Are you interested in adding a couple of inches to your ATV? Not only does a lift kit and a set of big fat tires give a vehicle a striking new look, but they can also make a breeze out of traveling through mud, snow, or crossing through water.
What Can a Lift Kit Do For You?
A lift kit is the most advantageous way of lifting your vehicle. After using a lift kit, the overall characteristics of the raised vehicle will change, providing increased clearance on rough terrain, superior comfort, and improved visibility.
What Kind of Lift Is Right for My ATV?
Lift kits compatible with your vehicle will most probably be easier to find than you think. Almost all two or four-wheeled drive machines have a lift kit model manufactured for them. It is important to consider how much you wish to modify your ATV before choosing a particular lift kit model.
A lift spacer kit extension depot, for instance, can be used to stiffen the shocks while also lifting the vehicle. An ATV will, however, get a much better suspension from a lift kit that relies on the use of coil springs. Spacers, on the other hand, are more affordable. A spacer kit extension is useful not only to lift vehicles but also to level them.
A spring spacer can be easily used by newcomers to get a grip on the use of lifted ATVs before moving to more daunting lifts. Aluminum spacers can be found at very affordable prices, but they will not have the power to withstand wear-and-tear like parts made of materials such as steel.
Some models, like leveling lift kits, will work by equalizing the front and rear suspension. Lift kit models on average will only require the installment of the kit, but more options exist for the hardcore enthusiast. Extended brake lines, coil spring compressors, wheel spacers, and other additions will be needed to complete a more complex ATV lift kit installation.
Pros and cons of wheel spacers
How Do You Install an ATV Spring Lift Kit?
An ATV lift kit is installed by lifting the vehicle and removing the wheels and factory shocks. Once this has been done, the lift kit itself can be attached to the vehicle. Once all the pieces of the lift kit are secured, the wheels must be reinstalled and all connections properly torqued.
It is recommended to be knowledgeable of vehicle repair or assembly before considering performing ATV lift kit installation or any other kind of modification. Remember, any modifications performed by yourself on your vehicle may cause potential hazards and/or void the warranty. The exact installation of a lift kit varies between the ATV model and the model of the lift kit.
The following instructions are based on the Honda HLK50-53 lift kit model and should give the reader a general understanding of the complexity of installing a lift kit.
Lifting Your ATV
If you’re considering getting an ATV lift kit installation, it is recommended that you purchase an ATV jack. Many ATV jacks in the market are multi-purpose machines, so if you’re also looking for something that can lift a lawn mower, motorcycle, or watercraft, you might be able to kill two birds with one stone.
The ATV jack should be able to lift 1.5 times the weight of your ATV to guarantee you’re working as securely as possible. The price of jacks of different capabilities does not vary that much, and the extra safety is worth every penny. It is very important for the jack to have some way to strap the ATV to it, as this will not only add a bit more safety but will also facilitate working on the vehicle.
Even though it is possible to lift an ATV using a car jack, it should be done with the utmost care, due to the possibility of injury or damage to the vehicle. A car jack will provide only one point of security for the entire ATV, so it is very probable that the vehicle will tip over, potentially causing serious harm.
Front Lift Installation
To begin with, one must lift the ATV using the jack. Some jacks lift the entire vehicle off the ground. If this is not the case, the ATV should be lifted from the front until the front wheels have left the ground. The front wheels and the top of the shocks should then be removed on both sides of the ATV.
The longest of the lift brackets, known as the front long bracket, must be inserted on the front, running it from one shock mount to the other. The front spacer must be placed on the frame of the shock mount and, using a hex bolt and a lock nut, the front small bracket, and long front bracket must be put in place so that they’re aligned. The correct bolt and nut sizes must be identified, and your lift kit owner’s manual should contain that information.
The top of the shock springs must then be connected to the lift brackets. This can be done with a hex bolt and a lock nut, but first, make sure to place washers on both sides of the shock eyelet. Once both sides of the ATV have been properly attached and secured, the wheels must be placed and all lugs must be torqued back to factory specifications.
Rear Lift Installation
First of all, the clamp that holds the brake line to the frame under the seat of the ATV must be disconnected. This clamp will most probably be located on the right side of the vehicle. If the ATV jack doesn’t fully lift the vehicle, the jack should be placed at the rear of the bottom engine skid plate. Make sure it is not placed on the differential. The ATV must be properly secured to prevent any accidents, and then lifted until the weight is off the suspension.
Once the wheels are off, the bottom of the shocks must be disconnected from the shock mount. After removal, the ATV must be lifted about 2 inches higher. The shock must then be pulled up and away from the differential. This will clear the rear-drive axle housing. The ATV should then be ready for the rear lift brackets to be placed.
The rear lift brackets can be attached to the bottom of the shock with the help of a hex bolt. The hex bolts should be placed facing inward, as this will permit them to clear the differential once the lift brackets are connected to the frame. The bottom of the shock must be repositioned on the shock mount when the lift brackets are in place. Once both lift brackets have been properly attached, the hex bolts must be fastened with lock nuts.
The lift brackets must then be connected to the stock shock mount. This can be done with an additional pair of hex bolts and lock nuts. Remember to place washers on both sides of the lower shock eyelet when placing the hex bolts. Once properly assembled, the wheels can be reattached and all lugs must be torqued to factory specifications before lowering the ATV.
Logo Plate Installation
If your lift kit comes with a logo plate, then it might be installed in the following manner. To start, one has to position the logo bracket against the storage box cover located on the rear of the vehicle. The logo bracket may contain eyelets to pass bolts through. The point of entry of the bolts must be marked on the storage box cover, and the holes for the bolts must then be drilled.
The necessary bolts, nuts, and washers to attach the logo plate will be easily recognizable, as they are considerably smaller than other similar parts. The washers should be placed on the inside face of the storage box cover, and from there it is only necessary to tighten the bolts using the nuts to finish the installation of the logo plate.
Find the right ATV lift kit for your vehicle
How Long Does It Take to Install an ATV Spring Lift Kit?
The main factor when determining how long ATV lift kit installation will take is the complexity of the lift kit being installed. Suspension lift kits can take up to 6 hours to install. Less complicated lift kit models, such as a body lift or a spring spacer lift, will take around 2 to 3 hours to install.
The time it takes to install a lift kit will vary widely depending on the knowledge and experience of the person performing the modification. In fact, skilled individuals may be able to install a lift kit in under an hour.
