Upgraded Suspensions for Off-Road Trucks and SUVs

How Do I Upgrade My Suspension?

If you want greater lift and stability for your car or truck, you have plenty of options before you. If you want greater stability and handling, for example, then sport springs will lower your truck’s center of gravity. A coilover kit provides more customization over your suspension setup. If you’re selective, then you can deftly improve your suspension performance. 

Being selective means carefully researching a part to ensure it fits the OEM specifications of your truck. Fancy new parts fresh on the market, although tempting, might not work with your truck. An incompatible upgrade will cause ride quality to drop, producing the opposite effect you’d expect from it.

We’ll show you plenty of ways you can improve your truck’s suspension through replacement parts.

Shock Upgrades Are Simple

Shock replacements are practical, easy to perform, and affordable, so if you’re looking for ways to improve suspension, shocks are a good place to start. The easiest way to replace your shocks is to look up the make and model specific to your vehicle, then see if there’s a next available version. Make sure you’re looking at a version of your shocks specified by your original equipment manufacturer (OEM). This ensures you’re retaining a smooth driving experience with your new part. You can go for an upgrade, but aftermarket shocks are unpredictable. They’re more expensive and unlike OEM products, they’re not guaranteed to work.

Heavy-Duty Shocks and Ride-Adjusting Shocks are Made for Towing

If you’re used to towing heavy loads, then you might find use in heavy-duty shocks. These models are designed to handle the stress towing puts on your vehicle, so they’ll provide more power than alternatives, like coilovers and air shocks. With a heavy-duty shock upgrade, you’ll see less rear-end sagging when hauling trailers, vehicles, or any other unwieldy cargo. 

Ride-adjusting shocks are another installation designed to support trucks under the stress of heavy loads. They control how much force your shocks use to keep your tires on the ground. Like heavy-duty shocks, you’ll notice less rear-end slouching, which makes them perfect for towing a trailer. Ride-adjusting shocks are designed for rear wheels, but for consistent performance, replace all your shocks at the same time.

Air Shocks Provide Versatility

Air shocks are a flexible suspension upgrade that allows you to adjust your shocks according to your needs. If you want to haul heavy objects, you can use air shocks to lift your truck’s rear end, compensating for the extra weight. While your truck is unloaded, you can soften these shocks and enjoy a smoother ride.

Reinforce Your Leaf Springs

For extra support, you can add new leaves alongside the leaf springs you already have on the back of your truck. Leaf springs can be reinforced with helper springs. The additional support will help improve spring tension and loading capacity.

Try Heavy-Duty Coil Springs

Adding heavy-duty coil springs is another useful upgrade. Coil springs are usually found on a truck’s front wheels. You can also add reinforcements to these coils, like polyurethane bushings, to reduce friction without sacrificing ride height.

Air Springs Reduce Bounciness

If you install air springs, you’ll reduce your truck’s chances of sagging or bouncing. This makes air springs useful for bumpy roads, as they’ll provide a more even ride on rough terrain. These springs will also soften your truck’s suspension and make vibrations less intense.

Use Bigger Wheels

Suspension upgrades give the clearance required for larger wheels, and these larger wheels provide extra cushioning to make riding feel smoother and safer. Larger wheels also allow you to install oversized tires, adding further cushioning. Oversized tires may also improve your fuel mileage (at the expense of requiring more torque to spin).

Low-profile tires are another option compatible with large wheels. A thinner tire wrapped around a larger wheel makes it easier to handle tough driving conditions, making them a popular add-on. Some may find low-profile tires make driving less comfortable.

Add a Torsion Bar

A torsion bar lets you adjust the height of your front wheels. If your truck has one, you can use a torsion bar and booster suspension together, which keeps your truck’s front and rear level, even when unloaded. If you don’t have a torsion bar already, they’re a great way to improve your riding experience. You’ll need to make sure the bar’s measurements are compatible with your vehicle; you can look up ride height requirements in your owner’s manual.

You’ll Need to Choose the Right Lift Kit

Lift kits are sorted by height, so you’ll need to decide an ideal ride height for your truck. Lift kits are available from one to three inches, or anywhere between. Ride height is a decision that can affect your other suspension upgrades since lifted trucks require extra support to give you a quality ride. Lifted vehicles change your overall driving experience; an inch or two can completely change how your truck handles.

If you change your truck height, you’ll also need new shocks to match. Comprehensive lift kits include a number of parts, including new shocks, leaf springs, and installation hardware.

Why Not Try Upgrading Your Suspension Bushes?

We’ve talked about common upgrades, like shocks, but there are also less frequently mentioned upgrades, like suspension bushes. Suspension bushes block out some of the noise you experience while driving. If you come across a bump in the road, they’ll help reduce vibration from your undercarriage. Like any part of your suspension, these bushes get worn down and need periodic replacements. You can find stronger replacements that wear out less frequently.

Add Strut Braces

A strut brace is a clip-on gadget that can improve the stability of select vehicles. You can install strut braces on your front and rear suspension mounts, which help out your suspension system by preventing chassis flex. This upgrade improves your truck’s functionality at max capacity. Along with boosting your suspension, they can also improve your braking abilities and your ability to turn corners.

Give Your Suspension a Tune-Up

Before adding any new parts to your suspension system, give your old one a tune-up. Even if your truck has been recently serviced, you can still benefit from a proper tune-up. Suspension tune-ups can be tailored to specific performance functions; if your truck is constantly hauling heavy objects, or constantly driving on tough terrain, a mechanic can make it easier for your suspension to perform these tasks.

Choose High-Quality Tires

Tire quality is important because tires are constantly in contact with the road. They’re vital for your truck’s movement and braking functionality. If you’re constantly driving on bumpy terrain, you’ll want a tire that’s thick enough to handle these challenges.

The Right Suspension Upgrades from the Right Supplier

When it comes time to upgrade your off-road rig to climb steeper trails, crawl over larger boulders, and travel further than ever overland, you go with a supplier you can trust. Truck Part Superstore is your one-stop shop for everything you need to upgrade your 4x4 truck's suspension. From full lift kits to off-road shocks and off-road performance accessories, we have it all. Contact us or text us at 877-596-9677 if you need help finding the right parts for your off-road truck.