2018 Jeep Compass Lift Kit: Elevating Your Adventure pickup.truckstrend.com
The 2018 Jeep Compass is a versatile compact SUV, designed to bridge the gap between urban commuting and light off-road adventures. While capable in its stock form, many owners seek to unlock its full potential, both in terms of aesthetics and performance, by installing a lift kit. A 2018 Jeep Compass lift kit is more than just an aesthetic upgrade; it’s a strategic modification that enhances ground clearance, allows for larger tires, and significantly improves the vehicle’s capability to tackle challenging terrains.
This comprehensive guide will delve into everything you need to know about lifting your 2018 Jeep Compass, from understanding the different types of kits available to navigating the installation process, ensuring you make an informed decision to elevate your adventure.
2018 Jeep Compass Lift Kit: Elevating Your Adventure
Why Lift Your 2018 Jeep Compass? The Benefits Unveiled
Opting for a lift kit on your 2018 Jeep Compass offers a multitude of advantages that go beyond just a more aggressive stance:
- Increased Ground Clearance: This is arguably the most crucial benefit for off-road enthusiasts. By raising the vehicle’s body away from its axles, a lift kit prevents the undercarriage from scraping on rocks, roots, or other obstacles, minimizing the risk of costly damage to vital components like the exhaust, differential, or oil pan.
- Accommodate Larger Tires: A stock 2018 Jeep Compass has limitations on tire size. A lift kit provides the necessary fender clearance to fit larger, more aggressive off-road tires. These tires offer superior traction, durability, and a larger contact patch, which translates to better grip on loose surfaces, mud, and rocks.
- Improved Approach, Departure, and Breakover Angles: These angles determine how steep an obstacle your Compass can approach, leave, or pass over without scraping. A lift kit significantly improves these angles, allowing your vehicle to navigate more challenging obstacles with greater ease and confidence.
- Enhanced Aesthetics and Aggressive Stance: Let’s be honest, a lifted Jeep Compass simply looks tougher and more capable. The elevated profile, often combined with larger tires, gives the vehicle a more commanding and adventurous presence on and off the road.
- Better Visibility: Sitting higher provides a better vantage point of the road and surrounding terrain, which can be beneficial in both city driving and off-road exploration.
Understanding the Types of 2018 Jeep Compass Lift Kits
When considering a 2018 Jeep Compass lift kit, you’ll encounter a few primary types, each offering different levels of lift, performance enhancements, and price points.
1. Spacer Lifts (Leveling Kits / Budget Boosts)
- Description: These are the simplest and most cost-effective lift kits. They consist of durable spacers (typically made from polyurethane, steel, or aluminum) that are installed above the factory strut mounts or below the coil springs.
- Lift Height: Usually provide a modest lift of 1 to 2 inches, often used to "level" the vehicle by raising the front to match the rear’s height, which can sag under the weight of the engine.
- Pros: Inexpensive, relatively easy to install (often a DIY project for those with mechanical inclination), maintains factory ride quality as it uses existing suspension components.
- Cons: Offers no improvement in suspension articulation or performance beyond ground clearance. Can sometimes put a bit more stress on factory components if the lift is too high for the stock geometry.
2. Coil Spring Lifts
- Description: This type of kit replaces the factory coil springs with taller, often stiffer, aftermarket coil springs. Sometimes, they include extended shocks designed to work with the new spring length.
- Lift Height: Typically provide a moderate lift of 2 to 3 inches.
- Pros: Offers a noticeable increase in ride height, can improve load carrying capacity, and with quality components, can maintain or even slightly improve ride quality over stock. It’s a more integrated solution than just spacers.
- Cons: More expensive than spacer lifts and more involved to install, as it requires compressing springs and replacing components.
3. Full Suspension Lifts
- Description: This is the most comprehensive and performance-oriented lift solution. A full suspension lift replaces a significant portion of the factory suspension system, including new taller coil springs or struts, extended shocks, and potentially new control arms, sway bar links, and other necessary components to correct suspension geometry.
- Lift Height: Can provide a substantial lift of 2.5 to 4 inches or more, depending on the specific kit.
- Pros: Delivers the most significant improvement in off-road capability, articulation, and ground clearance. High-quality kits can also offer a superior on-road ride compared to stock, especially over rough terrain, due to better damping and longer travel. Designed to maintain proper suspension geometry.
- Cons: Most expensive option, requires the most complex installation (often best left to professionals), and may necessitate additional modifications like extended brake lines or driveline adjustments for larger lifts.
Key Components of a 2018 Jeep Compass Lift Kit
While specific components vary by kit type and manufacturer, a typical 2018 Jeep Compass lift kit might include:
- Strut Spacers: For spacer lifts, these are the primary components.
- Taller Coil Springs: For coil spring and full suspension lifts.
- Extended Shocks/Struts: Designed to accommodate the increased travel and improve damping.
- Control Arms (Upper/Lower): For larger lifts, these are crucial to correct caster and camber angles, ensuring proper alignment and preventing premature wear on driveline components.
- Sway Bar End Links: Longer links are needed to maintain proper sway bar function at the new ride height.
- Bump Stop Extensions: Prevents the suspension from bottoming out too harshly.
- Brake Line Relocation Brackets: For significant lifts, these prevent stretching or damage to brake lines.
Important Considerations Before Installing Your 2018 Jeep Compass Lift Kit
Before you commit to a 2018 Jeep Compass lift kit, consider these vital factors:
- Intended Use: Are you aiming for a subtle aesthetic enhancement, occasional light trail use, or serious off-road adventures? Your answer will dictate the type and extent of the lift you need.
- Budget: Lift kits range widely in price, from a few hundred dollars for spacers to well over a thousand for full suspension systems. Factor in installation costs, alignment, and potentially new tires.
- Tire Size Compatibility: Research the maximum tire size that your chosen lift kit will allow without rubbing, especially when turning or during suspension compression.
- Alignment is Crucial: Any lift, even a small one, will alter your vehicle’s suspension geometry. A professional alignment is absolutely mandatory after installation to prevent uneven tire wear, steering issues, and handling problems.
- Warranty Implications: Modifying your vehicle’s suspension can potentially void portions of your factory warranty related to driveline and suspension components. Consult your dealership beforehand.
- Legality: Check your local and state laws regarding maximum vehicle height and modifications.
- Ride Quality: While many quality kits aim to maintain or improve ride quality, some budget options might result in a stiffer or less comfortable ride.
- Installation Difficulty: Do you have the necessary tools and mechanical expertise for a DIY installation, or will you need professional help?
The Installation Process (Overview)
While a detailed step-by-step guide is beyond the scope of this article, here’s a general overview of what installing a 2018 Jeep Compass lift kit entails:
- Safety First: Always work on a level surface, use sturdy jack stands, and ensure the vehicle is properly chocked. Disconnect the battery.
- Disassembly: Remove the wheels, disconnect sway bar links, brake lines (if necessary), and carefully unbolt the factory struts, shocks, and coil springs.
- Component Installation: Install the new lift kit components – whether they are spacers, new coils, or a full suspension system. This often involves compressing springs (a spring compressor is essential for coil spring kits) and carefully maneuvering new components into place.
- Reassembly: Reattach all components, ensuring all bolts are torqued to the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Post-Installation: Lower the vehicle, re-torque lug nuts, and immediately schedule a professional wheel alignment. A test drive is crucial to check for any unusual noises, vibrations, or handling issues.
Potential Challenges and Solutions
While lifting your 2018 Jeep Compass is a rewarding modification, it can present a few challenges:
- CV Axle Angles: Higher lifts can increase the operating angle of your Constant Velocity (CV) axles, leading to premature wear or failure.
- Solution: Stick to moderate lifts (2-3 inches), consider a differential drop kit if available, or invest in heavy-duty aftermarket CV axles.
- Driveshaft Vibrations: Though less common on the Compass for moderate lifts, extreme angles can induce vibrations.
- Solution: Ensure proper alignment, check all components are torqued, and consult with a specialist.
- Alignment Difficulties: Achieving proper alignment after a significant lift can be challenging without adjustable components.
- Solution: Opt for a kit that includes adjustable control arms or cam bolts, and find an alignment shop experienced with lifted vehicles.
- Increased Body Roll/Stiffness: Some kits, especially cheaper spacer kits, might not adequately compensate for the higher center of gravity, leading to more body roll or a harsher ride.
- Solution: Invest in a quality full suspension kit with properly tuned shocks and springs.
Tips for Choosing the Right Kit & Post-Installation Maintenance
- Define Your Needs Clearly: Don’t just pick the tallest lift. Match the lift to your intended use.
- Research Reputable Brands: Stick with established manufacturers known for quality and durability in their 2018 Jeep Compass lift kit offerings. Brands like Rough Country, Eibach (for performance springs), and others often have specific applications.
- Read Reviews: Look for reviews from other 2018 Jeep Compass owners who have installed the specific kit you’re considering.
- Professional Installation: If you’re not confident in your mechanical skills, investing in professional installation is wise.
- Factor in All Costs: Remember to budget for the kit itself, professional installation, alignment, and potentially larger tires.
Post-Installation Maintenance:
- Regular Alignment Checks: Get your alignment checked every 6-12 months, especially after any off-road excursions.
- Inspect Components: Periodically inspect all suspension components for wear, damage, or loose bolts.
- Cleanliness: Keep your suspension components clean, especially after driving in mud, sand, or salt.
2018 Jeep Compass Lift Kit Price Guide
Prices are estimates and can vary based on brand, retailer, and specific features. Installation costs are highly dependent on labor rates and complexity.
| Lift Kit Type | Estimated Kit Price (USD) | Estimated Professional Installation (USD) | Notes
