Adding a lift kit to your truck or SUV is a great way to add function and style. Choosing the proper kit and components to lift your vehicle will depend on the purpose for the lift. Do you want to lift your vehicle just for looks or do you need a more functional system for serious off-road use? There is a variety of options available on the market to lift your vehicle. Here is a review of those options. The Body Lift: This is a moderately priced option for lifting your vehicle. Using a body lift kit is useful if you simply want to fit slightly larger tires under the body. This modification does nothing to improve the performance of your vehicle as the suspension system remains stock, so is primarily used to add style. However, the body kit may be combined with other lift kits to extend the lift even further, which is often used with extreme lifts. On their own, body kits can add about 1-inch to 3-inches. The cost of a body lift kit may range from about $100 to $500, depending on the vehicle and how much is included with the kit. Shackles: For small lift adjustments, Shackles are the most inexpensive option you can choose. Shackles are placed at one end of each leaf spring and provide a lift from -inch to 2 and -inches. This is another option that may be used if you just want to add a slightly larger tire size to your vehicle and you have leaf spring suspension. There is little, if any, performance gain with this option. Shackles range from about $45 to $150. Leaf Springs: A very common way to lift your vehicle is through the use of lifted leaf springs, which will provide an increase of 2-inches to 6-inches. A wide range of options are made available; from stiff springs to softer springs. The stiffest springs are normally used for off-road racing vehicles to keep the bottom of the vehicle off the ground. For a truck that will see highway miles, you’ll want a spring with moderate stiffness. The price you pay for springs corresponds directly with the quality of the spring. The less you pay, the poorer the ride and quality. The pricing for lifted leaf springs ranges from about $150 to $600.Add-a- Leaf: The concept of add-a-leaf is the same as the above lifted spring option. However, the gain in height is only 1-inch to 3-inches. Also, you are adding an additional component to your suspension, while a lifted spring accomplishes the task with one component. This is another option that is best suited to lifting a vehicle simply to fit larger tires. This is not the best choice if you’re planning moderate or professional off-road use. Add-a-Leaf kits range from about $45 to $130. Spring Over Axle: Leaf springs are normally mounted to the bottom side of the front and rear axles. A spring over axle kit allows you to mount the springs on the top side of the axle. This adjustment in the mounting of the spring provides a lift on its own, not including additional height you may have gained with a lifted spring. On average, these kits provide a lift of 6-inches. The spring over axle kits run about $500 to $600.More comprehensive kits are available on the market that combines some of the components listed. These larger kits may run up to $2,000 or more.When adding a lift kit to your vehicle, keep in mind that additional adjustments may be needed. You may need to obtain longer brake lines and emergency brake cables, bumper adjustment kits may be needed, and longer shock absorbers. Also keep in mind that with the upgrade to larger tires, you may need to change your gear ratio so that you don’t damage your clutch or transmission. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil