Coilovers Explained | How to Lower My Car With Coilovers

Lowered, slammed, dropped, no matter what you call it, lowering the ride height of your car or truck is one of the quickest ways to change its looks. Just like wheels make or break a build, so can ride height, but this isn’t just about looks, there are serious performance gains to be had by lowering the ride height of a car or truck, it just depends on how you do it.
 
There are several ways to lower a vehicle, however just like anything else in the world of high-performance autos, purpose and function are a big part of the decision. Lowering is done by one of two primary forms: static and adjustable. Static ride height is set to the desired point, whereas adjustable suspension is controllable from the driver’s seat via airbags or hydraulics. Static suspension lowering is accomplished through lowering springs, drop blocks (leaf springs), leaf flip kits, drop spindles, or a combination of the above. How you lower your car will directly affect the handling and ride, so doing it right is paramount to your enjoyment.
 
Coilover shocks are something of a hybrid between these two primary forms, as you can raise and lower your ride height by adjusting the spring position on the shock. Swapping out your shock and coil springs for coilover shocks is the best way to get down without ruining the ride or handling, and you can even get some fine-tuning if you select shocks with externally adjustable compression and rebound adjustments. We are focusing on lowering via coilovers, so let’s dig in.
 

How Do Coilovers Work

A typical coilover shock is very similar to a McPherson strut; it is doing double duty as the spring and the shock. Unlike struts, coilovers are smaller and easy to assemble and adjust. The shock body operates like a standard shock but has a heavier body that is threaded. Two threaded collars thread onto the body, one is a locking ring, the other supports the shock. At the top eye is another collar, which is captured by the eyelet base. The spring rides between them. For some vehicles, such as GM A-body cars, a semi-coil over can be used, where the bottom of the spring rides on the shock body, but uses the original upper spring pocket to capture the top of the spring. The function is the same. Check out our guide to better understand different types of shocks and how each of them function.

The ride height is adjusted by moving the threaded collar’s position up or down on the threaded shock body. The lower the spring sits on the shock, the lower the ride height is. In simple terms, the spring’s position to the chassis does not change, but how much shock is between the bottom of the spring and the lower control arm does. Most coilover shocks allow for a total of about four inches of adjustment; two inches up and two inches down.

By lowering the ride height, the center of gravity is lowered the same amount. This can help reduce body roll and introduce better handling. Unlike stock coil springs, you can adjust and tune your suspension with coilovers for corner-to-corner balance, shock tuning (with single or double adjustable shocks), and the shocks are designed to match the springs, so they work together. You can even change out the spring rates from corner to corner for circle track or drag racing.

When you use coilovers to lower your vehicle, you are not just making a cosmetic change, you are adding adjustability and high-performance to your suspension. A set of coilovers can dramatically alter the ride and performance of your car or truck.
 

Will Coilovers Lower My Car?

Yep. How much you can lower your vehicle with coilovers is limited to around two inches, but this depends on the make/model of both the vehicle and the shocks. If you really want to slam your ride to the ground, you will likely need to add other lowering components, such as drop spindles or blocks. Lowering a car one inch doesn’t sound like much, but depending on your goals, can deliver what you want. However, if major lowering is the primary goal, these other lowering components mentioned are typically required along with the coilovers.
 
Lowered vehicles give you better handling through several mechanisms. The lower center of gravity reduces weight transfer in the corners, making your vehicle more stable and feel more planted. The steering is a bit more responsive because your** suspension** is centered in a different section of the range of motion, so you tend to get faster response with less effort. Lowering also improves drag by reducing how much air flows under the vehicle.
 
That doesn’t mean that it is all sunshine and popsicles, there are drawbacks to coilovers. The biggest is the ride quality. This is often adjustable through the compression/rebound settings (if equipped), but most coilover suspensions have a firmer ride compared to stock. That is usually what we are after, but sometimes it gets a little harsh. A highway cruiser is better suited for standard shocks and adjustable suspension, where coilovers are designed for high-performance use. You can have both, but there will be a few compromises along the way.
 
Don’t forget about the ground clearance either, as lowering puts the bottom of your car closer to the ground. That means that if you go too low, you can scrape. Most cars have six to eight inches of clearance, reducing that to three inches is going to be very different, and you will have adjust your driving to accommodate the reduced clearance.
 

Coilovers VS Lowering Springs

Choosing between coilovers and lowering springs can be tricky, and sometimes you don’t have a choice. Leaf spring suspension is not compatible with coilover shocks, you must use drop blocks, lowered leaf packs or a flip kit. You can always use adjustable shocks to add tunability to the rear suspension and run coilovers in the front.
 

