Yes, you can lift a Chevy Equinox. Lifting a vehicle typically involves installing aftermarket components such as lift kits that raise the body, suspension, or both, to achieve greater ground clearance and a higher stance. Lifting a vehicle is often done for off-road performance, aesthetic reasons, or to accommodate larger tires.
For the Chevy Equinox, which is a crossover SUV that’s not traditionally used for serious off-roading, lift kits may be slightly less common than for trucks or traditional SUVs, but they are still available. Here’s how you could potentially lift an Equinox:
- Suspension Lift Kit: This type of lift involves replacing the SUV’s stock suspension components with longer shock absorbers, springs, and other necessary hardware to lift the vehicle. Suspension lifts can provide more clearance and improved off-road performance. However, lifting a unibody vehicle like the Equinox more than a couple of inches may be challenging due to the integrated body and frame design.
- Spacer Lift Kit: Spacer kits are simpler and usually involve adding spacers above the strut mounts or below the coil springs—essentially pushing the body of the vehicle away from the wheels without altering other suspension geometry. This is generally a more cosmetic approach and offers a moderate lift, often around 1 to 2 inches.
- Body Lift: This entails adding spacers between the body and the frame of the vehicle (though this is not really applicable to the Equinox as it’s built on a unibody platform rather than having a separate body and frame).
- Leveling Kit: Designed to even out the natural nose-down stance of a vehicle, leveling kits can lift the front of the Equinox to be even with the rear. This is technically not a full vehicle “lift,” but it does raise part of the vehicle for a more balanced profile.
If you’re considering lifting your Chevy Equinox, it’s essential to take note of a few things:
- Handling Changes: Lifting a vehicle changes its center of gravity, which can affect handling and stability.
- Legality: Ensure that the lift complies with your local vehicle regulations.
- Warranty: Modifying your Equinox with a lift kit may void the manufacturer’s warranty on certain components.
- Quality Parts: Use high-quality components and have the installation performed by a professional to ensure safety and reliability.
Before proceeding, you should research the specific lift options available for the year and model of your Equinox and consider consulting with a professional or a company that specializes in aftermarket lift kits.
