There is no denying that lowered cars look much better sitting closer to the ground. That’s why dropping some springs or coilovers on a ride is one of the top mods serious enthusiasts do to transform their build. Apart from merely increasing visual appeal, lowering your vehicle can lower the center of gravity to increase stability throughout turns or during emergency maneuvers. A car sitting lower will also have less air going underneath it, which can reduce drag for better aerodynamics. There are some drawbacks to consider, though, as a possible reduction in ride quality, increase wear and tear (uneven tire wear), more bottoming out, potential handling issues, bodywork rubbing, and reduced practicality.
If you are looking to lower your car, there are only a few ways to do so: air suspension, coilovers, or lowering springs. Lowering springs, rather obviously, are just springs that provide a lower ride height and typically higher spring rates. Coilovers replace your entire factory strut and typically have height and damping adjustments.
There is a clear difference between lowering springs and coilovers, and each system has its pros and cons. So how do you know which system is right for you? We know it can be tough deciding between lowering springs vs coilovers, so we put together a short article to help you out.
Lowering Springs vs. Coilovers
Later on in the article, we will get into the specifics of what truly differentiates lowering springs from coilovers, but first, let’s zoom out and break down a few of the main differences between the two most popular ways to lower your car.
There is no universal right or wrong with aftermarket suspension. What’s best for you depends on how much you’re willing to spend and your intentions with the vehicle. Keep in mind your budget and what you will be doing with the car, i.e. car shows, track days, daily driving. After all, the definitive difference between a comfortable, good-looking daily driver or a planted racecar comes down to the suspension setup and what you want to achieve out of it.
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Lowering Springs vs. Coilovers for Street Use
If you are a driver who does not have any interest in hitting the track, a set of lowering springs should do the job, especially if you are on a budget. On the street, you do not need the level of precision and customizability you need on the track, which makes lowering springs a great affordable option. Not only that, but coilovers can get your car so low to the ground that hazards like speed bumps and uneven roads can cause you to bottom out and damage your car. It can also make simple tasks like pulling into a driveway or gas station more difficult.
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Lowering Springs vs. Coilovers for Track Use
If you are the type of driver who lives for the thrill that comes with tearing down a racetrack, you need to make sure your car is ready for any variable or condition. If you’re willing to spend a little more, a set of coilovers will offer you much greater adjustability and will be perfect for the track. When you’re driving at high speeds, you are going to need exceptional handling and control when cornering, which is what coilovers do best.
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Lowering Springs vs. Coilovers for Ride Quality
Coilovers typically offer drivers a better ride quality, as it allows you to lower your vehicle and still get the feel and handle you are used to. While lowering springs does not necessarily lead to poor ride quality, if your goal is for your car to drive as smoothly as possible, coilovers are the right choice for you.
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Lowering Springs vs. Coilovers for Price
Lowering springs offer drivers a great value, allowing you to lower your car without having to break the bank. Coilovers are typically more expensive and can be more difficult to install – though many manufacturers do ship their setups pre-assembled now with great instructions. If you are operating on a tight budget, though, lowering springs will get the job done in a simpler, quicker, and more cost-effective way.
If you are interested in learning more about the difference between coilovers vs springs, read on for in-depth analysis and more information to help guide you in your decision.
Lowering Springs
As we briefly explained above, lowering springs are designed to lower your car by using slightly smaller springs with marginally higher spring rates to compensate for the lower ride height. By using smaller springs, the entire vehicle sits lower to the ground.
All springs aren’t equal, and the saying “you get what you pay for” applies. Lowering springs are great if you’re on a strict budget and want your car to sit lower without regard to changes in damping. If you plan on racing in autocross events or track days, however, lowering springs may not be the best option.
Since many lowering springs use higher spring rates than the OEM springs, the dampers have to work extra hard to keep the car under control. This would effectively be like putting old shocks on your vehicle: you’ll experience bouncing and a significant lack of control over body movement.
Although you may not be able to tell on the road, your OEM dampers may not be able to control your car with the higher spring rates. This problem is unique per vehicle and spring, but it can occur with almost any car, especially with low-quality lowering springs that use excessively high springs.
Technically speaking, the lowering spring doesn’t have to use a higher spring than your OEM springs, however, the lower ride height means you have less suspension stroke. With less suspension stroke, you need a higher spring rate to prevent bottoming out the suspension over rough roads or large bumps.
