Stepwise Guide To Lower Your Car, Pros And Cons, Cost

Lowering your car’s suspension system not only makes it more appealing but also improves the ride quality and handling of the vehicle. The factory suspension setup by the manufacturer is designed to offer more comfort to your ride, but if you drive a sports car or want to steer at high speeds, it should have a lower suspension height and a low center of gravity. Although, lowering your suspension makes your vehicle stiffer against road irregularities, but offers more stability while turning by reducing body roll and vibrations.

You can lower your car’s suspension in several ways depending on whether you prefer the sporty look of a slightly lower stance or a more dramatic drop in height. Different methods can be used for lowering your car suspension, and each method has its pros and cons. Some of them are as follows:

Altering the springs of a suspension is a common practice amongst tuners for lowering a vehicle. One way of lowering your car’s suspension is to adjust or replace the springs with shorter ones. This is a cheaper and more economical way of lowering your car’s suspension. Meanwhile, shortening the springs by just cutting or reducing them is an illegal process and compromises your and your vehicle's safety. It is always advised to either avoid shortening the springs or consult an expert before shortening them.

1. Altering Your Vehicle's Leaf Springs

The leaf springs are a type of vehicle suspension that consists of a stack of slightly curved, narrow plates of equal width and varying length clamped together, with the shorter plates in the center to form a semi-elliptical shape. Here are different techniques that are used to alter the height of a vehicle with leaf springs.

• Remove the leaf springs and have them de-arched.
• Reverse the leaf spring setup from overhung to underhung by placing the axle on top of the leaf spring, using a flip kit.
• Installing lowering blocks on an underhung leaf spring setup. They come in different heights and allow the vehicle to drop extremely low.

2. Altering Your Vehicle's Coil Springs

Coil springs can be found on a car's front and rear suspension. You can remove the stock coil springs and replace them with shorter springs, or take your springs to a spring shop and have the coils softened and shortened. You can also cut the coils yourself using a hand grinder, cutting wheel, or torch. Altering your coil springs can make your vehicle sit lower but also reduce the quality and ride comfort. Doing so can also jeopardize the suspension’s operation and the vehicle’s safety. Therefore, it is recommended to install genuine and trusted coil spring lowering kits.



Many manufacturers offer custom-made, pre-tuned complete suspension systems with the goal of providing a sporty look and setup without sacrificing comfort or handling. These usually include four shortened shock absorbers and correspondingly tuned lowering springs. You can install these suspensions by yourself if you have the required skills and tools for the job.

Coilovers or screw suspensions are performance suspension parts that combine the shock absorber and coil spring in a single assembly. The Coilover body is threaded, and the bottom of the coil rides in a pocket that can be adjusted up or down to raise or lower your vehicle. Coilover allows individual adjustment of the ground clearance. This is done using a screw thread on the suspension strut. A car with a Coilover suspension can be raised or lowered quickly without using any tools and also offers manual damping force regulation.

An air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an electric or engine-driven air pump or compressor. This compressor pumps the air into a flexible bellow that is usually made from textile-reinforced rubber. The air pressure inflates the bellows and raises the chassis from the axle.

Installing air springs not only costs more but also requires a lot of expertise during installation. This method of lowering your car requires the installation of lines for the air and air compressors, an air reservoir tank, a system activation switch, an internal control system, hydraulic pumps, and batteries. This makes the system complicated and costlier.

A torsion bar suspension or a torsion spring suspension uses a torsion bar as its main weight-bearing spring. Torsion bars are rare on vehicles today and comprise a spring steel bar that's used in place of a coil or leaf spring. The torsion bar comprises a key that can lower and raise the height of the vehicle. This is a relatively easy method to lower your car’s suspension and can be done at home using a wrench.

Finally, replacing factory wheels with smaller wheels and tires is the easiest and most common way to lower your vehicle. You can even trade your old tires and wheels for the new, smaller ones.

Most cars can be lowered up to 2 inches. Beyond that, changes in your vehicle’s height can affect the ride quality, cause excessive tire wear, and increase the risk of bottoming. Ground clearance is the distance between the ground and the lowest part of the vehicle, except for the tires. A high ground clearance protects the vehicle's underbody from scratching and hitting obstacles. Although lowering your car’s suspension increases the risk of damage to the undercarriage, it lowers the center of gravity, which makes the car more stable on turns and improves its handling.

A vehicle's ground clearance very much depends upon the design and type of vehicle, the terrain or roads for which the vehicle is designed, and the comfort it offers. Generally, most sedan vehicles have an average ground clearance between 4-6 inches, whereas SUVs average between 6-8 inches. It is always advised that you must consider these ranges, vehicle use, and road conditions in your area before lowering your vehicle.

