Refers to the most significant design parameters of a car. To understand its importance, one can give an example of a powerful SUV with high traction, a well-thought-out chassis, ergonomic handling and lowered suspension. With all its advantages, its clearance of 15-20 cm will not allow it to confidently overcome off-road. How to increase ground clearance? The task is not an easy one, especially when it comes to typical cars with a basic ground clearance of 14-16 cm, like most AvtoVAZ models. Nevertheless, experts still give several recipes.

Increase in clearance due to wheels

The simplest, relatively safe and tangible way to lift the case. The standard group of wheels is updated with new pairs with an increased profile. Moreover, the configurations of the increase in height may be different. According to auto mechanics, the cumulative positive effect on economy and reliability will be an increase in rims rather than tires. But there are also disadvantages to this tuning. You may have to pay with the consequences of the increased load on the chassis. This is reflected in the rapid wear of bearings, shock absorbers and struts. How to increase ground clearance with minimal negative effects? The best option is to change the wheels within the ranges provided by the manufacturer. In this case, the fuel consumption standard will remain within the acceptable range. The problem is that such ranges imply a slight variation in diameters, which will not suit everyone.

Replacing shock absorbers

Another way to update the standard functional parts with its pros and cons. In this case, the "native" shock absorbers are replaced with new ones - respectively, with a large number of turns. This method should be in service even if it is not planned to increase the clearance as such. Over time, the springs can sag so that you will have to raise the base to the original level. And, in principle, the solution is not bad, since it makes it possible to strengthen the supporting structure, eliminate subsidence of the stern at full load and correct the angles of the rear and front suspension. That is, structurally provides a lot of opportunities to improve the chassis. But is it possible to increase the ground clearance by replacing the shock absorbers with tangible results? Of course, the upgrade will also be useful for lifting the body. Another thing is that the technical operation of replacement itself is not cheap and is performed through complex operations in a car service.

Installation of air suspension

An even more expensive option, in terms of the scale of implementation, comparable to a major re-equipment or car repair. What should be expected at the exit? Air suspension is a whole complex of components and assemblies, which includes air bags, air control sensors, a control receiver, a compressor unit and a control panel. The ground clearance will not only be raised - the driver gets the opportunity to almost precisely adjust its height in certain ranges. Moreover, the air suspension with increased ground clearance in some versions can provide for automatic regulation by means of sensors with adjustment for a specific type of surface. For example, on the highway, the system will lower the ground clearance, which will give an advantage in speed. And in off-road conditions, it will raise it to an acceptable level. But not only the air suspension kit itself, but also its installation with maintenance costs a lot.

Using a spacer to lift the undercarriage

A foreign device specially designed to increase the lumen. The spacer is built under the shock absorber or on the spring-to-body assembly. Thus, the structural level of the bearing part is increased by a certain amount. And the most important task of the wizard is to choose the right characteristics of the device. For example, how to increase the ground clearance on a VAZ with a spacer? Classic VAZ models like 2101-2107 have a ground clearance of about 15 cm. For such structures, spacers with a height of 1-4 cm are recommended. Moreover, it is advisable to select the material of manufacture from elastic. It is better to refuse solid and rigid devices, since the load-bearing part of the machine does not compensate for the rigidity of the already rough suspension. You can give preference to rubber, polyurethane or, at worst, plastic spacers.

Features of increasing ground clearance in SUVs

The difficulty in lifting such vehicles lies in the risks of imbalance when the ride height adjustment changes the center of gravity configuration. To minimize such risks, a point scheme for working out the bearing depreciation part will allow. For example, how to increase the ground clearance on the Niva in this way? The simplest set of actions could be as follows:

• The shock absorber group on the front suspension is, if possible, replaced with an analogue from the Volga family.
• Rear springs with an increased stem are replaced with shock absorbers from GAZelle.
• Spacers are installed under the front and rear springs, and this time it is metal.
• The diameter of the wheels increases - again, if possible, within the limits of the manufacturer's allowance.