If the dampers are not correctly valved for the spring rate and ride height, a potentially disastrous situation could arise. Dangerous situations will typically only occur with low-quality lowering springs or cut springs which push the dampers outside their ideal operating range for ride height and spring rate.
Aside from your OEM dampers working extra hard, without damping adjustment, you cannot fine-tune the handling. Lack of fine-tuning isn’t a significant issue for street usage, but if you want to go to the track and want the most out of your car, you need to make adjustments.
Some OEM dampers allow for rebound and compression adjustments, but manufacturers typically reserve adjustable dampers for very high-end cars that don’t need heavy suspension modifications in the first place.
Another problem with most lowering springs is the lack of height adjustment. Since most springs are designed to be a cheap alternative to coilovers, they’re often very basic. There are some lowering spring kits, like H&R’s VTF Adjustable Springs, which are designed to incorporate height adjustment. Kits like this allow you to have that height adjustment while still using the OEM dampers, which some people want (magnetic shocks for example).
The only applications where lowering springs may be a better performance choice than coilovers are vehicles that have electronically controlled dampers from the factory. With electronically controlled dampers, the increased spring rate isn’t much of an issue, since the damper has multiple settings which use stiffer or softer damping characteristics.
The Pros and Cons
To summarize, lowering springs offer more stability, enhanced handling, and reduced body roll when maneuvering sharp corners. Apart from being a cost-effective way of dropping your ride, they are fairly simple to install and are compatible with your vehicle’s existing parts. Simply remove the old OEM springs and replace them with your new setup. It’s important to note that lowering springs come with preset springs rates and ride height. This means that once installed, you will not be able to make any adjustments to those springs rates nor will you be able to raise or lower it after it’s set up.
Click To Shop All Lowering Springs Right Here.
Coilovers
Coilovers theoretically fix the damping problem listed above by combining a higher rate spring with a damper designed to work with that spring correctly; however, that doesn’t mean all coilovers are better than the OEM suspension.
Low-end coilovers, which are typically found on eBay or Amazon and won’t be sold by a reputable retailer, can make your car handle much worse than stock, which happens when a coilover isn’t adequately tested on and off the track.
These types of super cheap coilovers run basic spring rates which are often not ideal for the application, questionable dampening, not enough suspension stroke, and many other issues. Many super cheap coilovers are not even tested on a shock dyno to verify their ability to handle bumps.
We do not offer these kinds of coilovers, as we believe in selling parts we would put on our cars. As long as you stick with buying reputable name-brand parts, you won’t run into these issues mentioned.
Most coilovers include a way to make minor adjustments to the spring rate, and many coilovers use a system that allows ride height and spring rate to be adjusted independently of each other. Many coilovers also feature adjustable dampers which you can adjust via a rotating knob on the top of the coilover.
Some coilovers even allow you to change damping based on velocity (high-speed and low-speed damping) and rebound/compression damping separately from each other. All of this adjustability enables fine-tuning, a necessity for hardcore enthusiasts. Accidentally adjusting your suspension incorrectly is a common mistake, so taking your car to a suspension tuning expert is always a good idea.
If you plan on attending any track events, a set of coilovers is a much better purchase than lowering springs. Damping adjustment will allow you to fine-tune the handling of your car for a specific track. Plus, with dampers designed to work with higher spring rates, you are less likely to run into damper failure.
The higher spring rates will decrease total body movement which will improve predictability, driver confidence, and overall grip. That’s not to say that all body movement is a bad thing, but excessive body movement is.
The Pros and Cons
To summarize, coilovers do a lot and you will notice these updates on future drives almost immediately. Benefits of a coilover system include adjustability when it comes to the ride height, damper settings, and rebound settings. They also offer firmer spring rates than lowering springs and grant you the ability to swap to firmer or softer springs. With coilovers, you also get interchangeability of parts – meaning you can replace the dampers, springs, perches, pillow ball top mounts, and more all independently of one another. On the other side, coilovers may lead to a stiff and uncomfortable ride, and cheaping out on these setups can compromise ride quality and even safety.
Click To Shop All Coilovers Right Here.
Air Suspension
There is a third option that many enthusiasts often avoid due to cost and fears about poor handling: air suspension. Air suspension is more expensive than a good set of coilovers, but it will typically provide better quality (you are riding on air, after all). A properly designed air suspension system should theoretically handle just as well as a set of coilovers, but that will depend on the kit you purchase, your car, and other modifications you have done to the vehicle.
