How does car suspension work?

Suspension combines tyres, springs, shock absorbers, sway bars, links and control arms to keep the tyres in contact with the road, improving traction, braking and stability.

How much does it cost to repair suspension?

Costs depend on the parts and wear found during inspection. A checkup identifies whether bushes, shocks or other components need replacement.

How do I know if my suspension needs repair?

Look for clunks or squeaks over bumps, uneven tyre wear, poor straight-line tracking, excessive body roll or instability under braking.

Is it safe to drive with worn suspension?

No. Worn parts can reduce braking performance and control. Book an inspection before further driving.

What are common suspension problems?

Misalignment, perished OE rubber bushes, leaking or faded shocks, incorrect components installed, wrong or illegal lift setups and ride-height issues.

How long does a suspension repair take?

Typical jobs take about 1–5 hours depending on the vehicle and parts involved.

What are the signs of a bad wheel alignment?

Steering wheel off-centre, pulling to one side, vibration or tramlining, and rapid or uneven tyre wear.

What happens if I skip wheel alignments?

Handling suffers and tyres wear quickly, which increases running costs.

When should I replace suspension bushings?

Replace when you see cracks, excessive movement or noise. Polyurethane bushings are a durable upgrade where available.

When should I consider a 4x4 lift kit?

When you need more ground clearance, wheel travel or to accommodate larger tyres and accessories. Choose a vehicle-specific kit.

Do I really need a wheel alignment and suspension check?

Yes. Alignment keeps geometry correct and reduces tyre wear. A suspension check spots issues early.

How often should alignment be done?

About every 12 months or sooner after off-road use, impacts, new tyres, or suspension changes.

How often should I check the power steering rack and pump?

Follow the service schedule; a good rule of thumb is periodic checks around every 20,000 km (12,000 miles) to prevent wear-related issues.

N90 Hilux Lift Kit Types: Block Spacer, ReadyStrut and Remote Reservoir

Formula 4x4 covers the N90 Hilux with a clear range of lift kit types: a low cost rear block spacer, a 2 inch height adjustable ReadyStrut kit, and a 2 to 3 inch adjustable remote reservoir kit for hard touring. Match the type to your load and terrain. Part of our full guide to the N90 Hilux lift kit and suspension range.

Choosing an N90 Hilux lift kit comes down to knowing the types and matching one to how you drive. A block spacer, a ReadyStrut kit and a remote reservoir kit all lift the ute, but they suit very different owners. Formula 4x4 builds each as a matched system for real Australian conditions, so the springs and shocks work together rather than fighting each other.

Build your N90 Hilux kit

What are the main N90 Hilux lift kit types?

There are three worth knowing. A rear block spacer is the cheapest, adding a small rear lift that suits a light towing setup. A 2 inch 50mm ReadyStrut kit is the popular tourer choice, a 50mm lift with a height adjustable front strut. A 2 inch to 3 inch adjustable kit runs remote reservoir shocks and suits the hardest off road use.

The takeaway: pick the block spacer for a small towing lift, the ReadyStrut for touring, and the remote reservoir kit for serious off road.

What is a ReadyStrut and why choose the adjustable version?

A ReadyStrut is a Formula 4x4 front strut that arrives preassembled and ready to bolt in. The height adjustable versions let you set the front ride height to suit your accessory load, because a bare ute and one with a steel bar and winch need different preload to sit at the same height. That adjustability means one kit can be set correctly for your exact build and can be levelled side to side, so you get the lift you paid for and it holds.

The takeaway: a height adjustable ReadyStrut tunes the front to your load, so the N90 sits level and keeps its height.

When is a remote reservoir kit worth it?

Remote reservoir shocks add a separate reservoir of oil and gas, increasing oil volume and cooling. On sustained corrugations, sand and high speed dirt that keeps damping consistent where a standard shock overheats and fades. If your N90 spends real time on rough tracks, the remote reservoir kit stays composed when a standard kit would go vague. If it mostly commutes and tours light, the standard ReadyStrut kit is the sensible spend.

The takeaway: choose remote reservoir for hot, hard, corrugated work, and a standard kit for road and light dirt.

What else should I fit with the lift?

A lift changes the front geometry, so most 2 inch and taller kits should be paired with SuperPro caster and camber correction and sway bar links to suit the height. Skipping it causes twitchy steering and uneven tyre wear. The detail is covered in our N90 Hilux control arms guide. If you carry heavy weight, look at a GVM upgrade instead of a plain lift.

The takeaway: pair any 2 inch or taller lift with geometry correction, and consider a GVM upgrade if you run heavy.

N90 Hilux lift kit types compared

Type	Best for	Height	Heat control
Rear block spacer	Light towing lift	Rear only	n/a
2 inch ReadyStrut	Touring, daily	50mm, adjustable	Good
2 to 3 inch remote reservoir	Hard off road	50 to 75mm, adjustable	Best

The takeaway: the more time loaded and off road, the further down this table you should look.

N90 Hilux Lift Kit Types FAQs

Looking for more information about the N90 Hilux lift kit options? Below we answer the most commonly asked questions

What is the best lift kit type for a touring N90?

The 2 inch ReadyStrut kit is the sweet spot for most tourers: enough lift and clearance, height adjustable for your load, and a comfortable ride. Step up only if you need more height and heat control.

How much lift do these kits give?

The ReadyStrut kits give a 2 inch (50mm) lift, and the adjustable kit gives 2 to 3 inch. Height adjustable struts let you fine tune the front to sit level with your accessories.

Is a block spacer a real lift kit?

It is a low cost way to add a small rear lift, useful for towing. It is not a full lift and does not replace matched springs and shocks for touring.

Do remote reservoir shocks need servicing?

They are built for hard use and long life. Like any performance shock they can be serviced or rebuilt over time, which helps them last on a hard worked ute.

Will a Formula 4x4 kit fit larger tyres?

A 2 inch lift clears larger tyres than standard. Exact tyre size depends on wheel offset and any trimming, which your fitter can advise on.

Does the kit come with a warranty?

Yes. Formula 4x4 backs its suspension with a 5 year warranty.

If you would rather have it professionally installed, Formula 4x4 kits can be fitted at Fulcrum Suspensions through its national workshop network of over 200 partners.

Build your N90 Hilux kit

See the complete range: N90 Hilux lift kit and suspension.

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