It is also worth focusing on the following points of universal lifting properties:

• Any changes in the load-bearing base of the car will inevitably correct its behavior on the road, which is especially felt at high speeds. In this context, the important question is how to increase the ground clearance without losing stability? There are two options to minimize this kind of negative factor. Firstly, use air suspension, and secondly, provide the car with an electronic stabilizer bar.
• In the process of making changes to the amortization group, it will be useful to diagnose the suspension, which will identify worn out or parts close to wear.
• After increasing the clearance, it is worth preparing for an increase in the load on the chassis. You may need to change your driving style.

What is the best ground clearance?

It depends on the design of the machine and the practical tasks for which it is used. How do you increase the ground clearance so that it naturally matches the capabilities of the vehicle? For an answer, it is worth referring to the following classification of ground clearance:

• Clearance from 14 to 20 cm. Suitable for passenger cars, mostly used in urban environments.
• The middle range is from 18 to 25 cm. An intermediate option between a passenger car and a SUV.
• The ground clearance is from 20 to 35 cm. It characterizes the ground clearance of full-fledged SUVs and large crossovers, which are also used on rough terrain.

Conclusion

The increase in the distance between the underbody and the road is a fundamental design change that affects the vehicle's performance. How justified is this decision and what do the car owners say, who have increased the ground clearance? Ground clearance, according to many reviews, makes driving easier. The driver does not need to worry about whether the crankcase will catch on an unevenness on the road or a curb, whether the loaded body will not sink to a critical level, etc. That is, lifting has a completely logical practical function. As for the negative nuances, they boil down to the complication of the control process, a reduction in the working life of some suspension elements and an increase in fuel consumption.

What are the options for increasing the clearance by 2-4 cm?

Does it threaten anything negative?

Nothing terrible will happen from 2-2.5 centimeters.
If higher, then xs ....

https://www.drive2.ru/r/suzuki/947145/

Do not put spacers more than 1.5 cm - there will be stands, levers and drives faster to kill. For example, I put 1.5 cm spacers under all the wheels, plus I took a higher-profile rubber. Due to the rubber, the car has risen by another 1 cm. There are almost no minuses of large rubber, except that the dynamics worsened by 3% (since the wheels are 3% larger: 195 / 70R14 - in fact, 195 / 65R14 - it should be). Consumption may have increased slightly too, but hardly noticeable, because the difference is only 3%.

Nissan Bluebird SSS ATTESA, SR20DE, manual transmission, 1998

Do not put spacers more than 1.5 cm - there will be racks, levers and drives to be killed faster. For example, I put 1.5 cm spacers under all the wheels, plus I took a higher-profile rubber. Due to the rubber, the car has risen by another 1 cm. There are almost no minuses of large rubber, except that the dynamics worsened by 3% (since the wheels are 3% larger: 195 / 70R14 - in fact, 195 / 65R14 - it should be). Consumption may have increased slightly too, but hardly noticeable, because the difference is only 3%.

I put both 3 and 5 cm. True, the car was older. it all depends on how much the springs have sagged. (especially the back is weak) maybe you just return them with spacers to their original position.
I forgot to add that the speedometer will lie. consumption increases mainly from the width, not the height of the rubber, but swallows bumps better / 70.

I have tires in front of 55, rear 65. The car is higher, and it looks so much better. but chatters at high speed more ...

Nissan Teana 2006
Nissan Laurel Medalist 2000
Toyota Mark II GX100 2000

Maybe try to pick up the struts a little longer or the springs are different?
If spacers where?

What can a car lift 2-4 cm really affect?
and how to do it all wisely?
other longer struts and springs or what?

Remove the racks (calibrated or true bolts) if calibrated
then you knock them out, put others, you grab them longer on the spacer
carbon dioxide drilled holes in the spacer under your rack and put
into place.

+ spacers ... their price ..

