Updated August 2025 by the SLR Speed team
Introduction: Why This Guide Matters
When it comes to car suspension upgrades, coilovers are one of the most searched and misunderstood components. Whether you're building a track monster, a drift missile, or just want better ride quality and handling, this guide will break down how coilovers stack up against other suspension systems — including lowering springs, air suspension, OEM setups, and more.
Already read our Ultimate Guide to Coilover Suspension? This post dives even deeper and serves as a supplementary SEO pillar to help you understand, compare, and choose the perfect setup.
What Are Coilovers? A Quick Refresher
Coilovers — short for “coil spring over shock” — are an integrated suspension solution where the coil spring wraps around and mounts directly to the shock absorber. This design allows for independent ride height and damping adjustment, making them far more versatile than OEM shocks or lowering springs.
Most performance coilovers allow adjustments in:
- Ride height (via threaded collars or spring perches)
- Rebound and compression damping (single, double, or triple adjustable)
- Preload and spring rate selection
- Camber/caster (when paired with adjustable top mounts)
TL;DR: Coilovers give you control. Whether that’s for looks, lap times, or lateral Gs — they’re your best tuning tool.
Coilovers vs Lowering Springs
Ride Height Control
Lowering springs are a fixed drop. You install them, and that's it. With coilovers, you can fine-tune ride height down to the millimeter, even corner balance for precise track setups.
Handling & Performance
Springs alone can ruin your damping curve, causing bottoming out, bounce, and understeer. Coilovers offer matched spring/shock valving designed to maximize grip and predictability.
Winner: Coilovers
Lowering springs are for budget builds or simple drop aesthetics. Coilovers are for drivers.
Coilovers vs OEM Suspension
Most factory suspensions are soft, under-damped, and not made for aggressive driving. They sacrifice control for comfort — great for commuting, but terrible for pushing the limit.
- Factory setups often use twin-tube shocks with minimal rebound control
- Body roll, brake dive, and wheel hop are common
- Not made to withstand track-level lateral forces
Upgrading to coilovers on your BMW, Nissan, Toyota, or Miata is one of the single best modifications you can make for real-world performance.
Coilovers vs Air Suspension
Air suspension has its place — especially in show builds or luxury cruisers — but coilovers win when performance is the priority.
Why Coilovers Are Better for Performance:
- Less complexity, more reliability
- No airlines, compressors, or digital modules to fail
- Sharper response and more predictable rebound/compression curves
Air ride can feel “floaty” and delayed — not what you want when bombing corners at 100mph or sliding into a clipping point.
How to Choose the Right Coilover Setup
Choosing a coilover isn't just about the brand. You need to understand your goals and driving environment.
1. What’s Your Application?
- Daily Driver: Prioritize comfort + height adjustment. Look for street-valved coilovers.
- Track Day: Look for digressive valving, linear springs, and camber plates.
- Drift Car: You want soft rear springs, stiff fronts, and rebound bias for weight transfer.
- Stance / Show: Threaded body coilovers let you slam the car without bottoming out.
2. Damping Adjustment Levels
- Single Adjustable: One knob controls both rebound and compression
- Double Adjustable: Separate knobs for rebound and compression — track-focused
- Triple Adjustable: Adds low-speed/high-speed compression tuning
3. Spring Rates & Valving
Spring rate matters — but only if the damper matches. This is why SLR Speed offers matched coilover packages that are tested in real-world conditions, not just spec-sheet engineering.
Best Practices: Installing and Maintaining Coilovers
Correct Install Tips:
- Torque all top mount and lower hardware to spec
- Check preload is zero (spring just touching perch)
- Adjust ride height with weight on all four corners
- Get an alignment after every height/camber change
Coilover Maintenance Tips:
- Use anti-seize on threads to prevent corrosion
- Rinse salt/dirt off after winter use
- Grease pillowball bearings regularly
- Rebuild or revalve shocks every 1–2 years if tracked heavily
Do Coilovers Make a Big Difference?
Yes. A well-set-up coilover suspension system is the single most effective way to transform your car’s handling. Whether it’s lap times, driver confidence, or even tire wear — they make the difference between sliding and flying.
"A car with good suspension geometry and well-matched coilovers will feel 100hp faster than it is." – Every driver, ever
Still Have Questions?
We cover all of this and more in our original article: What Are Coilovers: The Ultimate Guide. Bookmark it, share it, and refer to it when tuning your suspension setup.
And if you're building a drift car, time attack setup, or aggressive street build — SLR Speed coilovers are built with real-world testing, not just theory. We offer custom valving, spring rates, and full support.
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