Can you install a lift kit yourself?

We teamed up with 4WD Action to create an easy to understand guide on how to install your own lift kit. Now if you don’t feel comfortable around tools or don’t want to be held liable for the work done on your car, we strongly recommend you let the professionals do the job for you. Be that as it may, this guide is very straight forward and if you have some knowledge you should be able to install your lift kit with ease. 

If you want to purchase a 4x4 lift kit or have any questions, send us a message or call us on 1800 385 278. 

Fulcrums First Recommendation

If you install your lift kit yourself, we strongly recommend you get two things done. 

  1. Visit a suspension workshop and get a 4x4 wheel alignment - you have been working on your 4WD's suspension so its alignment will be out.
  2. Get your suspension work checked over by a professional - we offer a Free Suspension Check service, its better to be safe than sorry. 

Our 4WD Lift Kit DIY Installation Tips Video

You can either get your lift kit installed by us at one of our many stores, where we will look after absolutely everything and even offer FREE after service care. Or you can install the lift kit yourself, to help you we have created a video with 4WD Action which goes over a bunch of tips.

Fulcrums Best Lift Kit Tips

  1. Make sure you get the right front and rear springs rates for your vehicleAlso, there is a difference between both shock absorber design and brand, make sure you get the right lift kit for the right driving application. 
  2. If you have a 4WD and you install a 4x4 suspension lift kit, the suspension geometry is permanently changed. You need to get a caster or camber adjustment in the form of a bushing, upper control arm or lower control arm. 

4x4 Suspension Setup Misconceptions


Bilstein 4x4 Lift Kits

Performance Rated Lift Kits 

Our Bilstein 4x4 lift kits have been assembled by our research and development team in Brisbane. They have been tested in the toughest Australian off road conditions by both 4x4 enthusiasts and our experienced suspension 4x4 suspension technicians. Bilstein shock absorbers have a long and rich history in Australian 4x4 culture. For almost 40 years they have been providing Australian 4x4 enthusiasts with the best suspension options in the world.

Formula 4x4 Lift Kits

Heavy Duty, Standard & Performance Lift Kits

The Formula 4x4 range was designed to improve your on and off road experience. Designed to withstand the harshest of conditions, ensuring reliability on your next outdoor adventure. Built from high grade carbon steel, incorporating a specialised valving system, including high quality temp oil, seals and low gas pressure. Including already installed SuperPro, Australian designed and manufactured bushes, giving you the most comfortable ride that you and your 4WD can afford. Not lacking any shock features, Formula 4x4 is the complete package.

As suspension experts, Fulcrum has utilised all of their technical experience in the 4WD sphere to bring to market the best quality and value for money, 4x4 lift kit.

RAW 4x4 Lift Kits

Heavy Duty & Standard Lift Kits

Raw 4x4 is one of Australia's leading home-grown manufacturer and designer of 4x4 suspension components. With one of Australia's most trusted range of 4x4 shock absorbers developed with state of the art equipment in Aussie conditions. Raw 4x4 have been at the forefront of 4WD suspension for decades. RAW 4x4 suspension is developed in Australia for Australian conditions and vehicles. With a range to suit all needs and budgets, fitting RAW 4x4 suspension is something you will appreciate every time you drive your 4WD. Improve the ride, handling, and off road ability of your 4WD by installing RAW 4x4 suspension.

Lift Kit Installation at one of our stores

Get the Fulcrum 4x4 advantage by installing our Australian assembled and tested 4x4 lift kits at any of our store locations. Increase your flex, driving capability and your off road/on road vehicle traction.

So, you have decided to buy a lift kit and lift your truck. Should you install the lift kit yourself once it arrives? Or would you be better off spending some extra money and having a professional install it for you?

You should install your lift kit on your own if you have the experience and the tools you need. Otherwise, you can end up damaging your truck or installing the lift kit incorrectly, which can be unsafe. On the other hand, hiring a mechanic to do it might cost as much as the lift kit itself. 

Can you install a lift kit yourself?
Photo Credit – vipermotorsports.com/

In this article, I will talk about the pros and cons of installing a lift kit yourself vs. having a professional do it for you. I will also talk about different lift kits and how they differ in installation difficulty and time. Let us get into it. 

    • Pros of Installing a Lift Kit on Your Own
      • You Will Save Money
      • You Can Do It Quicker Yourself
    • Cons of Installing a Lift Kit on Your Own
      • You Can Damage Your Truck
      • You Need the Tools
      • It Can Be Dangerous
      • Some Kits Are Harder To Install Than Others
    • The Verdict: Install It Yourself If You Have Experience
    • What To Do After Installing a Lift Kit
    • How Much Does It Cost To Install a Lift Kit Professionally?
    • How Long Does It Take a Shop To Install a Lift Kit?
    • Conclusion
    • Sources
  • You might also like to read:
      • Related Posts

Pros of Installing a Lift Kit on Your Own

You Will Save Money

Installing a lift kit yourself will help you save money. Hiring a professional to install a lift kit for you can easily cost you as much as the lift kit itself costs. Even if you bought a cheap lift kit for only $300, you might end up spending another $300 for a mechanic to install it for you. If you are on a strict budget, price is the main reason you would consider installing a lift kit yourself. 

You Can Do It Quicker Yourself

If you go to a mechanic, you might have to wait a bit before installing the lift kit. They might have other jobs to finish, as well. Even though the installation itself might only take four hours, you might have to come back in a day or two to give your mechanic time to install the lift kit. 