Coilovers

 
Pros

• Adjustability
• Easier to install and remove than loose springs
• Tuning
• High-performance handling and ride
• Cool factor

 
Cons

• Cost more than springs alone
• Requires 30 days for break-in and adjustment (all springs will lower a bit in the first 30 days)
• Height adjustments may be difficult on some vehicles due to access
• Firmer ride, which may too firm depending on components used

 
 
 
While coilovers are adjustable, most street-driven owners find that they spend a few days tweaking and adjusting the ride height and settings and rarely go back and do it again until something else changes, such as adding or removing weight from the vehicle. The nice thing is that you have that option. A static ride height with lowering springs is where it is, you have no adjustment at all. That also means you need to get it right the first time, otherwise you will have to swap out parts and do it all over again.

Which Coilovers Are Best?

Is there a “best coilover”? Not really, there are certainly some stinkers out there, but once you get into high-quality performance parts, it becomes a matter of what fits your vehicle and needs the best. Brand names such as AFCO, QA1, Speedway Motors, and Ridetech manufacturer some of the best quality parts, whereas cheap knockoffs are the exact opposite. It is always highly recommended that you stick with a quality brand name here because this is the one part that keeps your vehicle off the ground. A broken spring or collar will put you in the dirt, literally.

Before you start shopping, you need to know what your goals are. If you just want to lower the stance, a basic twin-tube non-adjustable coilover will do the job, but if you want tuning, you need to consider single or double adjustable shocks. If you plan to do some racing, you should consider a shock system that is designed for heavy duty use.
 
Coilovers For Daily Driver/Show: Non-adjustable or single adjustable shocks are suitable here. Consider a coilover system that is designed for your specific make/model which will operate as planned by the manufacturer with little to no guesswork.

High-Performance Street Coilovers: Single adjustable at a minimum, double adjustable shocks should be highly considered, as you can adjust the rebound and compression separately instead of a pre-determined rate for each click. How many “clicks” you get for each adjustment also matters, as a 4-way shock isn’t going to have nearly as many tuning options as a double adjustable with 24 settings, which gives you 576 possible combinations. This might seem like too much, but once you have a little experience it is absolutely worth it.

Track/Racing Coilovers: Double adjustable required, as you want the most adjustment options possible for track and weather conditions.
 
It is hard to go wrong with double adjustable coilovers. Yes, they are more expensive, but you get all the adjustments you could ever need or want. You can absolutely get a wonderful driving experience with non-adjustable, but if you have any quibbles with the ride, you don’t have any options for tuning the shock right there on the vehicle.
 

Are Coilovers Worth It?

Absolutely! In fact, we recommend them on any high-performance build, regardless of intended use. The adjustability alone is worth the cost of entry, but it is the performance that you will love. OEM springs wear out and sag, new coilover springs are going to last you the life of the car. Many coilovers (NOT ALL!) are rebuildable as well, so you really only have to buy them once, and that should take the sting out of the higher price.

You need to have realistic expectations of performance for your conversion. Even the baddest (bestest?) shocks are not going to make up for other worn-out suspension components, poor suspension geometry, or anything else that isn’t shock related. You won’t go from 0-60 any faster unless your wheels are hoppin’ like Bugs Bunny. A set of well-adjusted coilovers can absolutely transform the ride and handling but be realistic with your daydreams.
 
If you have a daily driver or cruiser that you want to lower and have no real interest in performance driving, other lowering systems would be a better choice, as you will be wasting the performance edge if you never push the vehicle to the edge. If you like that “skrrrt skrrrrrrrt” screaming from the tires in every turn on your way to grocery store, then yes, you need coilovers.
 

Coilovers FAQ

Do coilovers improve handling?

Yes, coilovers improve handling in every sense of the word. This is because coilovers allow for greater adjustability, which is the key to improving handling and ride.
 

Are coilovers good for daily driving?

Coilovers can be good for daily driving, depending on what and how you drive. A set of coilovers on your otherwise stock minivan isn’t going to get you much, but if you like to really drive, then yes.
 

Do coilovers make the ride harsher?

Yes, coilovers can make a ride feel harsher because the shock valving is designed for performance; you will feel it more. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as you will learn how to feel when something is amiss with the suspension and chassis. You become more connected to the road, and if you like to drive, that’s a good thing.
 

How long do coilovers last?

A good high-quality coilover should last into the 100k mile range with street-only use, track use will greatly reduce the lifespan because you work them a lot harder on a track. Cheap coilovers can start leaking quickly due to inferior parts and assembly.
 

Do coilovers require maintenance?

That all depends on what you buy. Fully self-contained shocks do not require anything other than the occasional inspection for leaks and damage. Shocks that use external reservoirs require more frequent inspection for fluid level and quality.
 
It is imperative that the threads on the shock body are coated with anti-seize to ensure that the collars do not gall onto the surface, making the adjustment collar impossible to turn. If you live in an area where you drive through mud, dirt, snow, or gravel often, periodic cleaning and reapplication is suggested.
 

Can you install coilovers yourself?

Of course! In most cases, installing coilovers yourself is about the same as changing a ball joint. The most important part is safely removing the original coil spring.