Why The Right Lift Kit Makes All The Performance Difference

There are a couple schools of thought when it comes to lifting your vehicle. You can lift it to get a certain look and stance. Maybe you need to squeeze in a bigger tire? Whatever your reason, a simple lift will give you the look, but you won't get the performance gains for true off-road driving. If you’re looking for the performance edge, you need to go for the right lift kit for your vehicle. It will make all the difference.

All Suspension Is Not Equal

For most every vehicle, the stock suspension system isn’t designed for true off-road use. Even vehicles that are built for more rugged driving are not going to have a suspension system and lift that really handles off-road the best. The reasons are quite obvious. For one, not everybody is going to drive their vehicle the same as others. The manufacturers design vehicles with a middle of the road-type approach. Plus one of the major factors in factory suspension system design is fuel economy. The suspension systems are designed for angle of the vehicle on pavement and other factors like aerodynamics in an effort to achieve the best, and most competitive fuel economy ratings. Not that any of that is bad, per say, but when your goal is being able to take rocks, bumps and more with ease, what works as “decent” for everyone else just doesn’t cut it.

The Performance Edge

If you want the best handling and performance for your vehicle along with the added benefits of a true lift kit, a lot of aftermarket options fall flat. One of the very best you will find is the Eibach PRO-TRUCK-LIFT Stage 2R Performance Lift Kit. If you’re into off-roading, you have undoubtedly heard of Eibach. They design and sell the suspension systems that put the power to the ground for many of the top racers and enthusiasts on the trail.

The Stage 2R kit uses high performance, completely adjustable shocks and struts to not only give your truck or SUV the lift you want, in this case up to 4 inches, but also give you the performance edge with shocks that have extended travel and are designed to absorb the terrain you encounter off the beaten path. Let’s take a closer look at the action of the shock.

Compression

Compression is the action of the shock coming up in the stroke. The more compression you have, the stiffer the ride. A shock with too high of compression will often give you a harsh ride quality. Too soft on the compression setting and you get a loose ride with added sway. The Eibach PRO-TRUCK series uses Eibach’s Variable Force Valving. This is what controls the compression. As you drive with a little more speed and hit those trail obstacles harder, the valving adjusts to give you better control by increasing the compression.

Rebound

Rebound is the movement of the shock stroke in the opposite direction from compression. It is how fast the shock pushes back to get the full extension again. Again this is where Eibach’s Variable Force Valving is so impressive. If the rebound is too fast and stiff, you can experience your tires pushing back against the terrain harder than you need. This is called deflection and can result in a loss of control and very poor ride quality. The Eibach valving controls the rebound just as much as it does the compression, adjusting the rebound to your driving style, terrain and speed.

Coil Overs

For the front of your truck, Eibach’s Stage 2R Performance Lift Kit uses coil-over shocks or struts, depending upon the vehicle application. The coils make a huge difference in how the suspension and lift work to give you the best ride. Check out most any race team vehicle and even if they don’t use Eibach shocks, there is a good chance they run Eibach’s springs. The reason should be quite clear - no one does it better. Each kit has springs that are calibrated specific to that vehicle application and for the best possible performance gains.

These coil overs use a threaded perch spring for height adjustment, which lets you dial in exactly how much lift you want. You can leave it at stock height if you want, or add as much as 4 inches of lift, and since we all want lift, why not use it? The adjustable threaded spring perch also allows adjustment for additional weight with maximum clearance. This is vital for trucks equipped with heavy gear, like oversized bumpers, winches, lights, skid plates, and more.

Reservoirs

The rear shocks are remote reservoir units and that is a big key to the increased performance. The use of a remote reservoir gives you additional shock fluid for improved cooling. This is important for extended use because when the fluids heat up from the friction of going through the valving on the shock, the fluidity changes. Basically the fluids thin out as the temperature goes up, causing the shocks ability to function as it should to fade. The remote reservoir works to overcome this by having additional fluid that is kept away from the shock body.

Eibach’s PRO-TRUCK Reservoir shock is pretty high tech. It uses a 46mm piston and a heavy-duty, zinc-coated cylinder along with a nitro-steel shaft. Eibach adds sweet billet aluminum mounting brackets and fittings that make sure the shock mounting is perfect even under extreme use.

The result of having a matched performance suspension lift kit means your truck or SUV will have the best ride quality for all of your off-road adventures, while still being a capable vehicle for driving down the road, too.

A couple of key things to keep in mind for any suspension lift kit. As soon as you install the kit and have everything assembled and ready to roll, get your vehicle aligned. This ensures you don’t ruin your tires and your ride quality is perfect. This will keep you on the trail longer and help protect those expensive tires, too.

NOTE: This is sponsored content produced in partnership with Eibach