The Right Height Suspension

When it comes to lifting your 4WD, the choice is ultimately yours, but there are a few things worth thinking about before you hand over your hard-earned cash. A suspension lift is generally done for three main reasons:

• To fit larger tyres
• To gain off-road clearance
• To allow for increased suspension travel

Big Lifts vs Smart Lifts

Back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, it was all about going big. We’re talking 6–8 inch springs (or more) with shocks to match. Sure, you could squeeze in massive tyres, gain clearance and flex, but the trade-off was sketchy handling and a sky-high centre of gravity, bad news on off-camber tracks.

These days, the smarter approach is to decide on your tyre size first, then choose the minimum lift height you need to fit them. Most coil-sprung wagons like LandCruisers and Patrols only need around a 3-inch lift for 35s, and can easily run 33s on a 2-inch lift. Keeping things low has plenty of benefits.

Why Smaller Lifts Make Sense

With a more modest lift, your handling stays predictable, suspension geometry is easier to manage, and castor correction doesn’t become a major headache. Your centre of gravity stays lower too, so you’ll feel a lot more confident on off-camber climbs and descents.

As for clearance, you only really lose a small amount at the sills, which can be sorted easily with a good set of rock sliders (and let’s be honest, you should have those fitted anyway). Flex is better achieved through upgrades like softer suspension arm bushes or even Superflex arms. These allow far more controlled suspension travel than tall springs ever could, all without sacrificing stability at speed.

The Modern Approach

The days of rigs with a huge gap between the tyres and guards are long gone. A lower, well-set-up 4WD with quality shocks and springs will out-drive a tall, top-heavy setup every time. Just look at competition rigs from the last decade: they’re lower, wider, and designed for handling and traction, not just height.

The Bottom Line

Think about the tyres you want to run, and give the team at Superior Engineering a call about how to make them work without compromising drivability. Choosing the right height isn’t about bragging rights, it’s about getting a 4WD that handles well on the road, flexes off-road, and gives you the confidence to tackle any track.