Spacers can be different, aluminum, rubber, etc.
the height is also different but wisely.

more wheels more tires \u003d)

Which car exactly do you increase the ground clearance for, each has its own peculiarities of toyo or niss and what is the mileage on the car

Front suspension

To lift you need:
1) remove the front struts








Rear suspension.


To lift you need:





rack.


7) collect the seat.

10.06.2002.

Increase in ground clearance (vehicle lift)
As you know, Russian roads are the main enemy of Japanese (and not only these) cars. One of the methods to combat this age-old problem is to increase the vehicle's ground clearance. By raising the body of your car by 2 - 3 cm, you will significantly reduce the likelihood of catching the bottom in the next hole. In addition, one of the arguments for raising the car is to return the position of its body to its original state. That is, in the position in which the body was conceived and "born". Since we operate used cars, their springs sag after several years of operation, especially the rear ones, and especially on large and heavy machines with soft suspension (Vista, Camry, etc.). Ideally all springs should be replaced, but we live within our means. This applies to cars with a rigid suspension to a much lesser extent, because their springs hardly sag.
The process of lifting the body is described below using the example of a Toyota Corolla with a body of 100.
Front suspension
Almost ideally suited "aluminum spacers for raising the body" from the VAZ 2108. They come, as a rule, complete with elongated bolts, which ideally (in thread and length) are suitable for the Corolla.
To lift you need:
1) remove the front struts
2) tighten the springs with ties, having previously loosened the central nut of the rack.
3) disassemble the rack, i.e. remove the top cup.
4) knock out the native (short) bolts - 3pcs, with which the rack is attached from above to the body.
5) drive in new ones - from the kit with spacers.
6) assemble the strut (remember to tighten the center strut nut).
7) install a spacer on top (Sometimes the spacers do not fit quite tightly. It depends on domestic production - large tolerances and workmanship. You have to modify it with a file.)
8) install the stand with the spacer in place.
The thickness of the spacers is 18-20mm. Accordingly, the front end will rise to such a height. For larger machines (Crown, Vista), you have to order bolts for spacers from turners. Native in diameter are larger than those included in the kit. To do this, you need to knock out your own bolt and order the same one 20 mm longer (6 pieces - 3 per rack).
Rear suspension.
As mentioned earlier, as a rule, the rear sags more.
It depends on the fact that softer springs are put there in advance (apparently the engineers expect that the overwhelming majority of the time the machine will be operated with partial load - one / two people). Therefore, we will lift the tail (return it to its original place) in a slightly different way - put spacers under the springs. For this, "rubber spacers for springs" from VAZ classics are almost ideal. In particular, on the Corolla they are suitable from the front springs, and already on the Vista - from the rear ones (differ in diameter).
To lift you need:
1) remove the back seat (at least the backrest)
2) loosen the central nut of the strut without removing the strut.
3) remove the rack and disassemble it (As a rule, for the rear pillars not
retraction of the springs is required - the springs are very soft if you are working with a partner, who will then help with his weight to assemble the rack. Therefore, directing the recumbent stand to the wall, carefully unscrew the central nut.
4) install a rubber spacer on top of the spring and assemble
rack.
5) install the rack on the car
6) extend the central rack nut
7) collect the seat.
The height of the rubber spacers ranges from 30 to 50 mm. On Corolla
put 30mm. For a heavier and sagging machine - 50mm.
During the body lifting operation, we simultaneously diagnose the rack - rubber boot, rebound buffer and the rack itself.
If the boot or buffer is damaged, we replace it with domestic ones from VAZ 2108 or 2110. It is better to replace them immediately - we will save the life of the rack.
We also diagnose the condition of the ball, steering, and anti-roll bar struts (if any) - if necessary, we repair or change.
If you often have to drive with a full load (300-500kg), then instead of rubber spacers, I would recommend more powerful springs from models that are slightly heavier (for example, for Corolla - from Crown, for Corona from Vista, for Vista - from Camry-Prominent, etc.) etc.) or the same, but with four-wheel drive.
The above method of changing the body height is suitable for most Japanese cars. You just need to modify the spacers a little. Aluminum, for example, cut into three parts for Toyota-Kaldina, from VAZ 2108 does not "shoot at the bolts." In rubber for Toyota Vista, cut out a small sector (10mm) - adjust it to the diameter of the spring. The process, in general, is creative, but with a certain skill, the two can be done in three to four hours.
One should not really forget about the negative aspects of lifting the body. Due to the fact that the center of gravity becomes higher, the car's handling deteriorates somewhat and it is important not to overdo it when lifting the car. A slightly faster wear of the drive boots is also possible. But these negative moments affect when the body rises above the standard position, and does not return to its original position.