The main reason someone will choose air suspension over coilovers or lowering springs is ride height management. Air suspension uses bags (or an onboard electric air compressor) that can be inflated or deflated, which changes the ride right, ultimately allowing you to park at the car show and slam your car with the press of a button.
The Pros and Cons
As with any product, air suspension poses benefits and drawbacks alike. Air suspension allows you to easily clear driveways or road hindrances by airing up the bags, which gets rid of that pesky fear of speed bumps. Air suspension kits are also known to deliver smoother performance than other lowering assemblies because the air springs can absorb road energy better. Air ride kits are also fully adjustable so you can tweak the height and stiffness of the system to your exact preferences with just the push of a button. When your vehicle is lifted, the air springs support extra weight from the cargo and passenger area. This allows for your car to remain more level and reduces the risk of bottoming out, rear end sagging, and excessive tire wear. The drawbacks include the price, complicated assembly, and the fact that air suspension parts deteriorate and break down faster than others.
Click To Shop Air Suspension Products Here.
Different Types of Springs
As you may have already known, there are multiple different types of springs. At the end of the day, they’re all metal rods that have been twisted into a coil, but the tightness and pattern of the coil change how the spring reacts to suspension movement.
What you will find in the majority of OEM struts or lowering springs are “progressive” springs. Progressive springs often don’t have a fixed stiffness. As the spring becomes more compressed, the spring rate increases. The progressive nature of the spring rate means bumps that don’t cause a ton of compression can be absorbed with a low spring rate, transferring less harshness to the chassis.
In a high-performance lowering spring or coilover, you are more likely to find a “linear” spring. Linear springs do not change based on suspension movement. This means handling is much more predictable, and damper tuning is much simpler but at the cost of poor ride quality.
For street use, a progressive spring is great because it provides much better ride quality, but for those who want the best out-right performance, a linear spring is a better option.
Twin-Tube vs Monotube
Something else to consider when shopping for a set of coilovers is deciding between Twin-Tube and Monotube types. On the outside, these two types of dampers can look completely identical, but underneath there are quite a few fundamental changes that alter dampening performance.
A twin-tube design can be found on the majority of OEM shocks, low-end coilovers, and even mid-level coilovers designed for street use. It’s not a bad design by any means. Twin-tube uses an inner and outer tube. The inner tube holds the piston shaft, valve, and oil. The outer tube holds damper oil and nitrogen gas. The twin-tube design allows for more suspension stroke without increasing the height of the body, providing better ride quality.
High-performance vehicles and coilovers designed for race use often use a mono-tube design. This design holds everything in one tube and separates everything with a floating piston. Although this design is simpler than the twin-tube design, it allows for bigger and stronger parts, better heat dissipation, and quicker response.
What to Look For in an Aftermarket Coilover
Coilovers are much like the OEM strut you can find on your vehicle. The main body is a shock absorber/damper. A coil spring sits on the body of the damper, right over the shaft, with a top plate before the top mounting bolts. Compared to the old-school spring and shock package, this is much smaller. What makes a coilover so much better than the OEM strut is adjustability, weight, strength, and overall performance.
The OEM strut is typically designed to be very compliant with the road, providing excellent ride quality at the price of relatively poor handling. Most consumers would rather have ride quality over superb handling, as most consumers are not looking to push their cars to the limits on a canyon road or race track.
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Linear and Progressive Springs
Not all springs are created equal. When it comes to aftermarket coilovers, there are two types of springs you will find: linear and progressive. Many high-end coilovers you will find use linear springs, and most enthusiasts will tell you that linear springs are the way to go, but that’s not true in every case. Linear springs are great for track use, and progressive springs are great for road use, to put it simply. Many coilovers come with progressive springs, as most cars are not dedicated track cars.
What makes linear springs so good for track usage is their simplicity. One of the keys to a good track setup is having very predictable handling. It’s much easier to push hard when you know exactly what the car is going to do at every corner. With the spring rate being constant, it’s also very easy to tune the damper. Unfortunately, a linear spring is going to be much stiffer than a progressive spring, as progressive springs start soft and begin to stiffen up as the spring is compressed.
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Different Types of Dampers
Something else to consider when shopping for a set of coilovers is deciding between Twin-Tube and Monotube. On the outside, these two types of dampers can look completely identical, but underneath there are quite a few fundamental changes that alter dampening performance.
