Coil Spring Spacer

How spacers work

A coil spring spacer is a ring or block, made of polyurethane, aluminum or steel, that sits between the spring and its mounting seat. By raising the spring's seat it increases the vehicle's ride height by the thickness of the spacer. They are often used to level a truck whose nose sits lower than the rear, or to add a modest amount of lift to a Jeep or SUV with coil springs.

What spacers do not change

A spacer does not change the spring rate or the shock length. The spring still has the same travel and the shock stays the same, so a large spacer can leave the shock near the end of its stroke, which can cause the shock to top out, and can raise the suspension geometry in ways that affect alignment and the angle of the axle and driveshaft. For lifts above roughly two inches, many manufacturers add longer shocks, extended brake lines or other parts to the kit, and some listings here include front shock extensions.

Choosing a spacer

• Height: select the amount needed for the leveling you want, and avoid going beyond the manufacturer's recommendation.
• Material: polyurethane is quiet and corrosion-free, while billet aluminum and steel are stiff and durable.
• Application: some are made for coil-sprung truck fronts such as heavy-duty pickups, others for Jeeps or for correcting sag with aftermarket springs.
• Included parts: look for new hardware, extensions or brackets as needed.

Installation notes

Installation requires compressing the coil spring, which stores a great deal of energy, so use a proper spring compressor or have a shop do it. Torque suspension fasteners at ride height where the manufacturer specifies it. After installation, the vehicle needs an alignment, and headlights should be re-aimed because the vehicle sits higher.

Checking fitment

Confirm the spacer matches your year, make, model and trim, and that it suits your spring type and any aftermarket suspension. Tire size, wheel well clearance and state regulations on vehicle height vary, so check your local rules.

Consider the effects on the rest of the suspension before committing to a larger spacer. Increasing ride height changes the driveshaft angle, the track bar angle on solid-axle vehicles, the brake line slack and the headlight aim. A small spacer is usually fine with stock components, but a larger one can reveal limits that should be addressed with additional parts. Check the brake lines and sway bar links for slack, and inspect the shock bodies and bump stops to see whether they still work at the new height.

It is also worth checking whether your springs are worn. A sagging coil should be replaced, because a spacer on a tired spring simply raises a weak component. If the vehicle carries a heavy load, such as a camper, a winch or a plow, a spacer does not add support, so heavier springs may be the better answer. Re-torque the suspension hardware after a few hundred miles, and recheck ride height after the springs settle. Measure the height from the center of the wheel to the fender lip before and after, which gives a clear record of the real change.