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Coilovers

Car culture term

Coilovers
Photo: Cameron Chapman / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

What is Coilovers?

An adjustable suspension system combining the coil spring and damper into one unit, with adjustable height and damping rate.

Coilovers are an adjustable suspension system combining the coil spring and shock absorber (damper) into a single integrated unit. The system allows owners to adjust ride height (by changing spring perch position), spring rate (by replacing the coil spring), and damping rate (through external adjusters on the damper body). Coilovers replace the factory spring and damper with a more capable, adjustable alternative.

Quality coilovers offer several advantages over factory springs and dampers: adjustable height for stance or track use, stiffer spring rates for performance applications, adjustable damping for changing road and driving conditions, and longer service life. The trade-off is cost (a quality set of coilovers costs $1,500-$3,000 plus installation) and ride harshness (stiffer springs reduce comfort over rough roads).

Major coilover manufacturers include KW Suspension (German, top-tier), Ohlins (Swedish, racing-focused), Bilstein (German, often factory supplier and aftermarket), Tein (Japanese, popular for street use), HKS (Japanese, performance-focused), and Bilstein (German, mid-range). Quality varies significantly by tier; budget coilovers ($300-$800) typically have shorter life and inferior dampers.

Related terms

StanceSlammedCamber

Frequently asked questions

Are coilovers required for stance?
Not strictly. Lowering springs (without adjustable damper) can also lower a car. But coilovers provide adjustable ride height, which lets owners fine-tune the stance. They also typically include better dampers, which improve ride quality compared to lowering springs on factory dampers. Most serious stance builds use coilovers or air suspension.
How much do coilovers cost?
Budget options: $300-$800 per set (questionable quality and life). Mid-range: $1,000-$1,800 (Tein, Megan, BC Racing). Premium: $1,800-$3,500 (KW V1/V2/V3, Ohlins Road & Track, Bilstein PSS). High-end track-focused: $3,500-$8,000+ (Ohlins TTX, KW Clubsport, JRZ). Installation typically adds $500-$1,500.
Are coilovers legal for street use?
Generally yes, as long as the resulting ride height meets local minimum height laws. Coilovers themselves are legal everywhere; how the suspension is set up determines legality. Some jurisdictions also have rules about damper testing and inspection. Coilovers used at extreme low ride heights can violate state minimum bumper height laws.
What does damping adjustment do?
Damping controls how quickly the suspension recovers from compression and how much the springs are dampened during their travel. Stiffer damping reduces body roll and improves handling response but increases ride harshness over rough surfaces. Adjustable damping lets owners optimize for different scenarios (stiff for track, softer for daily driving).
How long do coilovers last?
Quality coilovers typically last 30,000-60,000 miles before requiring rebuild. Premium dampers (Ohlins, KW) can be rebuilt by the manufacturer for around $400-$800 per damper. Budget coilovers often need replacement before rebuild becomes economically viable. Spring rates can be changed without replacing the entire system.

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