SUSPENSION

Suspension is the foundation of every build, so this section is built to explain how it works before telling you what to buy. We cover lift kits, coilovers, and shocks in enough technical depth that you can hold your own in a conversation with a suspension shop, without needing an engineering degree.

Lift kit guides start with the difference between a leveling kit and a full lift, then move into body lift versus suspension lift, long arm versus short arm geometry, and how to figure out exactly how much lift a given build actually needs. Getting these basics wrong is the single most common reason lifted trucks and Jeeps ride worse than stock.

Coilover coverage explains why adjustable height and damping in a single unit is different from a traditional spring-and-shock lift, ranks the major coilover brands, and walks through preload and damping adjustment as well as long-term maintenance and rebuild schedules.

Our shocks and dampers guides break down monotube versus twin-tube designs, when a reservoir shock is worth the extra cost, which shocks hold up best for daily driving, and whether adjustable shocks are worth the premium for most builds.

If you are new to suspension entirely, start with our Suspension 101 primer, then read through alignment requirements after suspension work and the warning signs that your current setup is worn out and due for replacement.