A regular Focus, an ST and an RS wear the same badge, but they do not take the same Ford Focus coilovers. The ST and the RS each have their own kits, and the kit for the everyday Focus depends on the year. Find your car below, with BC Racing first in every section.
Not sure which section is yours? Give us your year and trim at 1-800-460-9106.
Focus, ST and RS kits
2000 to 2018
Animated illustration. It shows where coilovers sit on a car, not your exact kit. Depending on the car and the kit, coilovers can lean forward or back or stand straight up, and some cars use a separate spring and shock in the rear. Your ride height depends on the kit and how it is set up.
Before you shop for coilovers for your Ford Focus, figure out which of these you have.
The everyday Focus
This covers the sedan, the hatchback and, on early cars, the wagon. Kits change by year, and on early cars by front strut size and body style.
The ST
The 2013 Focus ST brought 252 hp and a hatch built at Ford's Wayne, Michigan, plant. If you need coilovers for a Ford Focus ST, it has its own kits from 2013.
The RS
The RS has all-wheel drive with torque vectoring and a Drift Mode. Most of its kits are made for the RS alone.
Two things trip people up. First, a 2012 to 2018 Focus is not an ST, even with sporty wheels, so it takes the everyday kits. Second, BC Racing's early kits do not fit the wagon. If you have a ZTW or ZXW wagon, look at Bilstein, which names both, and KW's 2000 to 2005 wagon kit.
BC Racing and the Focus
BR, DS and RM for every BC Focus generation
BC Racing sells three series for the Focus: BR, DS and RM. All three are sold for every Focus BC covers, from the 2000 car to the RS. BC Racing coilovers for the Focus ST also come in an Extreme Low kit in BR. Free shipping on BC Racing kits in the continental US.
Fortune Auto kits are hand-assembled in Powhatan, Virginia. There are kits for the ST and the RS, each with front end links included and a separate rear spring and shock.
Swift lists Sport Spec-R lowering springs for ST owners, 2013 to 2018.
Daily driving, autocross or track
The commuter hatch
A modest drop and soft damping keep a daily Focus easy to live with on rough roads.
Kits to look at: BC Racing BR or DS, Ksport, Bilstein B12
ST at the autocross
On a tight course you want the car to turn in fast. On a BC kit, tune damping a few clicks at a time between runs.
Kits to look at: BC Racing RM, KW, Fortune Auto, Feal
RS on track
The RS puts power down well with all-wheel drive and torque vectoring. Pick a kit you can tune, and plan for the factory electronic damper control.
Kits to look at: BC Racing RM, Öhlins Road & Track, KW, Fortune Auto, Feal
All the Ford Focus coilovers we carry, RS down to 2000
Some kits show up in two sections because their names cover both. Each card opens the product page with the price, the details and what it fits.
Notes in BC kit names: "Swift Front Only" means the optional Swift spring upgrade is offered for the front springs only on that kit.
Focus RS coilovers, 2016 to 2018
Codes: RS, AWD
Check first: Most RS kits are made for the RS alone; Bilstein's B14 PSS covers the 2012 to 2018 Focus with the RS included. BC's RS kit name says "Swift Front Only," so ask us about springs. Öhlins also sells a cancellation kit for the electronic damper control.
BC Racing kitThe BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2013 to 2018 Ford Focus ST. Photo: BC Racing.
Check first: Bilstein has one B12 Pro-Kit for the 2013 ST and another for 2014 to 2018 cars. Ksport sells one kit for the ST and another for every other Focus of these years.
Focus coilovers, 2012 to 2018, sedan and hatchback
Codes: MK3; KW lists CDH
BC Racing kitThe BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2012 to 2018 Ford Focus. Photo: BC Racing.
Check first: These kits are made for the everyday Focus. Ksport's kit name excludes the ST, and Bilstein's B14 kit name adds the 2016 RS. KW's kit is for the 2.0 hatchback and sedan.
Check first: BC Racing's kit for these years is named MK1.5 and SEL, from 2006 to 2011, and it does not fit the wagon. Its name also says "Swift Front Only," so ask us about springs.
Focus coilovers, 2000 to 2007, SVT and ZX3 to ZX5 included
Codes: MK1; KW lists DAW, DBW, DFW, DNW and more
BC Racing kitThe BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2000 to 2005 Ford Focus MK1. Photo: BC Racing.
