Lifted vehicles

[Eureka]

Does someone have an article about how lifted vehicles are actually constructed? I see them around all the time (ultra-lifted trucks and donks), but I have no idea how they're actually put together.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Does someone have an article about how lifted vehicles are actually constructed? I see them around all the time (ultra-lifted trucks and donks), but I have no idea how they're actually put together.

Often poorly, lifting a vehicle even a couple inches will make it much more prone to rollover in a loss of control. Plus most of these kits say they are designed for off-road use only but that doesn't stop people from installing them on street driven vehicles. Add in larger, heavier wheels and tires and you actually increase stopping distances, decrease acceleration, and make it handle worse. Not to mention the increase in danger to anyone unfortunate enough to get into a collision with one of these retardmobiles.

 

[Elganja]

like everything there is a right way and wrong way to do something... done right there are no adverse effects to braking or acceleration (I.e. upgraded brakes and gearing)

lifting a vehicles purpose, is not to handle better, but to handle offroading better (including rock climbing) and with the proper modifications (I.e. suspension lifts.... not body lifts) the effects on over all handling is not altered much

I own a GTR for the twistes / straight line performance and a wrangler lifted on 35inch tires (done right) to ale my offroading needs

both serve their purpose and to negate anyones preference is asinine / egotistical (even for those who enjoy eco centric cars and motorcycles)

get off your high chair Jules

 

[SparkyJJO]

Jules' comment makes me want to lift my evil SUV

Done properly it isn't negatively affecting much safety-wise. Usually with a lift comes the larger tires, which yes take a little more braking power to stop, but they are also usually wider and help with lateral stability. A reasonable lift with proper tires does not increase rollover risk very much at all. If it did, offroading would be even more risky. Not saying people don't do stupid stuff sometimes when lifting a vehicle but a few stupid ones doesn't make all of them retarded.

 

[phucheneh]

How are they lifted? Generally, in the worst ways possible. Lift the body further off the frame. Install spring spacers. Pay no attention to driveline or steering geometry.

 

[darkswordsman17]

like everything there is a right way and wrong way to do something... done right there are no adverse effects to braking or acceleration (I.e. upgraded brakes and gearing)

lifting a vehicles purpose, is not to handle better, but to handle offroading better (including rock climbing) and with the proper modifications (I.e. suspension lifts.... not body lifts) the effects on over all handling is not altered much

I own a GTR for the twistes / straight line performance and a wrangler lifted on 35inch tires (done right) to ale my offroading needs

both serve their purpose and to negate anyones preference is asinine / egotistical (even for those who enjoy eco centric cars and motorcycles)

get off your high chair Jules

Handling is a performance aspect so its silly to ignore it and act like it in no way hurts performance, but you already admit that so I don't really know what your point is. And you can only compensate so much but fact is you almost will absolutely be compromising braking and acceleration just due to the tires.

He even qualified that most of it is done poorly which exacerbates the compromises you make to achieve that, which you then just reiterated for some reason. I really don't understand what your whole argument is against Jules since you just argued what he did.

Same is true for the people lowering their vehicles. Most of it is done poorly and negatively impacts the car.

Yeah there's some legitimately decent done examples driven by decent people who drive them like they need to be, but this stuff attracts dumbassery like flies on excrement, so about 90% of it is just idiots.

 

[Elganja]

Handling is a performance aspect so its silly to ignore it and act like it in no way hurts performance, but you already admit that so I don't really know what your point is. And you can only compensate so much but fact is you almost will absolutely be compromising braking and acceleration just due to the tires.

to say handling is a performance attribute that a jeep owner is "silly to ignore" would be like telling someone with a prius that they should care about acceleration.

i don't disagree that big tires effect braking and acceleration, but they can be compensated for ... I'm speaking from personal experience, not hearsay. My jeep on 35's with the vanco big brake kit brakes just as good as any other jeep out there... and with the way it's geared, it's just as peppy as a TJ wrangler gets

He even qualified that most of it is done poorly which exacerbates the compromises you make to achieve that, which you then just reiterated for some reason. I really don't understand what your whole argument is against Jules since you just argued what he did.

