I always thought I understood what a lift kit does, but I am confused. Is it for allowing taller tires, or for gaining more ground clearance? I know taller tires would obviously give more clearance. Does a lift kit installed without taller tires give more ground clearance?

 

A lift kit will give you more ground clearance at the frame. Unless you have IRS you will not gain any ground clearance at the rear wheels unless you put bigger tires.

I have seen where a 450es with 26" tires and a liftkit made it threw where a 450s with 27" tires did not. so yes the lift kit does make a difference in the mud. It also works in rock climbing, but it also makes it easier to roll over.

I will be MAKING me a lift kit for my Arctic Cat soon, so you can say I like them.

 

In some cases a lift kit is needed for larger tires.

 

Thanks Boner,

My KQ does have IRS, and 25" tires. I would like more clearance, but didn't know if I could just go with a lift kit, lift kit and tires, or just tires.

 

I would say to go with the tires. Why? Because a lift kit will make the rear tires have alot more nagative castor because of the single a-arms.

 

Boner, my Honda 300's front end gaining height with a lift from Highlifter really did help a lot in the ruts, like the 450 you discussed. Are you just wanting to make one, or have you already talked to Highlifter or some other companies and they just are not available? I have a friend make one for his Polaris 500 and it works fine. I was told by the mechanic at my Honda dealer the Highlifter kits are fine and don't cause any driveline angles that are too severe. Just be careful not to get your lift too high and cause any angle problems. I know you already know that, though.

 

The lift kit won't give you any clearance anywhere unless you install taller tires. It is merely a spacer that raises the body of the quad up higher giving more room between the fenders and the tires, thus allowing more room for a larger tire to fit underneath. There is no way to raise the axle higher, nor is there a way to raise the A-arms in the front higher than the tires. Think about it for a minute and it becomes clear. The tires are what give you the clearance, not the kit itself.

------------------
Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

Highlifter makes a liftkit for my quad but it is $150. My freind with the 450es(with the homemade liftkit) made an extra lift kit that and gave it to my other freind Mark(with a 450s). Well the kit wasn't fully welded so he decided that he would go ahead and buy one from Highlifter. Well he gave me the kit and I am going to adjust it fit my quad.

Arctic Cat 500, So to be lifted

 

Sounds like that will work. If you ever get a chance, get a photo and put it on a diskette and email it to me or post it.

 

Andy,

You are part right. The lift kit doesn't lift the A-arms, but it does lift the frame. The frame draging is what normally gets mud riders stuck. Th only time the axle comes in to play is in deep ruts made by quads with more axle clearance, but in slushly mud the axle is ALMOST never the limiting factor.