Check first: Year and body decide these kits. Ksport makes one kit for the 45.5 mm front strut on 2000 to 2005 cars and one for the 50 mm strut on 2006 to 2007 cars. BC Racing's kits do not fit the wagon, while KW and Bilstein make wagon kits.
These are the problems Focus owners report most often on forums and in recalls and service bulletins, and what each one means for your coilovers.
Rear camber goes negative once lowered
Focus 2000 to 2011 (ST and RS, 2013 to 2018, use other camber parts)
On PassionFord, owners say lowering a Focus adds rear negative camber, and front camber grows more at 50mm of drop than 30mm. One reports inner front tire wear. A rear camber bolt for 2000 to 2011 cars gives about one degree; past an inch of rear drop, an adjustable arm is advised. A lower Focus can wear the inside edges of its tires unless camber is brought back.
Before you install: Plan rear camber bolts or adjustable arms to suit your drop, and use the coilover camber plates up front before the alignment.
Factory electronic dampers on the Focus RS
Focus RS, 2016 to 2018
Every Focus RS left the factory with electronically adjustable dampers, and fitting other coilovers means deactivating the damper control. A FordMuscle owner test calls the stock Sport setting much too stiff for most roads and Normal still firm for trips. With a passive coilover you need a plan for the damper wiring, or you can pick an adaptive kit.
Before you install: Decide before ordering whether to keep adaptive damping. If not, ask how the kit handles deactivating the factory damper control.
Front sway bar end link clunk
First generation Focus, 2000 to 2007
Owners on the FocalJet forum describe a front clunk or rattle over small bumps at low speed, and several cured it with new front sway bar end links. TrueDelta owner reports call the links a constant problem. A worn end link can make a new install sound loose, and lowering changes the link angle.
Before you install: Check the front end links for play or torn boots before the install. Replace worn ones at the same time, using new nuts.
Broken front coil springs
First generation Focus, 2000 to 2007
CarComplaints lists 11 reports of broken coil springs on the 2000 Focus, all front where stated, averaging about 87,000 miles. One owner cites Ford program 03M02, which extended front spring coverage on certain 2000 Focus cars to 10 years or 150,000 miles. A broken spring can rub the tire and damage the mounts.
Before you install: When the factory struts come out, inspect the front spring seats, strut mounts and tires for rub marks. Replace damaged mount parts with the coilovers.
Ford's hot hatches
The ST arrives, then the RS
The everyday Focus came first. Then came the 2013 ST, and three years later the RS.
2000
The first Focus kitsKit names for the first generation start at 2000, with the SVT and the ZX3, ZX4 and ZX5 included.
2013
The STThe 2013 Focus ST made 252 hp and 270 lb-ft and was built at Ford's Wayne, Michigan, plant.
2016
The RSThis was the third generation of Focus RS, with Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive, Dynamic Torque Vectoring and 350 PS.
Ford also gave the RS a Drift Mode, built to help the driver hold controlled oversteer drifts on a circuit. Its drive modes set the damper controls too. Most kit names list the RS on its own, so it gets its own section here.
Focus, ST and RS questions
Do Focus ST coilovers fit a regular Focus?
No. Going by the kit names, the ST has its own kits, and Ksport says its 2012 to 2018 kit does not fit the ST. Pick the section for your car.
What BC Racing series can I get for a Focus?
You can get BR, DS and RM for every Focus generation BC covers. The ST also has an Extreme Low kit in BR.
What does "Swift Front Only" mean on the BC kits?
BC puts it in the names of its 2000 to 2011 and RS kits. It means the optional Swift spring upgrade is offered for the front springs only on that kit. Call us and we will go over the spring setup before you order.
My RS has adjustable dampers. Does that change anything?
Öhlins sells a cancellation kit for the RS electronic damper control. Ask us whether your build needs one with the kit you choose.
Can I get Ford Focus coilovers for the wagon?
Yes, for some years. KW lists a 2000 to 2005 wagon kit, and Bilstein lists a 2000 to 2007 kit that includes the ZTW and ZXW wagons. BC Racing's early kits do not fit the wagon.
How low can a Focus ST go for daily use?
Start with a modest drop and check tire clearance at full lock. If you want more, BC lists an Extreme Low ST kit. If you are not sure, start at standard height.
What warranty comes with BC Racing coilovers?
BC Racing North America currently lists a two-year limited warranty on full kit orders, subject to its warranty terms. Each of the other brands sets its own warranty terms.
