The higher the body is above the ground, the better the vehicle's cross-country ability. Therefore, some drivers try to increase the car's ground clearance with their own hands, using various means. Which technology is better, what is more desirable to use, is it even worth the candle? Let's try to figure it out, because installation errors of various tools can negatively affect the safety of operating the machine.
The concept of clearance and why increase it
From a technical point of view, ground clearance, also known as ground clearance, is the distance from the top of the road surface to the lowest point of the body elements. But the fact is that other parts and parts of the units protrude below the bottom level:
- exhaust pipes;
- cardan shaft with suspended bearing;
- front body kit;
- engine oil sump.
Ford Focus 3 low clearance
It is these elements that receive damage from impacts against obstacles that rise above the level of the road surface (for example, when driving along a rut).
Advice. The lowest point of the car is considered to be the engine sump or its protection made of a metal sheet. If you want to measure the ground clearance of your car, then it is better to start from this point.
Measuring ground clearance using the front body kit
The measurement is carried out using a regular ruler or tape measure, provided that the car is standing on a level surface. To avoid getting dirty, place an old jacket on the asphalt, sit down on it and look under the car. If the pan protection does not protrude below the “beard” of the front bumper, then you can take the measurement using the body kit, otherwise fix the ground clearance using the crankcase. Periodic checking of this parameter will allow you to determine the degree of shrinkage of the front springs during the operation of the car.
Increasing the ground clearance is a fairly popular procedure among owners of foreign passenger cars with low ground clearance - from 130 to 150 mm. Being new, these cars somehow cope with driving around the city, but after a few years their bumpers begin to cling to ledges on the road. This is one of the reasons for lifting the car, but there are others:
- excessive wear and shrinkage of springs;
- some methods of increasing ground clearance are cheaper than buying new suspension elements;
- when the car is constantly operated with a full load on bad roads or pulls a loaded trailer.
Hyundai Accent ground clearance is typical for foreign cars
Reference. The optimal ground clearance can be determined from Russian VAZ models - 170 mm under the engine. This is enough for driving in urban conditions and on the highway. To move confidently on country roads and dirt roads, you need a ground clearance of 190 mm or more.
What is clearance - video
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3aWXA3e1mGk
Spacer
Car springs have a certain distance between each turn; in this place you can insert a rubber gasket that is thicker than this distance. Such a gasket can be purchased at the store. As a result, after installation the car will sag less from its own weight. That is, the spring is initially compressed due to the fact that the body itself presses on it, and the gasket makes this compression less.
Where this spacer is installed, there will be practically no compression, and where it is not there, the compression will be greater. But despite this, most inexpensive cars, such as Ford Focus, Hyundai Solaris and so on, receive 3-5 cm to the previous ground clearance. Yes, you can install even more of these spacers and get an even greater increase, but it’s better not to do this.
This method will give you what you need, but there is a downside. Spacers will greatly increase rigidity, especially if your car is not particularly comfortable to begin with. Controllability will also deteriorate and ESP will not work as correctly as before.
All this is not particularly expensive, and you can do the whole procedure yourself. If you buy it for AvtoVAZ models, then on average they will cost you 500 rubles a set. If you don’t have a particularly expensive foreign car, then at least you will need 2,000 rubles for a set.
Impact on vehicle behavior
Engineers who develop the car design calculate all the parameters in such a way as to ensure the desired characteristics. Therefore, sports cars and similar types of cars are “pressed” to the road surface as much as possible, which is necessary for stability and controllability at high speed. SUVs, not designed for driving too fast, are raised above the road surface, since their main task is to successfully overcome obstacles in conditions of bad roads or their complete absence.
The high ground clearance of SUVs allows them to overcome serious obstacles
It's all about the car's center of gravity, which rises along with the body as the ground clearance increases, which leads to the following consequences:
- Vehicle controllability decreases as speed increases.
- The car rolls more when cornering, and the braking distance increases.
- Fuel consumption increases.
- While driving, the air flow in the space under the car increases. The higher the speed, the worse the grip of the wheels on the asphalt becomes.
