- Body lift is a technique used to lift/elevate the body or cab of a vehicle from its chassis.
- Suspension lift is a technique used to raise/raise the height of the vehicle’s suspension.
- Body lifting is done by adding polyurethane or aluminum blocks between the vehicle body and the body mounts. Suspension lifting is done by replacing the vehicle’s suspension components with new ones.
- Body lift is relatively cheap while suspension lift is more expensive and increases the fuel consumption of the vehicle.
- The body lift after a body lift is up to 3 inches, while after a suspension lift it is up to 12 inches.
- Body lift does not lift the chassis, while suspension lift lifts the body and chassis together.
- The body lift adds no ground clearance, while the suspension lift adds ground clearance.
- Body lift does not affect suspension/wheel geometry, so no realignment is required. Suspension lift alters suspension/wheel geometry and requires realignment.
- The body lift provides no off-road performance improvements, while the suspension lift adds ground clearance and improves off-road performance.
- The body lift does not affect comfort or safety. The suspension lift raises the vehicle’s center of gravity and can compromise safety. It affects comfort in the city and on the highway.