10.06.2002.
The article was prepared with the help of auto repair specialists from Novosibirsk

for memory

Increase in ground clearance (vehicle lift)
As you know, Russian roads are the main enemy of Japanese (and not only these) cars. One of the methods to combat this age-old problem is to increase the vehicle's ground clearance. By raising the body of your car by 2 - 3 cm, you will significantly reduce the likelihood of catching the bottom in the next hole. In addition, one of the arguments for raising the car is to return the position of its body to its original state. That is, in the position in which the body was conceived and "born". Since we operate used cars, their springs sag after several years of operation, especially the rear ones, and especially on large and heavy machines with soft suspension (Vista, Camry, etc.). Ideally all springs should be replaced, but we live within our means. This applies to cars with a rigid suspension to a much lesser extent, because their springs hardly sag.
The process of lifting the body is described below using the example of a Toyota Corolla with a body of 100.
Front suspension
Almost ideally suited "aluminum spacers for raising the body" from the VAZ 2108. They come, as a rule, complete with elongated bolts, which ideally (in thread and length) are suitable for the Corolla.
To lift you need:
1) remove the front struts
2) tighten the springs with ties, having previously loosened the central nut of the rack.
3) disassemble the rack, i.e. remove the top cup.
4) knock out the native (short) bolts - 3pcs, with which the rack is attached from above to the body.
5) drive in new ones - from the kit with spacers.
6) assemble the strut (remember to tighten the center strut nut).
7) install a spacer on top (Sometimes the spacers do not fit quite tightly. It depends on domestic production - large tolerances and workmanship. You have to modify it with a file.)
8) install the stand with the spacer in place.
The thickness of the spacers is 18-20mm. Accordingly, the front end will rise to such a height. For larger machines (Crown, Vista), you have to order bolts for spacers from turners. Native in diameter are larger than those included in the kit. To do this, you need to knock out your own bolt and order the same one 20 mm longer (6 pieces - 3 per rack).
Rear suspension.
As mentioned earlier, as a rule, the rear sags more.
It depends on the fact that softer springs are put there in advance (apparently the engineers expect that the overwhelming majority of the time the machine will be operated with partial load - one / two people). Therefore, we will lift the tail (return it to its original place) in a slightly different way - put spacers under the springs. For this, "rubber spacers for springs" from VAZ classics are almost ideal. In particular, on the Corolla they are suitable from the front springs, and already on the Vista - from the rear ones (differ in diameter).
To lift you need:
1) remove the back seat (at least the backrest)
2) loosen the central nut of the strut without removing the strut.
3) remove the rack and disassemble it (As a rule, for the rear pillars not
retraction of the springs is required - the springs are very soft if you are working with a partner, who will then help with his weight to assemble the rack. Therefore, directing the recumbent stand to the wall, carefully unscrew the central nut.
4) install a rubber spacer on top of the spring and assemble
rack.
5) install the rack on the car
6) extend the central rack nut
7) collect the seat.
The height of the rubber spacers ranges from 30 to 50 mm. On Corolla
put 30mm. For a heavier and sagging machine - 50mm.
During the body lifting operation, we simultaneously diagnose the rack - rubber boot, rebound buffer and the rack itself.
If the boot or buffer is damaged, we replace it with domestic ones from VAZ 2108 or 2110. It is better to replace them immediately - we will save the life of the rack.
We also diagnose the condition of the ball, steering, and anti-roll bar struts (if any) - if necessary, we repair or change.
If you often have to drive with a full load (300-500kg), then instead of rubber spacers, I would recommend more powerful springs from models that are slightly heavier (for example, for Corolla - from Crown, for Corona from Vista, for Vista - from Camry-Prominent, etc.) etc.) or the same, but with four-wheel drive.
The above method of changing the body height is suitable for most Japanese cars. You just need to modify the spacers a little. Aluminum, for example, cut into three parts for Toyota-Kaldina, from VAZ 2108 does not "shoot at the bolts." In rubber for Toyota Vista, cut out a small sector (10mm) - adjust it to the diameter of the spring. The process, in general, is creative, but with a certain skill, the two can be done in three to four hours.
One should not really forget about the negative aspects of lifting the body. Due to the fact that the center of gravity becomes higher, the car's handling deteriorates somewhat and it is important not to overdo it when lifting the car. A slightly faster wear of the drive boots is also possible. But these negative moments affect when the body rises above the standard position, and does not return to its original position.