You can't lift a car body that much
Advice. Deterioration in driving performance will remain almost unnoticeable if you correctly carry out the work to increase the ground clearance. An ordinary passenger car cannot be lifted higher than 5 cm without consequences.
More springs
If you have a leaf spring suspension, which is rare in the modern world, then you can solve your problem by simply adding one or two leaf springs. Most often, such a suspension is used on old SUVs or Gazelle. Among the minuses, it is worth noting a slight increase in rigidity and a change in the center of gravity, but the maximum load on the suspension will become greater, that is, you will be able to load a little more cargo.
If you have an SUV, then most likely you can install other wheels that are significantly larger than the standard ones. But in fact, it will be better to install several new plates, since there are much fewer disadvantages.
Ways to increase ground clearance
The simplest way to quickly raise a car by about 1-1.5 cm, which can be done without disassembling the suspension mechanism, is to install tires with a higher profile. In addition to increased ground clearance, you will receive additional comfort, because the ride on high-profile tires will become softer. But the option cannot be called the cheapest, because you will have to buy 2 sets of new slopes - winter and summer.
This is what high profile tires look like
Raising the body above the ground is also done by other methods:
- by installing rims of larger diameter (10-15 mm will be added);
- replacing springs with higher ones (gain 2-3 cm);
- adding various spacers for springs and struts (can be increased from 3 to 5 cm).
Reference. Another method called a body lift is used to increase the ground clearance of SUVs by installing spacers between the supporting frame and the car body. Such tuning is not practiced on passenger cars.
Large rims do not fit under the arches on every car.
Installing large disks is an unpopular option and here's why:
- buying 4 discs, even stamped ones, will not be cheap;
- the weight of the wheels will increase, and behind it the load on the transmission, reducing its resource;
- fuel consumption will increase;
- Not every car has arches that allow you to install wheels of a different size.
Spacers for body lifting
Replacing springs and installing increasing spacers is a type of work that can be easily done with your own hands in an ordinary garage equipped with an inspection ditch. Buying new parts will cost you from 1000 to 3500 rubles. depending on the make of the car, which is much cheaper than replacing wheels and tires. Since to implement both methods, the car's chassis is disassembled, they can be considered together.
Springs and spacers between coils
Important. In order to increase ground clearance without noticeable consequences for performance, it is necessary to raise both parts of the car - front and rear.
Homemade spacers
Any spacers are structurally simple, so they are not difficult to make. Moreover, this process is quite creative.
Some make them by simply cutting them out of an old tire, others use ebonite, steel, polyurethane and other materials.
Any tools are good for making. At home, a drill, jigsaw, files, etc. may be useful for this.
Those who have the opportunity to use a lathe simply turn them from blanks.
In general, any suitable material can be used for manufacturing, and it can also be processed with different tools and equipment. The only important condition is compliance with the dimensions.
For cutting, you can try to find drawings, and if they are not there, then focus on the dimensions of the components of the suspension (for example, a spacer for a spring is made based on the diameter of the spring itself and its seat).
In general, if you want to make spacers at home, it is quite possible.
DIY front suspension upgrade
The procedure for replacing springs and adding spacers is divided into several stages:
- Preparation of tools.
- Disassembling the suspension with removing the front strut.
- Selection and purchase of parts for tuning.
- Installation of springs and spacers, reassembly.
- Correction of camber angles - wheel toe-in.
If you purchased a car second-hand, it is recommended that you follow this sequence. You should not purchase parts without disassembling the suspension mechanism and seeing what is currently there. The previous owner of the car could also have added body-raising elements so as not to have to change the sagging springs, then the pre-purchased parts will be unnecessary and you will waste your money.
Standard spacers under the springs are about 2 cm high
It’s another matter when the car was purchased at a showroom and you know that there was no outside interference in the design. Then buy a set of spacers in advance.
What tool do you need to make high ground clearance?
Among the special devices, you will need a puller designed for squeezing out the ball pins of the steering rods, and spring ties in the form of pins with grips. Both are sold for little money and will be quite useful in the future if you are used to repairing your car with your own hands. The list of other tools looks like this:
- a set of open-end wrenches and sockets with a handle equipped with a ratchet;
- wheel wrench and jack for removing wheels;
- wheel chocks;
- ordinary plumbing tools - a hammer, various screwdrivers, bronze attachments and pliers;
- cloth gloves and rags.
