Best Lift Kits for Ford Bronco & Bronco Sport — Buyer's Guide

The Ford Bronco's return in 2021 was one of the most anticipated vehicle launches in recent memory — and the aftermarket responded accordingly. Whether you're building a full-size Bronco for serious trail work or looking to squeeze more capability out of a Bronco Sport, there's a growing catalog of quality lift kits for both platforms. This guide breaks down the best lift kits for each, what makes them different to lift, and which brands are worth your money.

Two Platforms, Two Very Different Conversations

Before diving in, it's worth being clear: the full-size Bronco and the Bronco Sport share a name and a general aesthetic, but they are fundamentally different vehicles on different platforms. The full-size Bronco is body-on-frame with a solid rear axle and available solid front axle — purpose-built for off-road use. The Bronco Sport is a unibody crossover based on the Ford Escape platform — more capable than a typical crossover but in a completely different league than the full-size.

Lift kit selection, brand availability, and performance expectations differ significantly between the two. We'll cover each separately.

Full-Size Ford Bronco (2021–Present)

What Makes the Full-Size Bronco Unique to Lift

The full-size Bronco is the most direct Jeep Wrangler competitor on the market — and Ford engineered it to be trail-capable from the factory. A few things define the lift conversation on this platform:

Solid rear axle, optional solid front axle. The Bronco's solid rear axle is a significant advantage over IFS competitors — it articulates better, is easier to lift, and is more durable under hard use. Sasquatch Package-equipped Broncos add a solid front axle, making them one of the most lift-friendly modern platforms available. Non-Sasquatch Broncos use IFS up front, which introduces the CV axle geometry considerations common to other modern trucks.

Sasquatch vs. non-Sasquatch. The Sasquatch Package includes 35" tires, wider fender flares, high-clearance suspension, and a front solid axle. Lifting a Sasquatch Bronco is a different exercise than lifting a non-Sasquatch — the starting point is already significantly higher and the geometry is already optimized for larger tires. Confirm your configuration before purchasing a kit.

Growing but still maturing aftermarket. The Bronco aftermarket has grown fast since 2021 but it's still maturing compared to the decades-deep Wrangler ecosystem. Quality options exist across the lift range but the catalog isn't as broad as the JK or JL. This makes working with an experienced installer who stays current on fitments particularly important.

Best Lift Kits for the Full-Size Bronco

BDS Suspension — BDS has been one of the most active brands in developing full-size Bronco-specific lift kits and their catalog reflects that investment. Their 2" and 3" lift kits for both Sasquatch and non-Sasquatch configurations are among the most thoroughly engineered options available. For non-Sasquatch Broncos, BDS lift kits include the geometry correction components needed to manage IFS CV axle angles at lift height. For Sasquatch builds, their systems build on the factory solid axle setup with quality shocks and spring upgrades. If you're building a full-size Bronco seriously, BDS is the starting point.

FOX — FOX has a natural home on the Bronco platform — the factory Bronco Wildtrak and Badlands trims ship with FOX shocks from the factory, which tells you something about how well-matched they are to this vehicle. FOX's 2.0 performance series and remote reservoir options are strong upgrades for base and mid-spec Broncos, and their internal bypass shocks are available for more aggressive builds. Whether spec'd as part of a BDS kit or added as a standalone upgrade, FOX is the shock conversation on this platform.

Bilstein — Bilstein's B8 series shocks are a strong option for full-size Bronco owners who want improved damping without a full suspension overhaul. Their monotube construction delivers consistent performance in the demanding thermal cycles that hard off-road use creates — a meaningful advantage on a trail-focused platform like the Bronco. For owners who want a bolt-on performance upgrade that maintains factory ride character while improving trail capability, Bilstein delivers.

ARB / Old Man Emu — ARB has been developing Bronco-specific components consistent with their pattern of prioritizing high-demand off-road platforms. OME shocks and springs for the full-size Bronco bring their characteristic long-term durability and balanced ride to a platform that deserves quality components. For owners building a serious overland rig on the Bronco platform, ARB's broader ecosystem of recovery gear, air compressors, and protection products integrates naturally with an OME-lifted build.

Ford Bronco Sport (2021–Present)

What Makes the Bronco Sport Unique to Lift

The Bronco Sport is a capable compact crossover — more so than most people give it credit for — but it's a fundamentally different engineering proposition than the full-size. It uses a unibody construction, all-wheel drive, and independent suspension front and rear. Lift kits are more limited than the full-size and the goals are different: most Bronco Sport owners are adding lift for improved ground clearance, a more aggressive stance, and modest trail capability rather than serious rock crawling or long-travel performance.

Badlands trim considerations. The Bronco Sport Badlands is the most capable trim and includes a Terrain Management System, electronic locking rear differential, and reinforced suspension components. Lift fitment can vary between Badlands and lower trims — confirm your specific configuration before purchasing.

Lift height limitations. The Bronco Sport's unibody construction and AWD architecture mean that lift kits top out lower than the full-size — typically 2" to 3" before geometry and drivetrain considerations become significant. This isn't a criticism of the platform; it's simply the engineering reality of a unibody crossover versus a body-on-frame truck.

Best Lift Kits for the Bronco Sport

ReadyLIFT — ReadyLIFT's 2" leveling and lift kits for the Bronco Sport are among the most popular solutions on this platform. Their bolt-on approach requires no cutting or modification, delivers a clean stance improvement, and allows for a modest tire upgrade within the platform's geometry limits. For Bronco Sport owners who want a reliable, straightforward solution that transforms the look and adds meaningful ground clearance, ReadyLIFT is the right call.

BDS Suspension — BDS has developed Bronco Sport-specific lift kits that push the platform's capability further than a simple leveling kit. Their 2" systems include matched shock upgrades and are designed to maintain the AWD system's geometry within acceptable operating parameters. For Badlands owners who want to maximize what the platform can do, BDS is worth the conversation.

Bilstein — Bilstein's shock upgrades for the Bronco Sport deliver meaningful improvement in damping performance over the factory units — particularly relevant for Badlands owners who use the truck's off-road capability regularly. Their monotube construction holds up better under repeated off-road use than the factory twin-tube shocks, and the upgrade is one of the most cost-effective performance improvements available on this platform.

How Much Lift Do You Actually Need?

Bottom Line

The full-size Bronco is one of the most exciting platforms to build on right now — a solid axle, growing aftermarket, and genuine off-road capability that gives the Wrangler real competition. BDS leads the lift kit conversation on the full-size, with FOX, Bilstein, and ARB rounding out the shock and damping options. The Bronco Sport is a capable compact crossover that responds well to ReadyLIFT and BDS solutions within its engineering limits.

At OK4WD we carry and install all of the above for both Bronco platforms. Stop into our Stewartsville location or give us a call — we'll build the right setup for your Bronco, your budget, and the trails you have in mind.

OK4WD has been building trucks and Jeeps since 1979. Browse our Bronco lift kit inventory or schedule a consultation with our service team.