Vehicles with MacPherson struts use coil springs that can be replaced with shorter ones to lower the vehicle. Replacing your complete strut assembly is an easy task, but to replace the coil springs, you have to disassemble the complete assembly, and that requires expertise. If you wish to lower the car yourself, you can refer to the steps mentioned below:

Tools Required:

• Jack

• Jack Stands

• Set of New Lowering Springs

• Wrenches

• Socket set

• Torque Wrench

• Rust Loosening Spray or WD-40

• Wheel Chocks

• Coil Spring Compressor

Step1: Raise The Front Of Your Vehicle

Loosen the lug nuts on your wheels and raise the front of the vehicle off the ground, and secure it on the jack stands. To ensure safety, engage the parking brakes and place the wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.

Step2: Remove The Front Wheels

Remove the lug nuts using a lug wrench and remove the front wheels. Place a jack under the lower control arm and jack it up enough to take some pressure off the suspension.

Step 3: Remove The Strut Assembly

Remove the upper and lower shock absorber mounting bolts using a socket or wrench. Access the top bolts from under the hood. If the bolt is stuck due to rust, use rust-loosening spray or WD-40 and tap it gently with a hammer to remove it. Once all the bolts are removed, pull out the strut assembly.

Step 4: Remove The Coil Spring From The Strut

Compress the coil spring using a coil spring compressor until it is compressed enough to release the tension of the upper strut mount. Remove the top nut holding the strut mount and remove the top mount. Slowly release the coil spring to ensure safety and remove the coil spring.

Step 5: Install The New Coil Spring The Strut

Install the new lowered spring to the strut and ensure that it is properly seated on the strut assembly. Always replace any rubber spring seats if they are included as part of your kit.

Step 6: Reinstall The Upper Strut Mount

Reinstall the upper strut mount onto the spring assembly. Compress the spring to the level you want to lower your vehicle and install the upper strut mount. Tighten the nut, turn it into a few threads by hand, and then tighten it using a torque wrench to the desired tension.

Step 7: Reinstall The Strut Assembly Back Onto Your Vehicle

Once the strut assembly has been reassembled with the new lowering spring, put the strut assembly back onto the vehicle in the reverse order of the removal procedure.

Step 8: Reinstall The Wheel Back And Repeat

Reinstall the wheel back onto the hub and hand tighten the lug nuts. Lower the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts using a lug wrench. Repeat the steps for the other side and the rear if there are struts at the rear.

Step 9: Replace The Rear Coil Springs

Once the front springs have been replaced, proceed to replace the rear coil springs using the same procedure.

Many vehicles, such as trucks and older vehicles, use leaf spring suspensions instead of coil spring suspensions. Leaf spring suspension uses long metal leaf springs secured to the axle via U-bolts. Lowering a leaf spring suspension is a simple task and can be done using basic hand tools and a universal lowering kit.

Tools Required

• Jack

• Jack Stands

• Wrenches

• Socket set

• Torque Wrench

• Rust Loosening Spray or WD-40

• Wheel Chocks

• Universal Lowering Block Kit

Step1: Raise The Vehicle

Raise the vehicle and install the jack stands. To ensure safety, install the tire chocks to prevent the vehicle from rolling.

Step 2: Locate The U-Bolts And Uninstall

Locate the U-shaped bolts holding the leaf springs to the axle. Uninstall them and free the leaf spring from the axle. Use rust-loosening spray or WD-40 to free the nuts if they are rusted or jammed.

Step 3: Raise The Axle 

Raise the axle by placing a jack under it and lifting it to the desired height to fit the lowering kit block between the leaf spring and the axle. This step is done on vehicles with an under-slung axle leaf spring arrangement. Vehicles with over-slung leaf springs are discussed below.

Step 4: Reinstall The U-Bolts

Place the lowering block between the leaf spring and the axle and reinstall the U-bolts. Purchase new extended U-bolts in case the older ones aren’t long enough to adjust the lowering block. Install the bolts and tighten the nuts using a torque wrench.

Step 5: Flipping The Over Slung Leaf Spring

Flipping the axle is the quickest and easiest way to change an over slung axle to an underslung configuration. Vehicles with over slung leaf springs have leaf springs sitting on top of the axle. A "flip kit" will allow you to relocate the axle so that it sits on top of the leaf spring. This is the easiest way of lowering your suspension, which gives you 4 to 7 inches of drop in height. 

1. Remove the U-bolts holding the suspension to the axle.

2. Remove the leaf springs from the vehicle body by unscrewing the eye bolts that connect the spring to the vehicle body.

3. Lift the axle using a jack and place the leaf spring under the axle. Lower the vehicle body and attach the spring to the vehicle body. Replace the bolts and tighten them using a torque wrench.

4. Reinstall the U-bolts and tighten the nuts. Reinstall the wheels and ensure everything is in place.

Step 6: Reversing The Shackles

A shackle connects the leaf spring with the vehicle's body or frame. Flipping the shackle or reversing its fitment can be used both for lowering and lifting the vehicle. Remove the eye bolt that connects the suspension with the shackle and remove the shackle from its position. Reinstall the shackle by reversing its orientation. You might have to drill new holes to install the shackles perfectly. Ensure the angle of the connection while installing the leaf spring back on the shackle. The angle of the shackle should be 90 degrees with respect to the line drawn from one eye to another eye of the leaf spring.

