My Car Is Too Low How Do I Raise It?

A question many new car owners may wonder is whether their car is too low. How do I raise it? Well, there are a few methods to raise a car.

You can install bigger tires or use a suspension lift kit to increase the ground clearance and raise the height. Apart from that, you can use a coil assister or height spacer as well, which also can raise the car by a few inches. 

Whatever it is, if you want to raise your car and look for a suitable option, this guide will give you exactly what you’re looking for.

4 Ways to Raise a Car Height

Below we’ve listed the most popular ways to increase car height. But before you increase the height, make sure to check your state’s law; some states have restrictions.

Change the Tires

Installing larger tires is one of the most popular methods of increasing ground clearance in many vehicles. Most prefer this method over others because changing tires doesn’t invalidate the warranty provided by the manufacturer. 

All you need to do is, install a set of new tires that are larger than the previous one, and your car will gain some extra inches of ground clearance. 

That being said, don’t get carried away and install wheels that aren’t suitable for your car. 

If the tire doesn’t fit properly in the wheel wells, the tire’s going to rub on the wheel well wall continuously. When at high speed, the tires might bend the wall. 

Furthermore, the turning radius will become limited; in some cases, larger wheels might even make it hard to turn the steering wheel smoothly. 

Plus, large tires will surely affect the performance and efficiency of your car. 

Installing wheels larger than your vehicle capacity can lead to serious accidents. Therefore, make sure you avoid that. 

The owner’s manual should state what size tire and rim will suit your car. And if you don’t find anything, contact the manufacturer or ask someone experienced. 

Install Coil Spring Assisters

This is the easiest and most affordable way to increase the car’s height.  Coil spring assisters, also known as coil spring spacers, are basically rubber pieces that can increase the height by 10 – 15 mm. 

This rubber piece is supposed to be placed between the coils of the suspension. 

What usually happens is when you sit in a car, the suspension coil contracts, and the car gets a little low. And when you get off the car, the suspension coil expands and returns to the default height. 

When the spacer is placed properly between the coils, it increases the car’s height by preventing the coil from contracting or expanding. 

However, it’s no surprise that the suspensions won’t be able to work properly due to the spacers between coils. 

One misconception is that using spacers between coils will increase false ground clearance. Spacers lift the car’s body, not the base.

Height Spacers 

These are almost the same as coil spacers; they’re affordable and very easy to install as well. 

The only difference between coil and height spacers is the latter sits on top of the struts and is screwed. Height spacers can increase the height by an inch or so. 

When installing height spacers, make sure to pick one with the finest quality. Otherwise, that might mess with the vehicle’s stability when at high speed. 

There are kits known as body lift kits; they contain all types of spacers that are supposed to attach to the bushings. 

Body lift kits only lift the body, not the frame, so don’t confuse that with ground clearance. 

Suspension Lift Kit

If you want to lift your car, using a suspension lift kit is one of the best options. Suspension lift kits come with many components, such as shock absorbers, cv spacers, cross members, drop brackets, etc. 

Unlike height spacers, this kit lifts the entire car frame and can increase ground clearance by 2 – 3 inches. With that much clearance, you should be able to go over obstacles like rocks very easily. 

That being said, don’t get too excited and go off-road. 

Another plus of using a suspension lift kit is it’ll allow you to use larger tires. Before you decide to use such lift kits, make sure to check the rules in your state.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Raising Car Height?

High and low ground clearance both come with their own set of pros and cons. Let’s take a look.

Pros

•  A good car height will allow you to see better while driving
• You get a little more time to react to dangers on the road
• Raised height will make other vehicle notice you better
• You’ll be able to go over the road obstacles very easily

Cons

• High ground clearance increases the risk of rollovers
• It might also mess with the car’s handling 
• Aerodynamics are compromised 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How much does it cost to elevate a car?

It depends on the method being used; height or coil spacers are affordable and shouldn’t cost more than $50. On the other hand, suspension lift kits can cost anywhere between $2000 – $6000.

Is suspension lift better than body lift?

A suspension lift is always better as it increases ground clearance, is very safe, and makes driving comfortable. In contrast, body lift doesn’t increase ground clearance and isn’t as safe as suspension lifts. 

What’s the Ideal Ground Clearance for Cars? 

Unless you’re off-roading, 170 – 180 mm ground clearance should be good enough to course through road obstacles. 

Conclusion 

If you’ve mechanical skills and the tools needed, you can do the installation yourself. 

Otherwise, a mechanic’s store is the only way, which can be a little heavy on your wallet. 

With that said, we hope this article gives a proper answer to your question, “my car is too low how do I raise it?”