Increase vehicle clearance, especially for off-road enthusiasts. But when there is no experience, then the question becomes where to start the process. We will try to tell you in detail about the methods that are needed for this and the nuances during work.

The content of the article:

An important thing in a car is its clearance, it is he who affects the aerodynamics and handling of the car. Some deliberately underestimate, while others, on the contrary, increase it. As a rule, off-road driving enthusiasts and to transport heavy loads increase the clearance.

What is vehicle clearance

Ground clearance, or in other words, ground clearance, is the space from the road surface to the lowest point of the underside of the vehicle. As a rule, the lowest point of a car is most often considered to be the differential, the engine sump guard, the suspension struts or the exhaust pipe.

Often, experienced motorists associate ground clearance with the maximum depth of a hole that a car can drive. This figure gives a 100% result that the underbody of the car will not be damaged and the car will not get stuck on the road.

For all characteristics, the greatest clearance in SUVs, from the manufacturer's factory, these cars are initially designed for off-road driving. The clearance of such SUVs or crossovers starts from 200 mm. For example, the clearance of the VAZ 2121, Mitsubishi Pajero (Pajero Sport) is 220 mm, Toyota Land Cruiser from 225 mm to 270 mm (for complete sets with air suspension).

Passenger cars have lower ground clearance, Lamborghini Diablo about 100 mm, Lada Kalina - 158 mm, Honda Civic 6 EJ6 - 110 mm. But there are situations when the owner is completely satisfied with the car, but its clearance is not, as a result, the search for options begins to change it.

Increase due to spacers

One of the most common ways is to increase ground clearance due to special struts in the springs. For this, special rubber gaskets are bought, calculated in thickness a little more than the span between the coils of the spring. Installing is quite simple and you can handle it yourself.

The essence of the work of such inserts is to support the car when it sags on the springs under its own weight. Rubber inserts simply reduce this sagging and maintain ride height. Due to the inserts, the coils of the spring, where it is located, almost do not bend, and the free coils bend as much as possible, as a result, the clearance increases.

For example, by installing such rubber inserts on Kia Rio, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla cars, you can increase the ground clearance by 3-5 cm, if you do not abuse it, if you overdo it, you can achieve greater results.

Such a change in ground clearance will adversely affect the suspension stiffness in the negative direction. It will definitely be noticeable knowing the stiffness before and after the change. With such tuning, it will be very uncomfortable to drive off-road, it will be pulled by the deterioration of control and directional stability of the car.

In addition to the trick described above, due to the rubber inserts, the vehicle's ground clearance can be increased by replacing the standard suspension springs. By replacing them with larger springs with a large number of turns, you get the desired clearance result.

But there is one thing, the presence of such springs will depend on the popularity of your car model and how much this type of tuning is in demand. Some models are full of them, but others do not exist at all, roofing felts are sold at exorbitant prices. As a rule, original springs made by the same manufacturer as your car simply do not exist in nature, in very rare cases even on SUVs.