Step 7: Repeat The Steps For Other Wheels

Once the leaf spring is lowered on one side, install the wheel and repeat the same steps on the other side.

The cost of lowering a suspension varies depending on the method and the process. The cost of lowered springs can range from $200 to $400 depending upon your vehicle’s make and model. Shortened standard shock absorbers with lowering springs can cost $400 to $800, whereas coilovers with an adjustable lowering costs between $800 and $2000. Furthermore, other costs like installation cost can also add up to the final bill, raising the price by $150 to $500. If you have performed suspension maintenance on your vehicle, it is recommended to get your wheels aligned, costing $100 to $150. 

Lowering a car's suspension is a lot more than just a cosmetic change. It affects the vehicle's handling. It is necessary to understand the pros and cons of lowering your vehicle so you can make an informed decision.

Pros Of Lowering A Vehicle

1. Lower Center Of Gravity

Lowering your car’s suspension also lowers its center of gravity, which results in better stability through turns. This reduces the rollover risks while taking turns at high speeds.

2. Improved Aerodynamics

A vehicle with a lower ground clearance reduces the amount of drag imposed because less air goes underneath the car. This reduces the lift, improving the aerodynamics of the vehicle and its handling.

3. Improved Handling.

A lowered vehicle handles better and sits flatter during turns. A vehicle that sits closer to the ground has reduced body roll and improved steering. Furthermore, installing stiffer springs on a lowered car decreases weight transfer while accelerating and braking. This allows you to enjoy faster acceleration and quick stops.

4. Increased Visual Appeal

Lowering your vehicle’s suspension makes it look more impressive as well. It adds a great deal of visual appeal to your vehicle. The lowered vehicle gives a more aggressive and performance-oriented look that stands out in the crowd.

5. Improved Traction

Lower centre of gravity also improves the traction and stability of your vehicle. Improved traction reduces the risk of skidding or losing your grip on the road.

6. Better Fuel Economy

Lowering your vehicle reduces the air drag and improves the traction of your tires. Reduced drag and improved traction mean less energy is consumed to power the vehicle. Ultimately, improving the fuel economy of your vehicle.

Cons Of Lowering A Vehicle

1. Reduction In Ride Quality

Every vehicle’s suspension has its own quality. Changing the stock suspension can affect your vehicle’s ride quality. The car will be more jiggly and you’ll notice new bumps in the road, which previously would have been ironed out by your standard suspension doing its job correctly.

2. Increased Wear And Tear

Lowered suspension inherently has less travel, which means your car will hit harder and slam into potholes or other road imperfections. This increases the chances of damaging your wheels and increases wear on other suspension components. The increased wear and tear also applies to your car’s interior, which will create an ever-increasing amount of rattles and creaking noises over time.

3. Potential Handling Problems

Lowering a car’s suspensions can improve handling, but only if the road is perfectly smooth. On roads with imperfections, you might end up cornering slower as the car hits harder and skips across bumps. It’s the suspension's job to keep the tires in contact with the road at all times, and lowered suspensions are not ideal in such a situation.

4. Uneven Tire Wear

Altering your vehicle’s suspension can affect your vehicle’s wheel alignment as well, causing your tires to get damaged unevenly and develop extreme wear patterns. After lowering your car’s suspension, it is necessary to get your wheels aligned.

5. Vehicle Scraping and Bottoming Out

Driving on unpaved or bad roads with a lowered vehicle could be a nightmare for you. The lower ground clearance can cause your vehicle to scrape or bottom out at the vehicle floor. 

6. Jacking and Towing Your Car Becomes More Difficult

A standard car jack is built for a car with a standard level of ground clearance. After lowering your car’s suspension, there’s a chance that you won’t be able to get your trusty jack under your vehicle. In addition to this, you’ll also have trouble towing it, as a standard towing hook won’t work. If your car is getting towed on a flatbed truck, then you could have some issues getting it up the ramp.

1. For high performance, you may need to lower your vehicle a lot less than you think. You can even make your suspension worse if you know little about suspension and how it works. To be sure that components like struts and springs can do the work of keeping tires at the right angles, get help from experts.

2. Don’t cut corners when it comes to shocks, struts, or other components. You’re making changes to the structure and balance of your vehicle and you don’t want to risk failing parts.

3. If you modify your vehicle in ways that aren’t road legal, you can lose your warranty and insurance coverage for your vehicle. Talk to your dealer and insurance agent before customizing your ride.

4. Take care while you get accustomed to how your new setup performs. The stiffer suspension won’t absorb the road shocks well and cause your vehicle to steer differently. A sudden hard brake or tight turn on a bumpy road could cause a loss of traction.

5. Every time you change your vehicle’s stock suspension, you should be sure that you’re not creating a setup that is unsafe or is going to cause problems with other car functions. Like with many aftermarket customizations, it’s about finding the right balance of safety, performance, looks, cost, and drivability.