Coilovers Vs. Lowering Springs

When it comes to enhancing your vehicle’s suspension, two popular choices often come up: coilovers and lowering springs. Lowering springs vs coilovers is a common debate among car enthusiasts, as each option offers unique benefits and drawbacks for your suspension setup. While both options will lower your car’s ride height and can improve its aesthetics, they serve different purposes and offer distinct advantages. The springs vs coilovers discussion centers on how each affects handling, ride quality, and cost, making it important to understand their differences before deciding. At Coilovers.com, we cater to enthusiasts who want the best setup for their rides, whether it’s for daily driving or competitive racing. To the surprise of many, the right choice isn’t always as straightforward as it seems, and common assumptions can be challenged when comparing these upgrades. Let’s dive deeper into the nuances of these suspension components, helping you determine the best option for your vehicle.

Understanding Coilovers

What Are Coilovers?

Coilovers are a combination of a shock absorber and a coil spring contained within a single unit, meaning they incorporate both springs and shocks for a comprehensive suspension upgrade. This integrative design not only simplifies installation but also enhances performance by replacing or upgrading the entire suspension system. For Alfa Romeo owners, coilovers are especially beneficial, as they allow drivers to refine the already sporty handling characteristics that Alfa Romeo vehicles are known for.

Many misconceptions about coilovers exist, but their all-in-one design offers benefits like improved ride quality, sharper cornering, and the ability to fine-tune your vehicle’s setup. Typically, they come with threaded adjustments, allowing you to modify ride height as needed. Some even offer adjustable damping settings, providing further customization to match your driving preferences.

Coilovers are typically installed as a complete unit, simplifying the process. However, some adjustments or assembly may be required prior to installation to ensure proper setup—especially important for precision-focused vehicles like Alfa Romeo models.

Benefits of Coilovers

• Adjustable Ride Height: With coilovers, you can easily tweak the height of your vehicle—lowering it for enhanced aesthetics or adjusting it for performance needs. For Aston Martin owners, this level of adjustability allows you to fine-tune the car’s naturally elegant stance while ensuring ideal weight distribution. Coilovers also allow you to level the car front and rear for optimal balance, which is especially valuable for high-performance grand tourers and sports models.

• Damping Options: Many coilover kits come with adjustable damping and rebound settings, enabling you to fine-tune how your car handles different road conditions. Adjusting damping can help manage weight transfer during acceleration and braking for improved stability.

• Improved Handling: The ability to finely match the spring rates to the dampers translates to better control, stability, and overall performance, especially during spirited driving or on the track. Adjusting spring rate and weight distribution with coilovers helps you achieve specific performance goals and optimize handling.

• Extensive Options: There are a ton of coilover options on the market, offering various features to suit different needs, from daily driving to competitive motorsports.

Adjustability and Customization

Coilovers shine in their adjustability and the wide market of coilover options available for customization. Many kits allow you to customize:

• Ride Height: Adjusting between a street-friendly or a performance-focused stance. Ride height is typically changed by moving the spring perch up or down on the shock body, allowing precise control over your vehicle's stance.

• Damping: You can set your suspension for a softer ride on rough roads or a firmer setup for spirited driving.

• Spring Rates and Camber Plates: For those looking to further enhance performance, many advanced setups allow you to fine-tune these elements.

Exploring Lowering Springs

What Are Lowering Springs?

Lowering springs are aftermarket suspension components designed to replace your factory coil springs in the stock location. Lowering springs are installed in the same position as the original springs, making the process straightforward. They typically lower the car by a fixed amount, such as 1 or 2 inch, depending on the kit. Lowering springs are usually shorter and have a higher spring rate than OEM springs, and are often paired with stock or upgraded struts, which affects ride quality and handling.

Advantages of Lowering Springs

• Cost-Effective: Lowering springs are often less expensive than coilovers, making them a great option for budget-conscious enthusiasts. They are also one of the most popular mods for car enthusiasts looking to improve their vehicle's appearance and handling.

• Simple Installation: The installation process is straightforward, usually just a swap of the springs without needing extensive setup. However, it's important to have a plan before starting modifications to ensure compatibility and achieve the desired results.

