Body Lift vs Suspension Lift – Which Is Better for Your 4WD?
If you're looking at lifting your 4WD, one of the first decisions is normally whether to fit a body lift or suspension lift.
We get asked this quite a bit, and there isn't really one answer that suits every 4WD.
A body lift and suspension lift do two different jobs. In some cases a suspension lift is the better option, in others a body lift makes a lot more sense. Plenty of modified 4WDs also run a combination of both.
The main thing is working out what you're actually trying to achieve by lifting the vehicle.
If you're completely new to body lifts, have a read through our guide explaining what a 4WD body lift is and how it works.
What Is the Difference Between a Body Lift and Suspension Lift?
The main difference is pretty simple.
- A body lift raises the body away from the chassis.
- A suspension lift raises the chassis and body by changing the suspension setup.
With a body lift, the engine, gearbox, suspension, differentials and chassis all stay at the original height. Lift blocks are installed between the factory body mounts and the body of the vehicle.
With a suspension lift, components such as springs, shocks, struts or other suspension parts are changed to increase the distance between the chassis and wheels.
Both make the vehicle taller, but they achieve it in completely different ways.
Why Fit a Body Lift?
One of the biggest reasons people fit a body lift is to make more room for larger tyres.
By raising the guards and body higher above the chassis and wheels, you can gain additional tyre clearance without having to dramatically change the suspension.
This is especially useful on IFS 4WDs such as Hilux, Navara, Ranger, Triton, D-Max and similar vehicles.
Trying to get all of your lift through the suspension on an IFS vehicle can increase CV angles and change suspension geometry. Depending on how far you go, you can end up creating more problems that then need to be fixed with other parts or making weakness in the driveline due to the increased angles.
A body lift avoids most of this because the suspension stays where it was.
Some of the main reasons we like body lifts are:
- Extra clearance for larger tyres
- Factory suspension geometry is retained
- CV and driveline angles are unaffected
- Factory suspension ride quality is retained
- Improved approach, breakover and departure clearance
- Normally considerably cheaper than a suspension lift
- Keep low center of gravity as only the body is raised rather than the complete chassis and drivetrain
- Can be used alongside an existing suspension lift
If this sounds like what you're after, you can browse our 4WD body lift kits here.
Why Fit a Suspension Lift?
A suspension lift has its own advantages.
If your main aim is improving the actual suspension performance of the vehicle, then changing the suspension obviously makes more sense.
A good suspension setup can provide things like:
- Increased suspension travel
- Improved load carrying
- Better damping
- More clearance between the chassis/body and axles
- Improved approach, breakover and departure clearance
- Better suspension control off road
- The ability to set the vehicle up for extra weight from bullbars, winches, drawers and other accessories
If your factory suspension is worn out anyway, upgrading it at the same time as lifting the vehicle can also make good sense.
So we're definitely not going to tell you a body lift is always better than a suspension lift. It isn't.
It depends what you're trying to do.
Body Lift vs Suspension Lift for Larger Tyres
This is probably where a body lift makes the most sense.
If the main reason you're lifting the vehicle is to clear bigger tyres, changing the suspension isn't always the only answer.
A body lift raises the wheel arches and body higher above the tyres, creating additional room without changing the suspension geometry.
The larger tyres themselves then provide the important clearance underneath the differentials and axles.
This is worth understanding because simply lifting the suspension of a solid-axle 4WD doesn't magically move the differential further away from the ground. The axle and differential still sit in relation to the wheels.
Larger tyres are what increase the clearance underneath the differential.
A body lift can help you create the space needed to fit those larger tyres.
Body Lift vs Suspension Lift on an IFS 4WD
Independent front suspension vehicles are where we think body lifts can be particularly useful.
Vehicles like many Toyota Hilux, Toyota Surf / 4Runner, Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton and Isuzu D-Max models use independent front suspension.
As you increase suspension lift, the front suspension and CV joints can start operating at greater angles.
A small sensible suspension lift normally isn't a problem when everything is set up correctly.
But there comes a point where chasing more and more height through the suspension isn't necessarily the best way of doing it.
For example, if you already have around a 2 inch suspension lift and still need extra room for larger tyres, adding a body lift may be a better option than trying to get another 2 inches out of the suspension.
You end up getting the extra body and guard clearance without adding more driveline angle or signficantly changing the center of gravity.
Does a Body Lift Affect Ride Quality?
Not really.
Because your springs and shocks aren't changed, the suspension itself behaves basically the same as it did before the body lift.
This is one of the reasons body lifts are popular on vehicles that still get used regularly on the road.
If you're happy with how your current suspension rides but simply want more clearance for tyres, there isn't much point changing perfectly good suspension just for the sake of making the vehicle taller.