Often these are special manufacturers who work purely in this direction. When buying such a part, you must understand that it must be made with high quality, with proper materials and withstand heavy loads. Regarding the disadvantages, the most unpleasant is the deterioration of the car's behavior on the road, due to the loss of directional stability, as well as rolls when cornering.

With this method, the clearance can be increased by 8-12 cm, or even more. It should be understood that such figures will greatly affect the safety of the car and its aerodynamics.

Fitting wheels with a larger radius

The third way to change the ground clearance is to replace the entire set of wheels and tires on the car. Often this method is chosen to improve the appearance of the car and in the case when you simply do not understand at all about cars.

As an example, for this method, you can pick up a set of wheels and tires 215/65 R16, while the car costs 205/60 R16 or 195/60 R15. It is worth remembering that changing wheels can not always increase the ground clearance, sometimes you can get the opposite effect. Often, tires of larger diameter are low-profile, which means that the ground clearance will not change or, on the contrary, will decrease.

The disadvantage of this method of increasing the clearance is that the wheels will begin to rub over the arches, wheel arches, especially this will be clearly visible and audible when cornering. Therefore, when choosing new wheels and tires, re-read a hundred times, calculate and make sure that this does not lead to consequences for your car. Usually this method increases the ground clearance by 1 to 3 centimeters.

Leaf springs, adding a leaf spring

This option to increase the clearance is suitable only for those cars that have leaf springs. Not to say that this is the easiest way, but one of the most common. If your car has springs available, then it is enough to add the required number of plates, and you will get the desired result.

The downside will be an increase in the stiffness of the suspension, but the plus is that the nominal load on these springs will increase. In other words, you can carry heavier loads than before. Experts recommend changing the discs to a larger size together with the springs, this will show a much better result in terms of softness and quality of replacement.

Adjusting the torsion bar suspension

If your car has a torsion bar suspension, then consider that many of the problems with changing the ground clearance have simply gone away from you. To increase the ground clearance, it will be enough to adjust it. It is worth regulating in moderation and not overusing, then the aerodynamics of the car and the quality of its control will not change.

Shock absorber spacers

This is most likely the best and most commonly used method to increase the vehicle's ground clearance. The essence of this method is to install special inserts at the junction of the struts of the shock absorbers and the body. These spacers perform a similar role as rubber spring spacers and increase ground clearance.

The disadvantage of such spacers is the deterioration of the center of gravity of the car, as a result of the deterioration in vehicle handling. Dense plastic or aluminum is used as a material for manufacturing.

The coolest way to increase ground clearance is considered to be the installation of air suspension. This method involves replacing almost the entire chassis and costs a lot of money. But the result justifies its own, you can choose the ground clearance at will by setting the parameters. At the same time, the car's handling will not deteriorate, some say the opposite, it only improves.

The cost of components for clearance

The first on the list were rubber inserts for the springs. Depending on the make and model of the car, the price may vary. An installation kit for Nexia or other Russian-assembled cars can cost from 250 to 1200 rubles. But for foreign cars Kia, Toyota or Honda, such a kit will cost from 1,000 to 4,000 rubles.

The second way to increase ground clearance is to replace standard springs with higher springs. The price of such pleasure will also depend on the car model, the average cost starts from 1000 rubles, the maximum in this variant is hard to say.

The third option for changing the ground clearance involves replacing discs and tires with a larger diameter. It's hard to say about a specific price here. It all depends on taste and desire, the start is usually from $ 100, but there is definitely no maximum, everyone goes crazy to the best of their wallet.

The next way to increase the ground clearance is the spacers between the shock absorbers and the car body. The price of this pleasure does not vary much. Plastic will cost around 400-800 rubles, aluminum will be a little more expensive.

Video review of an increase in ground clearance due to spring spacers:

The ground clearance is perhaps one of the most popular car characteristics at the request of motorists. The car is interested in the value of ground clearance immediately after they find out the volume and power of the engine, consumption and dynamic characteristics. And this is correct, because in our Russian conditions, the high ground clearance of a car is sometimes more important than the presence of rear windows or even an air conditioner. How to increase the ground clearance to make driving a car on domestic roads more comfortable, we will tell you in this material.

