Lift kits: how a suspension lift works and which one to choose
A suspension lift is rarely bought for the looks. The reasons are usually specific: a track to the cabin where the underside keeps catching stones, winter ruts nobody clears, or a van that started sitting on its rear axle once the camping kit and the bikes went on the back. This page covers how a lift works, what it actually gives you, what it does not, and how the three kits we stock differ.
When a lift makes sense
- Ground clearance. Gravel, ruts, snow, kerbs, steep driveways and ramps — far and away the most common reason.
- Room for bigger tyres. One size up in all-terrain rubber usually needs a little more space in the arch.
- A loaded vehicle. Camping conversions, a towbar or a permanent load drop the rear; a lift brings the car back to level.
- Tired springs. On a high-mileage SUV the rear often sags before you go anywhere near a trail.
How it works, and what the options are
The principle is simple. Longer springs with a different rate raise the body by 20–40 mm. That also changes the conditions the dampers work in, which is why some kits are sold with their own: in a lifted car the factory damper operates in a different part of its travel than it was designed for. A lift of this size is enough to feel off the tarmac while the car still drives much as before day to day.
Lift springs — Eibach Pro-Lift-Kit. Four springs in place of the originals, around 30 mm on most kits. Your dampers stay, so this is the cheapest and quickest route. The rates are chosen for the factory dampers specifically, and most kits carry a German TÜV parts certificate listing the approved axle loads. The logical choice when your dampers are still in good condition.
Complete kit — Eibach B12 Pro-Lift-Kit. Springs and dampers matched to them in one kit — on a Suzuki Jimny, for example, 20–25 mm at the front and 15–20 mm at the rear. Worth it when the mileage is already high, or when the car is often loaded: then it makes sense to renew the suspension in one go rather than in two stages.
4×4 lift suspension — Tein 4x4 Damper Sport. For body-on-frame pickups and off-roaders: springs and monotube gas dampers as a single four-corner kit that stands the vehicle around 40 mm above standard (on the Jimny, +55 mm front and +40 mm rear). Damping is adjustable across 16 settings, so you can keep one for the motorway and another for the trail. Front ride height is adjustable on most applications; on several, including the Hilux and the Ranger, the rear is fixed.
How the options differ
Prices are the lowest in each range today and move with the catalogue. Lift heights are typical: the exact figure, the approved axle loads and the certificate number are listed on the part number for your car.
| Option | Lift height | Keeps original dampers? | Comfort | Adjustable | Approval | Typical cars | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eibach
|
+20–40 mm (30 mm on most kits) | Yes | Close to factory | No | TÜV parts certificate on most kits | Duster · Sportage · Kodiaq · Grenadier · Transit Custom / Transporter | €157,80 |
Eibach
|
≈ +20–30 mm | No — matched dampers included | Controlled, firmer under load | No | TÜV parts certificate on most kits | Jimny · Ranger · BMW X3 · Qashqai · Tucson / Sportage | €685,66 |
Tein
|
≈ +40 mm (Jimny +55 / +40) | No — springs and dampers included | Firm, 16-level adjustable | Damping 16 levels; front height on most | Keep within national height rules | Hilux · Ranger · Navara · D-Max · Jimny · Land Cruiser Prado | €1.069,64 |
The cars we are asked about most
Ten models that come up most often. Part numbers differ by axle load, body and build year, so check yours with the vehicle picker before ordering.
Dacia Duster
The model this category gets asked about most. Eibach's Pro-Lift-Kit raises the current PYM/PYN Duster by 30 mm on the factory dampers — E30-26-006-01-22, approved to 1,015 kg front and 970 kg rear axle load. The older HS/HM cars are covered too. If the dampers have had a hard life, the B12 Pro-Lift-Kit brings them along with the springs.
Suzuki Jimny
The JB64 and the A6G both have the complete B12 Pro-Lift-Kit — 20–25 mm front, 15–20 mm rear. The biggest lift comes from Tein's 4x4 Damper Sport kit: +55 mm front and +40 mm rear with 16-level damping. Height is fixed on that one, and fitting needs a longer brake hose — see below. Everything we list for the model is on the Suzuki Jimny page.
Ford Ranger and VW Amarok
For the current Ranger (2AB) the simplest route is the E30-35-062-03-22 springs. Earlier Ranger and Amarok platforms share part numbers from the same Pro-Lift family, and the B12 kit covers the TKE and 2AB with dampers included. If the truck carries a load or a canopy permanently, Tein's PX3 kit gives both the lift and adjustable damping; the front is adjustable, the rear fixed.
VW Transporter T6 and Ford Transit Custom
A van with a conversion in the back or a towbar sits low at the rear, and the same Eibach family covers both: E30-35-065-01-22 and its sibling numbers raise the van and bring it back to level. Pick the number that matches your axle load — a panel van and a finished camper are not the same.
Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson
The two share a platform and share part numbers. E30-42-053-05-22 lifts the current generation on the factory dampers, and the B12 Pro-Lift-Kit covers the same cars with dampers included. Earlier ix35 and Sportage models have their own Pro-Lift numbers.
Škoda Kodiaq
Both generations are covered: E30-79-018-01-22 for the PS7, and a separate number for the Kodiaq I (NS7/NV7). On a seven-seat SUV, 30 mm is usually about gravel roads, kerbs and a roof box rather than serious off-roading — which is exactly what lift springs on factory dampers are for.
Ineos Grenadier
A Grenadier is tall already, so here the lift is mostly about tyres and approach angles. E30-34-001-02-22 is the firmer of the two Pro-Lift options for the GM; the other suits a more lightly loaded car. Check the axle loads on the certificate before choosing.
Jeep Renegade
The Renegade takes Pro-Lift springs — E30-51-018-01-22 — or the B12 Pro-Lift-Kit with dampers. Trailhawk owners usually take the complete kit: the extra damping is what stops a lifted car floating on a rutted track.
Toyota Hilux
The Hilux is covered by Tein's 4x4 Damper Sport kit VSTC2-F1SS2 (GUN125/126): a 12 kgf/mm front spring with monotube dampers, standing the truck +40 mm at both ends as standard, with the front adjustable between +30 and +50 mm. The rear is not adjustable. The kit is EDFC-ready (EDK04-R6655, EDK05-12120, EDK07-P8022, EDK08-P8514-12) if you want to change damping from the cab. Tein caps the total height change at ±40 mm, and raising the rear moves the underrun protection and can mean repositioning the rear fog lamp. We do not list Eibach lift springs for the Hilux.
Nissan Navara
The D23 Navara is covered by Tein's VSK86-F1SS2 kit — a complete four-corner set of springs and monotube dampers for a pickup that mostly runs loaded. It fits coil-spring rear models only, and the rear height is not adjustable.
What to expect, and what still needs doing
- Payload does not go up. A lift gives clearance, not extra load capacity — the axle-load limits stay exactly as printed on the certificate.
- The body rolls a little more. The centre of gravity moved up and you will feel it in corners. That is normal, and not something to try to “fix” with stiffer springs.
- Alignment and headlights afterwards. The new height changes camber and toe, and on most cars the headlight aim too. Neither job is expensive, and neither can be skipped.
- Some cars need extra parts. A Suzuki Jimny with the Tein kit requires a brake hose at least 50 mm longer than standard and a locking-hub vacuum hose; caster-correction bushings and a lateral rod are recommended. Requirements like these are listed on the part itself.
- Stay inside the certificate. That applies to the height and to the permitted tyre sizes.
- Springs are fitted with the right tools. A compressed road spring is dangerous, and kits go in complete and as supplied — mixing parts from two kits ends the manufacturer's warranty.
Common questions
Will the ride be worse after a lift?
Lift springs on factory dampers stay close to the standard ride — the rates are chosen for exactly that. A complete kit is firmer, because the dampers are valved for the longer travel and for a car that is often loaded. The 4×4 suspension is the firmest of the three, but it is also the only adjustable one: 16 damping settings mean you can keep a softer one for the motorway.
Is it legal?
In Europe a change of height normally has to be documented. Most Eibach kits come with a German TÜV parts certificate stating the approved height, the axle loads and the permitted tyre sizes — the certificate reference is on the product page. Not every kit has one and the registration procedure differs by country, so check the certificate for your part number and your local rules before fitting.
Can I keep my own dampers?
With lift springs, yes, provided the dampers are in good condition. If they are worn, weeping or past roughly 120,000 km, the complete kit is the better buy: new springs on tired dampers will feel worse rather than better, because at the new height the dampers are doing more work.
How much lift do I need for bigger tyres?
20–30 mm is usually enough for one size up in all-terrain tyres. Beyond that the limit is the wheel arch and its liner, not the suspension. Stay within the tyre sizes listed on the kit's certificate — going wider is what causes both rubbing and paperwork problems.
Does a lift increase payload?
No. Ground clearance goes up, but the permitted axle loads stay exactly as stated on the certificate and in the registration documents. If the car is permanently loaded, that is an argument for choosing a kit with dampers rather than springs alone — but not a reason to carry more.
What else needs doing after fitting?
A wheel alignment and a headlight adjustment, both straight away. Some cars also need extra parts: a Suzuki Jimny with the Tein kit, for instance, requires a brake hose at least 50 mm longer than standard. Requirements like that are always listed on the specific part, so it is worth reading the product page to the end.
The lift heights, axle loads and certificate references on this page come from the manufacturer data held against each part number. The figures on the product page for your car are the ones that count.