Types of pullers for pressing out ball pins
Advice. Do not ignore gloves and work with bare hands when disassembling the chassis of a car. It’s not scary to get them dirty with dirt and grease; it’s much more unpleasant to knock your hands loose when loosening the nuts and breaking off the keys.
Spring compression ties
Disassembly procedure
First of all, place stands under the rear wheels of the car, open the hood and install a jack. Then unscrew and remove one of the front wheels, and then proceed according to the following algorithm:
- Loosen the nuts securing the upper part of the shock absorber, located in a circle from the protruding rod (usually 3 pieces), but do not unscrew them completely. If the latter is covered with a protective cap, remove it.
- Holding the rod by the edges at the end, unscrew the main nut holding it to the glass.
- Disassemble the mounting assembly of the strut to the steering knuckle by unscrewing the nuts and knocking out the bolts through the bronze adapter.
- Unscrew the nut holding the tie rod ball pin, having first pulled out the locking pin (if there is one). Put on the puller and press the rod end out of the socket.
- The stand is now hanging by the 3 top nuts that you loosened initially. Unscrew them and pull out the entire assembly.
First of all, unscrew the bolts of the upper strut support
Note. If a tube with brake fluid is attached to the rack, as is done on Russian front-wheel drive VAZs, then it also needs to be carefully disconnected and moved to the side.
After dismantling, all that remains is to release the spring, to do this, compress it with ties and unscrew the nut holding the support bearing. After this, remove the spring with the standard fittings to take it with you to the store for comparison with the new parts.
To disassemble the unit, you need to tighten the spring
If the front suspension design of your car is multi-link, then the disassembly algorithm changes. There is no need to press out the tie rod end; the first step is to unscrew the lower shock absorber mount. Then proceed like this:
- Place a wooden block or other support under the lower arm and lower the jack.
- Unscrew the pin of the lower ball joint and press it out of the eye on the hub with a puller. Raise the jack if necessary.
- Disconnect the end of the anti-roll bar from the lower arm.
- Use zip ties to compress the spring, lift the jack and pull it out of the glass. From there, remove the standard spacer.
Front suspension diagram with 2 arms
Photo of front suspension disassembly
The ball pin is squeezed out with a puller
The stand is removed along with the spring
Steering rod ball pin nut
After unscrewing the lower bolts, the hub is separated from the rack
The upper fastening nut must be twisted while holding the rod
At the bottom the stand is held on by 2 bolts
Selecting elements for lifting a car
As a rule, to increase ground clearance, repair springs are selected whose height is 1 turn greater. This will give an increase in ground clearance of 3-5 cm, which is quite enough for a passenger car. There are other options:
- choose springs of increased rigidity so that the machine does not “sit down” when loading, plus spacers 30 mm high;
- buy a set of spacers along with reinforced upper supports;
- use a standard spring with interturn and lifting spacers.
Rubber spacer kit
You can use each option individually or in combination, the main thing is not to go beyond 50 mm. And for some cars, whose clearance above the road is already quite good, a rise of 30 mm is enough. The spacers themselves are made from the following materials:
- Rubber parts are low in price, but their service life is limited, so the attachments will have to be changed periodically.
- Polyurethane products are stronger than rubber ones, but they are also more expensive.
- Lightweight aluminum spacers are practically eternal, they will last for the entire service life of the car.
Polyurethane inserts
Important point. Along with the spring reinforcement elements, do not forget to purchase devices for lengthening the shock absorbers, otherwise their working stroke will not be enough to dampen vibrations of the raised body. Constantly being in the extreme open position, the rod breaks the upper part of the shock absorber body, causing the latter to fail.
Aluminum spacers
How to increase: installation of new parts and assembly
To install the elements that you purchased to increase the vehicle's ground clearance, you need to proceed in the reverse order. Move the ties to the new spring, compress it and assemble the rack, installing reinforced spacers instead of the standard ones. If necessary, install devices to extend the shock absorbers. Try to insert the parts into their places clearly and without distortions, so that the height of the body above the ground remains the same at different points and there are no creaks from rubber bands that are incorrectly rotated in the sockets.