However, you will only save time if you are experienced at installing lift kits yourself. Otherwise, you will probably waste a lot of time due to the learning curve involved in installing a lift kit for the first time. 

Cons of Installing a Lift Kit on Your Own

You Can Damage Your Truck

You should only install a lift kit yourself if you have experience doing it in the past. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging your truck. If you do not know what you are doing, and you end up damaging your truck while installing the lift kit, you might have to spend even more money on repairs or new parts. In the long run, if you are inexperienced, you might even save money by hiring a professional to install the lift kit for you, after factoring in possible damage and repairs. 

Can you install a lift kit yourself?
Photo Credit – vipermotorsports.com/

You Need the Tools

If you do not own any tools, how will you install a lift kit? If you work on cars regularly and have the basic tools you need, go ahead and install it yourself. Otherwise, you will have to spend money on tools anyway, so it might be better to spend some extra money and have a mechanic install it for you. 

It Can Be Dangerous

Yes, installing a lift kit yourself can lead to some dangerous situations. If you do not know what you are doing, you might leave the wheels misaligned. Alternatively, you might forget to put in some nails or tighten screws correctly, leaving things loose, which can cause accidents on the road. If you don’t have experience installing lift kits yourself, consider hiring a professional to do it, so you don’t have to worry about safety issues. 

Some Kits Are Harder To Install Than Others

There is more than one type of lift kit. Suspension lift kits modify the suspension of your vehicle, giving you more ground clearance. Body or spacer lift kits, on the other hand, lift the body of your vehicle from the frame by a few inches without modifying the suspension. As you can imagine, installing a body lift kit is a lot easier than installing a suspension lift kit. There are fewer parts involved, and there are fewer steps to do. 

As such, if you have some experience with installing lift kits and are on the fence about whether to do it yourself or not, you might want to do it if you bought a body lift kit. Since you are modifying less of your truck, there is less chance of things going wrong. It will also be easier to do. On the other hand, you may not be confident enough to install a suspension lift kit yourself. 

If you would like to learn more about the difference between body and suspension lift kits, watch this short Youtube video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbZ_ltALd9M

The Verdict: Install It Yourself If You Have Experience

You should only install a lift kit yourself if you have experience and know what you are doing. If that is the case, you can save time and money by installing a lift kit yourself. If you have a body lift kit instead of a suspension lift kit, installing it yourself will be even easier and require fewer tools and experience. 

On the other hand, if you have no prior experience installing lift kits, hiring a professional might be a better idea. This way, you will avoid damaging your truck. You will also stay safer and avoid accidents occurring due to incorrect installation. 

What To Do After Installing a Lift Kit

After installing a lift kit yourself, you should still take your lift kit to a mechanic. Even if you have the experience and the tools and did the installation correctly, the wheels might be misaligned. You might need to get the wheels aligned again, or you might need to adjust the steering components. 

However, having a mechanic take care of this will be a lot cheaper than having a mechanic install your entire lift kit. It can cost just $50 to $200 for a mechanic to inspect your wheel alignment and steering components and realign them if needed. 

How Much Does It Cost To Install a Lift Kit Professionally?

If you hire a mechanic to install the lift kit for you, you can expect it to cost as much as it did to buy the lift kit itself. The more expensive the lift kit is, the more complicated it can be to install it. As such, if you paid $300 to install a lift kit, it can cost up to $300 for a mechanic to install it. However, if you paid $700 for your lift kit, it can cost up to $600-700 for a mechanic to install it. 

How Long Does It Take a Shop To Install a Lift Kit?

The amount of time it takes a shop to install a lift kit will vary. The actual installation time will probably take 1.5-3 hours if it is a body/spacer lift kit. If it is a suspension lift kit, expect the actual installation time to take between 3-5 hours, sometimes six. 

It all depends on the mechanic’s experience and how many people they have working on the lift kit. It also depends on the lift kit itself. More expensive lift kits with more parts will take longer to install than simpler, cheaper lift kits that are more basic. 

However, this does not mean you can be in and out of the mechanic shop in just a few hours. The mechanic may be working on other projects they have to complete. You might have to return in 24-48 hours to get your truck back. 

Conclusion

Installing a lift kit yourself will save you money. On the other hand, you should only do it if you have experience and know what you are doing (and have the tools). Otherwise, you might end up damaging your truck, which can cost you more in the long run. 

Sources

  • Magnum Truck Racks: Can I Install my own lift kit? 
  • AutoPlex Customs: Lift Kit Installation: Should I DIY or Hire a Professional?
  • Superlift: Professional vs. DIY: How Much Does It Cost to Lift a Truck?

Should I install my lift kit myself?

You should only install a lift kit yourself if you have experience doing it in the past. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging your truck. If you do not know what you are doing, and you end up damaging your truck while installing the lift kit, you might have to spend even more money on repairs or new parts.

How much does it cost for a lift kit to be installed?

Buying and installing a lift kit might cost between $400 to $4000 if you do it yourself. If getting it done from an expert, the price can range between $800 to $12,000.

How long does it take to install a lift kit?

Trained and certified technicians can take anywhere between seven and fifteen hours installing a new kit. Even if you're a DIY service veteran, you should expect to spend at least twice that long installing a lift kit at home.

What do you need to install a lift kit?

First thing's first, here are the tools you'll need to install a lift kit:.
Vehicle jacks and jack stands..
Screwdriver..
Torque wrench..
Socket wrench..
Lug wrench..