Can You Lift a Bronco Sport?

Different Trim Packages are Just One Consideration in Lifting a Bronco Sport

Now that you have invested in your Bronco Sport, you have probably started modifying it to make it unique to you or maybe to make it more capable off-road.  Two of the biggest modifications Sport owners talk about doing is adding additional bash guards, aka skid plates, or adding ground clearance via a lift kit, followed by bigger, more aggressive tires.

If you’ve decided you’re ready to lift your Bronco Sport, there are a few key considerations in choosing the right one for you and your vehicle. The first is just knowing whether your vehicle is a Badlands (or on a Badlands platform) or not. The Badlands, and a couple other rarer trims like First Edition or Heritage Limited, is already at a 1” higher ground clearance than the other trims. So, when choosing a lift kit, you’ll need to make sure that kit will work to the trim package of the Sport you own.

Bronco Sport is a Unibody Compared to Bronco Which is Body on Frame

• Level the vehicle-results in a heightened front end, the Bronco Sport stock has a ½ lower stance in front than the rear, known as the natural rake.
• Installing a stiffer spring-retaining stock components can give a higher ride height without spacers.
• Installing a spacer-based lift-results in a higher vehicle while retaining stock struts and shocks.
• Change out and replace the stock struts and shocks with aftermarket-results in a higher vehicle but also with greater stroke, allowing for more droop and more traction off-road

Let’s look at each of these in more detail. I’m differentiating between the spacer and the entire strut replacement by labeling them Spacer Lift Kit and Suspension Lift. You may see different terminology but it’s easy to see by the photo of the components on which kit retains the stock struts and extends them with a spacer and which kits are replacing the struts, shocks, etc. Another clue is usually price, but not always. More on that later.

Leveling Kit

A leveling kit can be stand alone and simply raises the front end to be at the same ride height as the rear, in this case ½”-1" higher or it can be included in a lift kit that provides say a 1” lift to the rear and a 1 !/2” lift to the front. A leveling kit alone is very budget friendly, relatively easy to install, and will allow for larger tires. 

Spacer Lift Kit

Probably the most common lift kit type available for the Bronco Sport and also relatively budget friendly. A spacer lift provides a puck or component that fits between the struts of the Sport, with or without a perch collar, that provides additional space and resulting in an overall lift of the Sport. These lifts are also relatively easy to install as they have fewer components. Some of the kits that advertise a higher overall lift are dropping the subframe to account for the overall height. Many of these kits recommend an alignment after installation.

Suspension Lift Kit

With a suspension lift, there is typically a change in both the spring and the shock/strut replacement. These types of lifts are more expensive because they provide more parts and improve the vehicle more than by just lifting it. The first is that it results in greater articulation, the tire can now droop lower on rough terrain, which makes it more capable off-road. The other is less spring droop when hauling heavier loads because these are stiffer springs, for example, if you have a large amount of heavy cargo. These types of kits are a bit more challenging to install and require an alignment after placement.

Spring Exchange

You can also simply exchange the stock spring for an aftermarket off-road spring that will provide lift without compromising ride quality or factory components.

A Change in Ride Height Can Result in a Change in Handling and More

When you add a lift kit to a vehicle, there are some changes to the vehicle beyond just the ground clearance. You will see a change to your fuel economy, it’ll drop, more or less, depending on the lift. You will probably also experience some road noise and changes to the steering, not always for the better, when hitting a pothole at speed.  For what you gain on the trail, you may lose on the highway with overall comfort. You could see increased wear on components because, depending on how much you have lifted your Sport, you’ve changed the geometry of the drive line.

Putting a lift on your Bronco Sport, by itself, does not void your warranty but if the damage to your Sport happened because of the lift, that would no longer be considered a warranty repair or replacement. I can’t discuss all the nuances of what will or won’t be fixed in this article, but it is another consideration before you decide to lift it. Do your research.

How much lift can you put on a Bronco Sport?

The aftermarket lift kits available for the Bronco Sport top out at around 2” give or take, but if you consider a Sport with ground clearances of 7.8” or 8.8” and you gain that amount plus say ½” in larger tires, that is now a very respectable high clearance vehicle at over 10”.

How do I choose a lift kit that works for me?

I’ve chatted for years with off-roaders who’ve modified their vehicles, some who have spent many thousands of dollars on modifications without much thought put into one key question. That is, what do you want to do with your vehicle? 

Are you really going to hard off-road your Bronco Sport or do you just want to get some bigger tires under it? I suggest you start doing some research on your local trails or off-road park. Watch how other vehicles and other drivers handle the terrain and decide what part of that is for you. If you’re nervous about off-roading your stock Sport now, what makes you think a lift will significantly change that? I’ll admit it’s really fun to shop online for modifications but if you’re really in it just for the look of your Sport, don’t over invest in a full suspension. If the opposite is true, don’t underinvest either. Buy once, cry once.

What’s your Budget?

The strut spacers or leveling kits are going to be hundreds, if not a thousand or more dollars less expensive than a suspension lift. They are typically easier to install which can save you additional money at your off-road shop or by being able to install it yourself. Again, do your research, there’s lots of discussion out there in the forums about lift kits.

Have you lifted your Bronco Sport?

If you’ve lifted your Sport, comment below with what you invested in, what you liked or didn’t like about it or feel free to ask a question. We have plans to lift our Sport soon so stay tuned for more articles regarding lifts and how to install them.