Assembling the front strut with spacers
Advice. Before installation, tighten the new spring with tools, focusing on the length of the old element. Then she will freely fall into place.
Assembly with aluminum extension
Taking this moment while the assembly is disassembled, check the technical condition of the remaining parts - bearings, rubber bushings and ball joint pins or tie rod ends. It is recommended to lubricate the upper support bearing of the strut before installation. There are no tricks here, just reassemble the car in reverse order. When finished, be sure to visit a service station and adjust the camber, otherwise lateral wear of the ramps is inevitable.
Using spacers - video
Video
Main author of the site and founder of several automotive Internet projects
On the vast majority of modern cars, especially foreign-made ones, the body height above the ground lies in the range of 130–160 mm. This is done for the sake of the car’s controllability, its stability and driver comfort. But the low landing is also a problem when driving on Russian roads with poor-quality surfaces, where the engine sump tends to catch on some bump. A motorist can solve this issue independently by taking measures to raise the car 3–5 cm above the road. Technically speaking, you need to increase the ground clearance yourself.
Raising the rear of the machine
Installation of spacers and high springs in the rear suspension of a car is carried out in the same way as in the front. Even the set of tools remains unchanged, and a puller for pressing out ball pins is not needed at all. The difference lies in the order of disassembling the chassis:
- Remove the trunk trim or rear seat backrest to access the upper strut mounts.
- Release the upper strut support by unscrewing the nut on the stem. The latter must be held with a second key so that the shock absorber does not rotate.
- Raise the car with a jack and remove the rear wheel, then lower the body onto the block. Place the jack under the hub and lift it.
- Unscrew the lower strut support and knock out the bolts if they cannot be removed manually. Remove the assembled unit from the glass, disassemble it and replace the standard spacers with a spring with reinforced ones.
The rear pillar mount is hidden under the trim
Advice. During disassembly, use WD-40 spray lubricant to help loosen stuck threaded connections.
The rear multi-link suspension is disassembled using the same algorithm as the front one: first, the lower shock absorber mount is unscrewed, then the lower arm is released, the spring is tightened and removed from the socket along with the extensions. When assembling, be sure to install extensions for the shock absorbers so that the rod has enough travel on an elevated body.
Spacer for extending rear shock absorber
How to disassemble the rear suspension - photo
To remove the shock absorber, you need to pull out or knock out the bolt
After unscrewing, the rear pillar is removed entirely
When loosened, the rod is held with a second key
This is what the spacer socket looks like with the stand removed
Unscrewing the lower rack mount
Video instructions for lengthening shock absorbers
For a motorist who has at least once changed the struts on a car with his own hands, it will not be a problem to increase the ground clearance using spacers and new springs. The procedure does not imply radical intervention in the suspension design and does not require the use of special equipment or welding. In the first days after lifting the body, you may have to get used to small changes in the car’s behavior on the road and reduce your driving speed. These are natural consequences of increasing clearance that you need to get used to.
Direct flow - how to make it yourself.
Do-it-yourself noise insulation of car wheel arches
Let's sum it up
There are several dozen methods to increase the ground clearance of a car. A number of them are used for all cars, some options exist only for certain types of transport. There is always the opportunity to use the option that is most suitable for your case and get the maximum positive emotions from its use. Therefore, it is important to choose a method of working with the suspension that will be safe and will not cause any problems in the operation of the car. Otherwise, a car trip will not turn into the most pleasant moments of your life. Sometimes it will be very difficult to redo everything back.
Before performing any modifications, you should go to specialized forums for your make and model of car to get more information about the behavior of the vehicle after the modification. Even if you decide to completely change the suspension of your car, there are such precedents in Russia. So you can always use the experience of other people and get more information about possible alterations. Also consult at good service stations, clarify the cost of work and other conditions. This will help you prepare for the costs and not be surprised during the remodeling process. What methods of increasing ground clearance in a car do you know?