A suspension lift, on the other hand, can change the ride considerably.
That isn't necessarily a bad thing.
A good quality suspension lift can make an old 4WD ride and handle far better than worn factory suspension. But choosing springs and shocks that are too stiff or poorly matched to the vehicle can also make it ride worse.
Which Lift Raises the Centre of Gravity More?
Both lifts will raise the center of gravity to some degree.
The difference is in what you're actually lifting.
A suspension lift raises most of the sprung weight of the vehicle, including the body, chassis and components mounted to it.
With a body lift, the chassis, engine, gearbox and most of the heavy mechanical components stay at their original height. You're mainly raising the body.
For the same amount of lift, a body lift will therefore have less effect on the vehicle's center of gravity than raising the entire vehicle through the suspension.
Obviously tyre size, suspension height, roof loads and every other modification on the vehicle also need to be taken into account.
Which Is Cheaper – Body Lift or Suspension Lift?
Normally a body lift.
There are far fewer parts involved.
A basic body lift consists of lift blocks and longer high-tensile body mounting bolts, with additional vehicle-specific parts added where required.
Depending on the vehicle, this might include a steering extension, radiator brackets, intake extension or shifter modifications.
A suspension lift can require new springs, shocks, struts and potentially other suspension or steering components depending on the vehicle and how much lift you're trying to achieve.
This is why a body lift can be a very cost-effective way of getting the extra clearance you actually need.
Can You Have a Body Lift and Suspension Lift Together?
Yes, and this is actually a really good combination on many 4WDs.
You don't necessarily have to choose one or the other.
For example, you could have:
50mm suspension lift + 50mm body lift
rather than trying to get the full amount of height through the suspension alone.
The suspension lift can improve suspension performance and underbody clearance while the body lift creates additional room for tyres.
This can be particularly useful on an IFS 4WD where you don't want excessive CV angles.
The exact combination that's sensible will depend on the vehicle, tyre size and how it's being used.
What About Ground Clearance?
This is where the term "lift" can get a little confusing.
Neither type of lift automatically gives you more clearance under every part of the vehicle.
A body lift does not raise the chassis, axles or differentials.
A suspension lift raises the chassis relative to the wheels and axles, but on a conventional solid axle it still doesn't raise the bottom of the differential housing away from the ground.
If you want more clearance under your diffs, larger diameter tyres are what do that.
This is why lift height and tyre size need to be looked at together rather than just asking how many inches the vehicle has been lifted.
Is a Body Lift Legal in New Zealand?
Yes, body lifts can be legally used on New Zealand roads, but they require LVV certification.
We have written a separate guide covering this because there's quite a bit of misleading information around body lifts and certification.
Read: Are Body Lift Kits Legal in New Zealand?
If you've already decided you're fitting one and want to know more about the actual certification process, read our Body Lift Cert NZ guide.
We don't want to repeat all that information here because those guides go into it in considerably more detail.
What About the Steering After a Body Lift?
This depends on the vehicle.
The steering column moves upwards with the body while the steering rack or steering box is attached to the chassis.
Some vehicles have enough factory adjustment to account for the lift. Others require a steering shaft extension.
This is why we manufacture vehicle-specific steering extensions for body lift kits.
Our steering extensions are machined from solid steel rather than using cut-and-welded steering components and are made with New Zealand's LVV certification requirements in mind.
Whether you need one depends on the vehicle and the height of the body lift.
So, Body Lift or Suspension Lift?
The easiest way to decide is to work backwards from what you want the vehicle to do.
Want better suspension performance, wheel travel or load carrying?
Go suspension lift.
Happy with your suspension but want more room for larger tyres?
A body lift makes a lot of sense.
Already have a suspension lift and need more tyre clearance?
Consider adding a body lift rather than trying to get excessive height out of the suspension.
Building an IFS 4WD and don't want extreme CV angles?
A combination of a sensible suspension lift and body lift can be a very good setup.
There is nothing wrong with suspension lifts and there is nothing magical about body lifts. They're simply two different ways of achieving lift. For a lot of 4WD builds, the best answer isn't body lift vs suspension lift- It's using the right amount of both.
Flatout Offroad Body Lift Kits
We've been supplying body lift kits and steering extensions for 4WDs for more than 10 years.
Our body lift kit range covers popular Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Suzuki, Daihatsu, Land Rover and other 4WD models.
Our kits are designed around the individual vehicle rather than being a generic set of blocks and bolts. Depending on the vehicle, kits can include or have available steering extensions and other parts required to properly complete the lift.
We ship throughout New Zealand and worldwide.
If you're not sure which body lift kit fits your 4WD, send us the make, model, year and body style and we'll help point you in the right direction.