assumptions without experience

Same is true for the people lowering their vehicles. Most of it is done poorly and negatively impacts the car.

agreed... in fact lowering your car (or bike) negatively impacts your car more then you realize (even with the correct springs) because it changes the whole geometry of the suspension ... many more pieces need to change when lowering a car

Yeah there's some legitimately decent done examples driven by decent people who drive them like they need to be, but this stuff attracts dumbassery like flies on excrement, so about 90% of it is just idiots.

this can be said about any type of car, motorcycle, and bicycle

 

[olds]

I prefer lifted trucks. That way when Jules crashes into me with his patchouli oil burning, tree hugging, mom car, he'll be in his proper position. Under me with his head down around my knees.

 

[Eureka]

Oh dear I didn't expect to start a debate over lifting. I just want to know how its mechanically done. Isn't there a point where you can stretch the driveshaft or CV axles any further? Do you need some kind of vertical driveshaft/transfer case?

 

[Elganja]

Oh dear I didn't expect to start a debate over lifting. I just want to know how its mechanically done. Isn't there a point where you can stretch the driveshaft or CV axles any further? Do you need some kind of vertical driveshaft/transfer case?

no stretching... custom length driveshafts...

transfer case drops are popular and a cheaper way to go about things... but for a wrangler, a SYE kit (slip yoke eliminator) does not need a dropped transfer case to keep a correct pinion angle

 

[JulesMaximus]

Oh dear I didn't expect to start a debate over lifting. I just want to know how its mechanically done. Isn't there a point where you can stretch the driveshaft or CV axles any further? Do you need some kind of vertical driveshaft/transfer case?

Call your insurance company and tell them you plan on lifting your vehicle, ask them about liability coverage if you get into an accident. I'm curious what they would have to say about it.

I've talked to car dealerships about this and some won't even take a lifted truck on trade or if they do they devalue it because of the work they'll have to do to return it to stock in order to sell it without the added liability.

 

[JCH13]

OP,

Lifts are mostly done in the following three ways, or a combination of two or all three.

Body lift: spacers placed between the body of the vehicle and the frame to lift the body up away from the frame.

Axle blocks: blocks are bolted between the solid axle and its leaf spring. This lifts all of the running gear, frame, and body.

Leaf springs: leaf springs with a higher ride height can be used to move the frame up away from the axles.

Donk cars are usually some conversion to a set of solid axles and a frame, with the car body slapped on top.

Jules' comment makes me want to lift my evil SUV

Done properly it isn't negatively affecting much safety-wise. Usually with a lift comes the larger tires, which yes take a little more braking power to stop, but they are also usually wider and help with lateral stability. A reasonable lift with proper tires does not increase rollover risk very much at all. If it did, offroading would be even more risky. Not saying people don't do stupid stuff sometimes when lifting a vehicle but a few stupid ones doesn't make all of them retarded.

Wider, grippier tires are exactly what you DON'T want after a lift, it makes the vehicle MORE prone to roll-overs.

Increasing vehicle track will help, but rarely enough to offset the lift.

Lifting a vehicle in any manor will increase weight transfer which negatively impacts braking, turning, and roll-over stability. You can argue the degree to which it hurts, but it will.

Another consideration is that you've now moved your bumper and crumple zones. If they wind up too high you will wind up with really bad results from an accident.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Call your insurance company and tell them you plan on lifting your vehicle, ask them about liability coverage if you get into an accident. I'm curious what they would have to say about it.

I've talked to car dealerships about this and some won't even take a lifted truck on trade or if they do they devalue it because of the work they'll have to do to return it to stock in order to sell it without the added liability.

Dealerships also would not reprogram my car for a different rear gear ratio, despite me having put the factory optional rear axle in it for my car. Dealerships as a general rule don't like to touch anything modified, so their response should come as no surprise.

Another consideration is that you've now moved your bumper and crumple zones. If they wind up too high you will wind up with really bad results from an accident.

Nah, go high enough so you just roll on over the offending car without damaging your own :whiste: :biggrin: