How to increase a vehicle’s ground clearance safely

With the exception of crossovers and SUVs, most of the automobiles imported into Kenya from Japan and Europe do not have the right ground clearance for our roads. Poorly built speed bumps are the main issue, especially for city cars. To go over them, you must carefully steer the vehicle across the bump, which may cause it to spill into the other lane. You don’t want to go through this every day since, aside from the mental suffering, the cost of repair is quite exorbitant.

So, what are your options? Should you put up with the pain, sell the car, or increase the ground clearance? Most people would prefer the latter, but they don’t know how to do it effectively. The majority of roadside mechanics are also unhelpful, as they usually propose fixes based on their low skill level. Vehicle modifications that raise the vehicle’s height beyond the manufacturer’s requirements might have an impact on its stability and maneuverability. Some of these remedies are not only risky, but they may also cancel your insurance coverage in the event of an accident.

First and foremost, before making any suspension modifications, you must first comprehend your car and its technology. Vehicles equipped with stability control, lane keep assist, and collision avoidance systems should never be altered. Sensors that operate these systems make modifications based on the vehicle’s height. Any changes to these systems can throw them off, resulting in a disastrous chain reaction. Once these technologies have been ruled out, the options for safely increasing a vehicle’s ground clearance are listed below.

1. Height Spacers

Height spacers are extensions that are put into the suspension component of a vehicle to raise its height. They are the most popular since they are cheap and easy to install. We strongly advise against using height spacers for the following reasons. To begin with, the majority of height spacers sold in Kenya are of poor quality and do not match the necessary specifications. Second, height spacers have a significant impact on a vehicle’s stability at high speeds by introducing understeer and oversteer.

If you wish to use height spacers, be sure they’re high-quality, machine-made, and from a trustworthy manufacturer. Handcrafted aluminum spacers marketed in Kenya pose a serious safety risk and should be avoided at all costs.

2. Changing Coilovers

It is possible to dramatically increase the height of a car by switching to taller and stiffer shocks and coil springs. This should be done by a garage that specializes in car suspension. The coil-overs should be of the same make and model, and they should be brand new. The benefits of this strategy include a significant gain in height. The downsides include a loss of stability and the possibility of having your insurance voided.

3. Change Tyre Size and Rim size

Most manufacturers allow for tyre and/or rim size adjustment to modify a vehicle for different driving situations. The tyre and rim configurations allowed on your vehicle are listed in the owner’s manual. You can enhance your height by switching to higher-profile tyres. By switching to smaller rims that can support higher-profile tyres, you can gain even more height. This method, you can securely raise the height of a car while staying within the manufacturer’s guidelines. The disadvantage of using high-profile tyres is that vehicle efficiency and performance suffer. The benefit is that it does not void your insurance if done according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you are looking to either import from UK or Japan, we can help you with this process. Over the years, we have developed a network of trusted dealers both in Japan and UK who supply us with exceptional cars. Simply visit www.garimoto.net for our catalogue of cars ready to import on order, for customs clearance and other logistics services, kindly visit our logistics portal www.logistics.seaways.net Kindly call us or WhatsApp on +254709925000 for assistance.