Before embarking on an operation to increase the vehicle's ground clearance, there are several aspects to consider. First: to accurately calculate your car (since its value may differ from the passport, especially if it is a foreign-made car). Second: decide on what height of ground clearance you want to achieve. The fact is that simply increasing the ground clearance is still half the battle, but you need to take into account such parameters as the angles of exit / entry and the angle of longitudinal cross-country ability of the car. They are different for all cars, and even if you increase the ground clearance for your sedan, it will not, it will not be better to climb hills - and all because of its own, set by the factory designers. And, finally, you will have to decide on the budget for this operation, since there are several ways to increase the clearance, and the labor costs for their application are different.

Cheap options for increasing ground clearance

1. The easiest way to make your car a few millimeters taller is to install wheels and tires with larger diameters than standard ones. This is a gentle option, since when installing non-standard wheels and tires, you do not make any changes to the design of the chassis. When increasing ground clearance in this way, you need to remember that it is better to install rims and tires on the car of those parameters that the manufacturer recommends. Usually, these parameters are indicated in the owner's manual for the car, but if they do not appear there, you can find this information on the Internet or contact the nearest brand car dealership. Having found out these parameters, you can buy tires and wheels, and then install them at any tire service.

The advantage of this option is one - the actual increase in ground clearance. But there are several disadvantages: an increase in fuel consumption, incorrect speedometer readings, and if tires and wheels are installed whose parameters are not recommended by the manufacturer, then the tires can touch the wheel arches when turning, which will eventually lead to early tire wear.

2. The second method is more effective, as it gives a greater increase in ground clearance. This is the installation of special spacers between the shock absorber springs and the car body. Before you start implementing this method, remember that by installing spacers, you are already making changes to the design of the car's chassis, therefore, violating the factory parameters. And this can affect both the change in the suspension operation and the safety of the car.

If you nevertheless decide on this option, then you have to choose from several types of spacers - aluminum, polyurethane or plastic. The service life of aluminum is an order of magnitude higher than that of polyurethane and plastic, in this component the most quickly wearing out are plastic spacers. So if you are going to increase the ground clearance seriously and for a long time - look at the aluminum parts. Also, keep in mind that the spacers differ depending on which suspension, front or rear, you put them on. Here it is important to clearly follow the marking and not to confuse the parts in places. Spacers are installed between the body cup and the shock absorber spring. There is one more type of spacers - inter-turn, which are installed between the coils of the springs. They are also made of various materials, but they serve to tighten the suspension, which helps to avoid the drawbacks that arise when installing conventional spacers (one of the advantages of inter-turn spacers is the reduction of car rolls in corners).

Ford Fusion - increased ground clearance thanks to spacers.

Advantages of spacers - increased ground clearance, no sagging of the rear of the car with a large load. Disadvantages - changes in the angles of the suspension (can affect the car's handling), an increase in shock absorber travel (the risk of suspension breakdown increases when it enters a deep hole) and vibration loads on the body and on the suspension itself.

3. The third method is to replace the factory shock absorber springs with non-standard ones with a large number of turns. This option is more expensive than the previous two, as it involves the purchase of reinforced springs with an increased number of turns and long-stroke shock absorbers for them (the price of these components and the cost of their installation are different, but it is much higher than that of the first two options).

There are several advantages to this method of increasing the vehicle's ground clearance: a long service life and service life, less subsidence of the stern (compared to spacers) when the vehicle is fully loaded. Among the disadvantages is a change in the angles of the front and rear suspension, an increase in its rigidity, vibrations that will be transmitted to the chassis and the car body.

