The Difference Between Lowering Springs and Coilover Suspension
3 Answers
The differences between lowering springs and coilover suspension are as follows: 1. Price Difference: The advantage of lowering springs lies in their more affordable price, while coilover suspension is relatively expensive, making it suitable for owners with higher budgets. 2. Usage Characteristics: Lowering springs are non-adjustable, making it difficult to achieve a good balance between daily driving and performance. Importantly, modifying with lowering springs requires matching them with corresponding shock absorbers. On the other hand, coilover suspension allows adjustment of both spring height and suspension stiffness as well as damping speed, offering higher playability and practicality, making it suitable for both daily driving and performance.
The main differences between lowering springs and coilovers lie in the modification depth and functionality. Lowering springs simply involve replacing the stock springs with shorter ones to directly reduce the ride height, giving the car a lower and more aggressive stance. The installation process is relatively easy—just remove the original springs and install the new ones—and it's affordable, costing just a few thousand yuan. However, they don't allow height adjustment and may shorten the lifespan of the stock dampers, leading to increased harshness over time. Coilovers are much more complex, featuring an integrated spring and damper structure that allows adjustments not only in height but also in damping stiffness—for example, firming up for better track handling or softening for daily comfort. However, coilovers are more expensive and require professional tuning after installation. Personally, I tried lowering springs for my mod—they're cost-effective and deliver quick results—but coilovers are more practical for performance tuning.
From a maintenance perspective, lowering springs are just a simple solution to reduce ride height. You disassemble the shock absorbers, replace only the spring part, and the car body becomes lower. The installation time is short and the cost is low, making it suitable for enthusiasts who only want to modify the appearance. However, the disadvantages are obvious: they are not adjustable and may cause premature damage to the shock absorbers. Coilover suspensions involve replacing the entire shock absorber, offering a wide range of height adjustability, with springs and shock absorbers designed to match well, improving handling stability. However, coilovers take more time to install, require professional tools for adjustment, and are significantly more expensive. In daily car repairs, we see more people installing lowering springs, but those pursuing performance are recommended to go for coilovers. Considering budget and needs, lowering springs are more beginner-friendly.
