3 Valuable Tips When Planning to Upgrade your 4WD Suspension
Having a quality suspension system for your 4WD vehicle makes a significant difference in the way the truck performs off-road. However, some 4WD owners take the importance of upgrading their 4WD suspension system for granted. The reason is that most 4WD car owners believe that the factory suspensions that come with the truck are adequate for off-road excursions. However, this may not be the case because increased loads and frequent off-road driving take a toll on factory suspensions. Therefore, if you own a 4WD truck and have realised the off-road limitation, then it might be time to upgrade the suspension. Not only will the right upgrade improve the capabilities of your vehicle, but it will also make your truck safer when off-roading. This article highlights tips for upgrading a 4WD suspension system.
Upgrade Constant Loads before Upgrading Suspension
If you are considering upgrading your 4WD truck, it is essential to have an idea of what other upgrades you intend to do. The reason is that upgrades add to the overall weight of the truck. Therefore, it is essential to make any necessary upgrades in other parts of the car first before upgrading the suspension system. If you fail to do so, your upgraded suspension might not be able to handle the added weight of other accessories. For example, replacing your current fuel tank with a long-range fuel tank will increase the overall weight of your 4WD vehicle when full of gas. Therefore, if you upgrade the suspension before you install the new fuel tank, you might end up with an ineffective upgrade.
Be Aware of Extra Grease Points
Greasing suspensions is one of the most critical maintenance activities that will keep the system running effectively. Additionally, greasing protects the suspensions and prolongs the service life. However, you need to be careful when greasing your upgraded suspensions because there might be extra greasing points that you may not be aware. Therefore, if you stick with your normal greasing routine, you are likely to miss the additional greasing points and compromise the integrity of your suspension system. For instance, after upgrading their 4WD trucks with leaf spring suspensions, most people tend to forget to grease the rear leaf spring hangers. Therefore, always ask your mechanic whether there are any additional points on the new suspension that need oiling.
Match Suspension Upgrade with Truck Needs
Before you commit to upgrading your truck's suspension, it is vital to have an idea of what you intend to put the vehicle through. For instance, if you will be using the truck for light off-road driving, then air-bellows helper springs are enough. The spring types are easy to install and can handle load weights and light off-road excursions. However, if you plan to use your 4WD car for off-road camping, then you are better off with a height boost and rear spring rate increase. Notably, understanding what you intend to do with your 4WD will help you to make an informed decision regarding suspension upgrade.
Speak to an auto professional about upgrading your 4x4 suspension.
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