An expensive option to increase ground clearance

There is a more expensive way to increase the vehicle's ground clearance - installing air suspension. It involves the purchase of front and rear airbags, air pressure sensors, a compressor, a receiver and a control panel. This method is described in detail in our material about. Its main advantage is the ability to change the vehicle's ground clearance depending on the speed of movement or the quality of the road along which the vehicle is moving, in a fairly wide parameter. That is, the car can get both a reduced (for high-speed driving) and increased (for off-road driving) ground clearance. However, there are also enough disadvantages: in addition to the high cost of installation, repair and maintenance, the air suspension has a relatively small operational resource (this is especially true for residents of Russian regions, where the quality of the road surface leaves much to be desired).

As you can see, any of the selected ways to increase the vehicle's ground clearance has its pros and cons. Therefore, before deciding on such an operation, carefully calculate its budget and think about the consequences that can occur as a result of changing the standard clearance of your "iron horse".

Good day everyone! I will not open a secret if I say that the quality of the roads of our vast Motherland leaves much to be desired in many places. Foreign cars often have low ground clearance, and domestic cars do not manage to get through everywhere. For these purposes, motorists often increase it. Sometimes it helps to go off-road, sometimes to carry more cargo, and it's not scary to drive on curbs. In short, the topic of today's review is spacers to increase ground clearance.

Let's briefly figure out what this very clearance is and why it needs to be increased. They are called the distance from the roadway to the lowest point of the bottom of the car body. Many motorists change this parameter: some down, some up. But we will talk specifically about the increase, since the good ground clearance allows you to drive without problems on domestic roads with all their "charms". It is the set of spacers that is a relatively budgetary way to raise the ground clearance compared to more expensive technologies.

It would seem that spacers have some advantages, but this is not entirely true. In fairness, I will say that there are some negative sides to this method:

• deterioration in vehicle handling and stability, which is especially noticeable when performing dynamic maneuvers and entering turns;
• the possibility of incorrect camber and toe-in, and this leads to uneven tire wear;
• violation of the center of gravity provided by the manufacturer;
• increased wear of elements of the chassis of the car, as evidenced by reviews;
• decrease in the performance of shock absorbers.

Main types of structures and materials

More often, it is the front spacers that are made, since the nose of the car and its bottom are most susceptible to contact with the unevenness of the road surface. Structurally, it is a bracket in which there are holes for fasteners. As for the rear spacers, they are made in the form of rings with multiple ears. Designs can be different, depending on the car brand. The material is metal, polyurethane, rubber.

Rubber products do not have such a safety margin as metal counterparts. But they are inexpensive, do not corrode and are resistant to aggressive environments. Nevertheless, due to significant loads, they are rapidly worn out, destroyed and deformed.

Spacers based on polyurethane have practically the same properties. They have retained the elasticity and noiselessness inherent in rubber, and also acquired their own advantages. First of all, it is increased strength, which allows them to safely take a blow of great strength. Among the disadvantages, we note a higher selling price, as well as an increased load on the bushings.

The strongest that the market offers are aluminum structures. In addition, they are characterized by all the same advantages as the analogs described above. They stand out for their long service life, do not corrode. True, aluminum products are much more expensive.

The mechanism for raising the ground clearance

In order to install the spacers on the car with our own hands, we will proceed according to the following algorithm. First, we take out the jack, place it under the front of the car and raise it. Now you need to remove the wheel, disconnect the stabilizer bar. We fix our spacer on the bolts (we will have to take the longer ones, since the old ones will not work). We assemble the structure in reverse order. You may need to unscrew the sour bolts.

Now how to do the same with the back. We remove the rear seats so that they do not interfere with access. We dismantle the panels and the rear wheel. We install the bolts in the same way as in the case of the front of the car. You can assemble the structure in the reverse order. Something like this I was going to install spacers on my own, but later abandoned this idea.

You should not change the design of the car, all changes in the future may come out to you sideways.

However, I want to warn everyone who wants to raise their car higher: at manufacturing plants, engineers calculate every millimeter, achieving a certain balance. Therefore, the slightest changes made with his own hand violate the integrity and properties of the structure, for which the manufacturer is responsible.