Lowering springs also change the geometry of your wheel/tire fitment. If it’s not done right, you can expect both accelerated and uneven tire wear. Your car could also bottom out over speed bumps and be even tougher to get up inclines, like your driveway, without scraping your bumper.
The length of the shock absorber plays no part in the lowering of the car – it all comes down to the size of the spring, but for optimum steering, braking and handling response and smooth ride control, the shock absorber must compliment the design of the spring.
Can you lower a car by just changing the springs?
Cutting the springs on a vehicle will put too much stress on the shocks, which can cause the shocks to break. Spring compressors will lower your vehicle, but if the spring compresses too much, the compressors will fall off. If you’re going to lower your vehicle, do it right, and buy a new set of springs and struts.
Lowering springs typically are not only shorter in overall height than the factory springs, but also built to be stiffer to help further decrease unwanted body motions.
Do lowering springs ruin ride quality? – Related Questions
Are Lowering springs good for daily driving?
Perfect for your daily driver. You can jump straight to adjustable coilovers if you want to and have the cash, but for many people springs are an affordable and safe option that will get the job done without much complexity at all.
Is it OK to put lowering springs on stock shocks?
Using stock shocks can make the ride bouncy
Since the factory shock absorbers aren’t valved to match the increased aftermarket spring’s rate, they won’t be able to dampen the motion of the spring properly. Additionally, installing a set of lowering springs on stock shock absorbers can also lead to premature wear.
Are soft or stiff springs better?
A softer suspension will offer more mechanical grip as it will do a better job of keeping the tires on the ground vs a stiff suspension when it comes to depressions, bumps, and surface irregularities in the road.
Are shorter springs stiffer?
Therefore, the important takeaway for the question is shorter springs are stiffer. A single spring of spring constant k is equivalent to two springs of spring constant 2k in series. So, cutting a spring in half will double the spring constant.
Do stiffer springs reduce body roll?
By lowering the car, using stiffer springs/bars, significantly stiffer shocks, etc, Street Touring vehicles reduce (and slow down) roll, thereby greatly reduce roll inertia, and as a result change direction very quickly.
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.
How much should you spend on lowering springs?
Lowering spring kits go for anywhere between $100 and $700. A professional installation may cost an additional $200 to $800. If your vehicle needs a spring compressor to install lowering springs, it’s much safer to bring it to a trusted auto shop.
How long do Lowering springs last?
Springs should last the life of the vehicle. Shocks/Struts will prematurely fail when used with lowering springs and should be your main concern. How long stock Shocks/Struts will last is dependent on driving style and environment – no one can give you a clear answer.
Which shocks are best for lowering springs?
The following shocks are the only shocks we recommend for use with lowered suspensions:
Bilstein B8 Sport.
Koni Sport Adjustable (Yellow)
Koni STR. T (Orange)
KYB AGX Adjustable.
What are the 4 types of suspension springs?
It’s worth noting that there are different types of springs found within suspensions. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with these four classes of springs—coil springs, leaf springs, coil over springs, and lowering springs.
Do I need anything else with lowering springs?
Lowering Springs are one of the cheapest and simplest ways to lower your car. We often talk about them as being the first step when you’re looking at the handling of your vehicle. This is because you can fit most lowering springs as a standalone upgrade, touching nothing else on the car.
Jack up the rear of the car and put it on car stands.
Remove the rear wheels.
Remove the shock nuts and bolts. (You can locate them by referring to the owner’s manual.)
Remove the springs.
Install the new lowering springs.
Replace the shock nuts and bolts.
Replace the rear tires [source: Do It Yourself].
What are the cons of lowering springs?
Pluses and Minuses of Lowering Suspension
PROS
CONS
More road feel
Reduced ride comfort
Stiffer ride
Impractical for rough roads
Less roll when cornering
Accelerated or uneven tire wear
Better handling
Chance of bottoming out
What do I need to buy with lowering springs?
Tools To Install Lowering Springs
Basic hand tools, including screwdrivers, pry bars, metric and fractional wrenches, metric and fractional sockets, ratchets, and extensions.
Impact wrench, either electric or pneumatic.
Floor jack and jack stands.
Spring compressors.
What do I need to know before lowering my car?
How many inches should I lower my car?
A good rule of thumb is that most cars can be lowered about 1.5 inches without complications. Beyond that, changes in a severely lowered car’s suspension may negatively affect ride quality, tire wear and increase the risk of “bottoming.”