Why Lower Your Car?

Lowering your vehicle is one of the most common modifications in the car world. Beyond the aesthetic appeal — tighter wheel gap, aggressive stance — lowering your car has direct effects on handling performance. It reduces your center of gravity, which means less body roll in corners, sharper turn-in response, and better aerodynamics.

But how you lower your car makes a big difference in overall ride quality, adjustability, and long-term durability.

What Are Lowering Springs?

Lowering springs are replacement coil springs designed to fit on your factory struts and shocks. They’re wound shorter than OEM springs, which gives you that “dropped” look. Most also feature slightly stiffer spring rates to reduce body roll and make the car feel tighter in turns.

Pros of Lowering Springs:

• ✅ Affordable – Springs are the budget-friendly way to lower your car, often costing a fraction of the price of coilovers.

• ✅ Simple Installation – They reuse your OEM shocks and can often be installed without major adjustments.

• ✅ Maintain Comfort – Most high-quality springs maintain near-stock comfort while reducing ride height.

Cons of Lowering Springs:

• ❌ Fixed Drop – Once installed, your ride height is permanent. If you go too low, you’re stuck with it.

• ❌ Mismatch With OEM Shocks – Over time, stiffer springs on soft factory dampers can wear out the struts prematurely.

• ❌ Limited Performance Gains – They help handling modestly but don’t offer fine-tuning or adjustability for serious performance driving.

Best For:

• Daily drivers

• Budget-conscious builds

• Mild aesthetic and handling upgrades

What Are Coilovers?

Coilovers are a full suspension replacement that combines a spring and shock into a single, adjustable unit. Most coilovers allow you to fine-tune ride height and damping, and higher-end versions also offer rebound/compression settings, camber plates, and preload adjustment.

Pros of Coilovers:

• ✅ Height Adjustability – Raise or lower your car exactly how you want — great for dialing in fitment or adjusting for different wheels/tires.

• ✅ Damping Control – Most coilovers offer clicker knobs for adjusting ride firmness, allowing you to switch between comfort and performance.

• ✅ Performance Handling – Ideal for spirited driving, autocross, and track use due to enhanced stability and control.

• ✅ Better Load Matching – Spring and damper are matched for balanced behavior under load, improving response and predictability.

Cons of Coilovers:

• ❌ Cost – A proper set of coilovers is an investment, especially if you want high-end brands with full adjustability.

• ❌ Maintenance – Cheap coilovers can squeak, rust, or wear quickly. Even quality sets need occasional cleaning or re-greasing.

• ❌ Can Ride Harsh – If not adjusted correctly, they can feel bouncy or overly stiff on daily drives.

Best For:

• Enthusiasts chasing max performance

• Show builds or aggressive fitment

• Adjustable ride quality for daily/track use

Daily Driver or Track Car – Which Setup Wins?

There’s no one-size-fits-all. It depends on your goals:

Choose Lowering Springs if:

• You want a mild drop for looks

• You prioritize comfort and reliability

• You’re not interested in frequent adjustments

• Your budget is under $500–$700 installed

Choose Coilovers if:

• You want to dial in stance, height, and performance

• You plan to take the car to the track, canyon roads, or autocross

• You need future flexibility for different wheel/tire setups

• Your budget allows $1,000–$2,000+ for quality options

What About Spring + Shock Combos?

Some customers opt for a “middle ground” by pairing lowering springs with performance shocks (like Koni or Bilstein). This setup improves dampening, keeps decent ride quality, and avoids full coilover pricing. However, it still lacks the full adjustability that coilovers offer.

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Popular Brands We Trust and Recommend

When it comes to suspension, not all parts are created equal. At 5ive Performance, we’ve worked with a wide range of suspension setups — and these are some of the brands we consistently recommend based on quality, adjustability, and long-term performance:

KW Suspension (V1, V2, V3 Coilovers)

KW is one of the most respected names in the coilover world. Known for German engineering, their coilovers are built for both performance and comfort, with excellent corrosion resistance and smooth adjustability.

• V1: Fixed damping, ideal for street use with quality ride feel

• V2: Height + rebound adjustable for fine-tuning ride dynamics

• V3: Full height, rebound, and compression adjustability for serious enthusiasts or occasional track use

Why we like them: KW coilovers are known for long-term durability and consistent performance across all driving conditions. If you want premium, KW is the move.

Eibach Pro-Kit and Sportline Lowering Springs

Eibach is the go-to brand for high-quality lowering springs. Their springs are designed to maintain ride quality while improving handling — perfect for daily drivers or entry-level builds.

• Pro-Kit: Mild drop with improved cornering and OEM comfort

• Sportline: More aggressive drop for a lower center of gravity and enhanced looks

Why we like them: They’re engineered to work well with OEM dampers and don’t “slam” the ride harshly like budget spring options.

H&R Springs and Coilovers

H&R offers both performance springs and coilover systems, made in Germany with a reputation for reliability.

• Lowering Springs: Provide a slightly firmer ride with noticeable drop and better stance

• Street Performance Coilovers: Height-adjustable kits with comfortable yet sporty ride feel

Why we like them: H&R springs have a “sporty OEM+” feel — not too aggressive but still fun in the corners. Perfect for European car platforms like BMW and Audi, but available for many other makes.

HKS Hipermax Adjustable Springs and Coilovers

HKS is a major name in the JDM performance world. Their Hipermax line includes both height-adjustable spring kits and full coilover systems with superb track-to-street balance.

• HKS Adjustable Springs: For newer performance platforms like the A90 Supra and FL5 CTR, these provide ride height adjustability without changing the OEM damper

• Hipermax Coilovers: Known for smooth ride quality, solid damping control, and track-proven performance

Why we like them: HKS balances comfort and performance better than most. Their adjustable spring kits are a great option for new cars still under warranty or lease.

Our Take

At 5ive Performance, we’ve installed everything from basic lowering springs on daily-driven Civics to full coilover systems on track-built Supras and FK8s. We always recommend:

• Springs for customers who want a clean drop without much fuss

• Coilovers for anyone who values adjustability or pushes their car beyond daily driving

Still unsure what’s right for your build? Bring your car by, and we’ll go over your goals, budget, and driving habits to recommend the perfect suspension setup.