Exploring Engine Rebuild Parts and Practices

Exploring Engine Rebuild Parts and Practices

Investing In A Comprehensive Suspension Lift: Things To Consider For Safety

by Rosa Wallace

If you've been evaluating options to personalize your truck or sport utility vehicle, you might find yourself considering a suspension lift. The suspension lift will increase the ride height and ground clearance for your vehicle. If you've been thinking about installing your first suspension lift, here are a few things that you'll want to take into account to ensure that you are making the right choice for your needs.

Center of Gravity Change

By raising the suspension height of your vehicle, you're also raising its center of gravity. Although a lift and larger tires will improve your ground clearance to make it easier for you to travel on uneven terrain, it also puts you at greater risk of tipping or rolling over.

The increase in your center of gravity means that you'll need to be particularly attentive when you turn corners. Never take corners without slowing to a safe speed, because the body roll that naturally happens in the corner can actually lead to rollover with a higher center of gravity. You'll want to be attentive to your handling at all times once you've lifted your truck.

Changes in Visibility

Vehicles with a suspension lift often turn heads, because the added height makes them stand out in a crowd. Although your truck might be more visible to others, it's important to understand that a suspension lift is going to alter your visibility behind the wheel. Many truck owners don't realize it until after the lift is installed, but your perspective will change.

The increased ride height can make it harder for you to see smaller roadway hazards, including small pot holes and other things that can affect your handling and suspension. Additionally, it widens your blind spot. As cars become smaller and more efficient, a suspension lift can make it harder to see them. To make sure that you can see small cars and motorcycles, invest in a blind spot mirror or buy larger side mirrors to compensate for the change.

Other Features

If you're new to suspension lifts, you might not know about all of the other parts, components and changes that you might need to make with it. Order a complete suspension lift kit or work with an auto parts supplier who can make sure that you get everything. Depending on how much height you're adding, you might need things like longer brake lines, upgraded control arms or even longer shocks.

And, you might find that you want to put a larger set of tires on once you've lifted the suspension. The increase in height will add clearance in your wheel wells, making it possible to upgrade the size of your tires slightly. Before you go up more than an inch in your tires, you'll want to have a mechanic evaluate the gear ratio in your transmission.

Larger tires will affect the distance covered in a single tire revolution, which affects the size of the gears needed to maintain your speed. This part is best left to a mechanic, though, because the inner workings of the transmission are intricate and precise.

It can also alter the accuracy of your speedometer. Whether you need to upgrade the gears in your transmission or not, you can calibrate your speedometer with the help of a mechanic or by investing in a calibration tool from an auto parts shop.

A suspension lift is a fun way to make your truck your own, but it can be unsafe if you don't consider these factors along the way. Addressing these concerns when you lift your truck will help you ensure a more positive experience. For more help, contact a company that has experience with auto supplies to learn more.


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About Me

Exploring Engine Rebuild Parts and Practices

Hi everyone, my name is Lee Flounce. I am crazy about rebuilding engines in my spare time. The process of breaking down a combustion engine to find the damaged parts waiting inside definitely intrigues me. I carefully remove each part and place it on a piece of cardboard for a close inspection. Once the engine is broken into its individual components, I take some of the parts to the machine shop and clean others at home. I order all of the seals, gaskets and internal components in need of replacement and wait for my parts to return from the machine shop. Once I have everything I need, I rebuild the engine using the torque specs for all of the nuts and bolts. I would like to explore all of the parts and practices employed in this process through my website, as it differs slightly from engine to engine.