• Enhanced Aesthetics and Handling: Lowering springs effectively lower the center of gravity, which can reduce body roll and give your car a more aggressive stance. This can be a good thing for both stance and performance, but may only offer a bit of both compared to more advanced setups.

• Performance Upgrade: Lowering springs can be a performance upgrade for those seeking improved handling without extensive modifications, offering a balance between cost, simplicity, and enhanced driving dynamics.

Comparison of Performance

Ride Quality and Comfort

• Coilovers: One of the standout features is their tunability. You can adjust them to soften or firm up the ride, depending on your preference. Premium brands like Ohlins offer advanced damping technology for superior ride quality. But, it’s worth noting that cheaper or poorly set coilovers might ride harshly if not properly configured.

• Lowering Springs: Generally, they provide a firmer ride, which some drivers enjoy, but this can sometimes be at the expense of comfort, especially when paired with worn or stock shocks.

Cost and Installation Considerations

• Lowering Springs: They are typically cheaper in terms of both parts and installation costs. Lowering springs can be installed quickly and easily, often without the need for complex adjustments. Since they usually don’t require alignment changes beyond standard practices, they can save you money in the long run.

• Coilovers: While they can be more expensive initially, consider the investment in more specialized installation and potential for professional alignment. For advanced setups, a corner balance might also be beneficial, it provides better performance in handling.

Many online forum posts highlight enthusiasts' experiences with installing both options, discussing ease of installation and cost differences.

Which Option Is Right for You?

• Coilovers: Opt for coilovers if you’re seeking adjustability, high performance, and the possibility for future tuning. Consider what you are trying to achieve with your suspension setup—whether it’s maximum handling, a custom stance, or track-ready performance—as coilovers allow you to modify your suspension as your driving preferences change or as you upgrade other components of your vehicle.

• Lowering Springs: Choose lowering springs if you prefer an affordable solution for a fixed drop, with mild performance enhancements and easy installation. Lowering springs can help rid your car of unwanted lean, such as the 'Chevy lean,' and are perfect for drivers looking to improve their car’s look and handling without the desire for extensive customization.

Ultimately, determining the best option comes down to your goals, vehicle characteristics, and budget. Your choice should be guided by what you want to achieve in terms of performance, comfort, and aesthetics. At Coilovers.com, we’re here to help you find the ideal suspension setup, offering high-quality coilover kits and expert support for your vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between coilovers and lowering springs?

When considering lowering springs vs coilovers, it's important to understand how each option impacts your vehicle's suspension, handling, and overall performance.

Coilovers combine a shock absorber and spring into one unit with adjustable height and damping. Lowering springs are aftermarket replacements that lower your car to a fixed height, mainly focused on aesthetics and slight performance improvement.

Are coilovers better than lowering springs for performance?

Yes, coilovers typically offer better performance due to their adjustability in ride height and damping options, allowing for customized handling and stability, especially during spirited driving. Coilovers are considered a performance upgrade for enthusiasts seeking maximum handling improvements.

What are the advantages of lowering springs?

Lowering springs provide a cost-effective solution to lower your vehicle’s height, enhance appearance, and improve handling by lowering the center of gravity, making them a popular choice for budget-conscious enthusiasts.

Lowering springs are also one of the most popular mods among car enthusiasts.

How do coilovers improve vehicle handling?

Coilovers improve handling by allowing fine-tuning of spring rates and damping settings, which results in better control and stability, especially during aggressive driving or track use. By managing and reducing unwanted weight transfer during cornering, braking, and acceleration, coilovers help maintain optimal tire contact with the road, further enhancing driving dynamics.

Can I install lowering springs myself?

Yes, lowering springs are generally easier to install compared to coilovers, usually requiring just a swap of the springs without extensive setup, making them ideal for DIY enthusiasts. Lowering springs can be installed with basic tools and mechanical knowledge, allowing many car owners to handle the upgrade themselves.

What should I consider when choosing between coilovers and lowering springs?

Consider your budget, need for adjustability, and driving style. Coilovers are best for tuners needing customization, while lowering springs are suitable for those seeking a straightforward, cost-effective drop. Ultimately, assessing your individual needs and preferences will help determine the right suspension setup for you.