A twin-tube design can be found on the majority of OEM shocks, low-end coilovers, and even mid-level coilovers designed for street use. It’s not a bad design by any means. Twin-tube uses an inner and outer tube. The inner tube holds the piston shaft, valve, and oil.
The outer tube holds damper oil and nitrogen gas. The design allows for more suspension stroke without increasing the height of the body, providing better ride quality.
High-performance vehicles and coilovers designed for race use often use a mono-tube design. This design holds everything in one tube and separates everything with a floating piston. Although this design is simpler than the twin-tube design, it allows for bigger and stronger parts, better heat dissipation, and quicker response.
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Spring Adjustments
With the majority of aftermarket coilovers, the manufacturers determine the ideal spring rate either through testing or just estimating. The spring rate is not usually completely fixed, as there is some spring rate adjustment. This adjustment will typically come in the form of an adjustable collar that threads up or down the body and either compresses or decompressed the spring.
This adjustment affects spring pre-load which increases the amount of force needed to compress the coilovers but does not increase spring rate. Pre-load is typically used to adjust suspension sag. This is pretty easy to adjust incorrectly and makes handling worse.
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Height Adjustments
Some coilovers are not height or spring adjustable whatsoever, but that’s a very uncommon thing to find. You’ll typically either find a partially threaded coilover, which allows height adjustment at the cost of suspension travel, or a fully threaded coilover, which allows spring pre-load and ride height to be adjusted independently.
Being able to adjust ride height and spring pre-load independently allows for much greater suspension tuning, but it also increases the chances that the end-user will incorrectly adjust it. It’s best to leave this kind of stuff to the pros who know what they’re doing.
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Damper Adjustments
The next thing you will find on many aftermarket coilovers is dampening adjustment. Some only offer a few clicks’ worths of adjustment and some offer up to 32-clicks of adjustment. It should be noted that many coilovers which claim to have 32-clicks of adjustment have closer to 10-clicks of adjustment. High-quality coilovers such as Fortune Auto don’t have an insane amount of clicks, as it’s not necessary.
Some dampers allow for compression and rebound to be adjusted independently of each other. Some even offer low-speed and high-speed dampening adjustment. If you want to get the best dampening possible, it’s best to take it to the pros. Improper dampening adjustments will make your car handle very poorly.
A Summary of the Difference Between Lowering Springs and Coilovers
This article was just a brief overview, but there are a few key points to remember. Lowering springs are great if you want a cheap way to give your car a better stance, and possibly better handling. Depending on the car and spring, however, handling can be hurt by lowering springs. Coilovers are a much better option as they control your car much better and give you lots of adjustabilities.
The options available for modifying your vehicle’s suspension oftentimes can be overwhelming. The evolution of suspension has truly led to some amazing advancements when it comes to coilovers, making them a great alternative to conventional shock and spring assemblies. But there isn’t a one size fits all solution – it all comes down to how you plan to utilize the car, your budget, and your expectations. Cheaper options like lowering springs deliver similar capabilities and are still a solid choice for daily driving and light track use.
If you’re looking at purchasing some lowering springs, coilovers, or an air suspension system for your car, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can be reached by phone at 1.480.966.3040 or via email at sales@vividracing.com.
Some of our popular suspension brands:
- KW – KW Suspension is an international group of companies that specializes in innovation in suspension technology.
- KSport – KSport is the leader in aftermarket suspension, providing coilover systems and air suspension for driving enthusiasts for over 16 years.
- Tein– Tein crafts products “for your driving pleasure”, creating accessible and high-performing products to help make your time behind the wheel a pleasurable experience.
- H&R – H&R specializes in producing top-of-the-line suspension for its customers, ensuring a smooth and safe ride.
- Eibach – If you are looking for a high-quality coilover suspension, Eibach is a great place to start. They have developed a reputation as one of the coilover industry leaders.
- Moton – Moton Suspension Technology is the suspension champion, helping racers and street drivers alike improve their cars.
- AST – AST Suspension was established in 2000 to offer amazing products, constant innovation, and impeccable customer support to customers looking for a new suspension.
What would be best for a 1991 Camaro RS.
It really just depends on how you intend to use the car. If you are strictly street driving the vehicle and want a lower stance you can go with lowering springs. If you plan on taking the vehicle to the track it would be recommended to spend the extra cash and run coilovers for the height and damping adjustability. If you are building a show car or want to have on the fly height adjustment, it is recommended to use air suspension. Hope this helps out in your decision!