how to lower a stock suspension

Stock suspension can be lowered through various methods available today. Depending on the type of stock suspension you have, you can either use a lowering spring or a lowering block kit. If your suspension uses a stock coil spring, you should consider a lowering spring.

Full Answer

How do you lower a car’s suspension?

While there are several methods to lower a vehicle’s suspension, the two most common ones are using a replacement spring kit for models with coil spring suspension and using a lowering kit with blocks for vehicles that employ leaf spring suspension.

How do you adjust the knuckles on a stock suspension?

Stock knuckles/spindles usually have the hub axle centered vertically in the knuckle. Moving the hub axle up towards the upper ball joint pulls the body down and keeps the suspension angles stock. When working with coil springs, always use the proper tools and equipment such as this coil spring compressor.

How to lower a vehicle with leaf spring suspension?

Lowering vehicles with leaf spring suspensions is usually a very simple matter, requiring only basic hand tools, and a universal lowering kit, which can be purchased at most automotive parts stores. Step 1: Raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle and place a jack stand under the frame, nearest to the side of the vehicle you will first be working on.

How to lower a coil spring suspension using lowering springs?

Method 1 of 2: Lower a coil spring suspension using lowering springs 1 Air compressor , or other source of compressed air 2 Air impact gun 3 Basic set of hand tools 4 Jack and jack stands 5 Set of new lowering springs 6 Socket set 7 Strut spring compressor 8 Wood blocks or tire chocks

How can I lower my front suspension?

0:3912:09How to Lower your car with Coilovers - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI like to slide a wheel underneath the frame of the car just in case and you want to come over hereMoreI like to slide a wheel underneath the frame of the car just in case and you want to come over here and just give the car a good solid shake to make sure it feels stable everything's.

How do I make my stock suspension softer?

Thankfully with these tips, you can adjust the suspension to enjoy your ride a bit more:Start by installing softer shocks and struts.If you have adjustable shocks, adjust them to a softer setting.Install softer springs.Replace the bushings in the suspension.Replace the sway bars with smaller bars.

How do I lower my truck suspension?

An aftermarket set of coil springs is a great way to lower your truck's suspension as much as two inches. Some trucks use coils at the rear, so look for a complete kit from the same manufacturer. The best choice is to use progressive-rate springs made from high-quality steel, to avoid spring sag over time.

Is it OK to put lowering springs on stock shocks?

0:537:16Can You Use Stock Shocks With Lowering Springs? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow a lowering spring is going to be shorter than a factory spring. And this is what actually lowersMoreNow a lowering spring is going to be shorter than a factory spring. And this is what actually lowers the car now in most. Cases. This difference isn't going to stop you from physically pairing a

Which is better soft or stiff suspension?

The purpose of a suspension is to keep your tires on the ground. 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.

Why do I feel every bump in my truck?

Feeling every bump If you start to feel every bump on the road, it's a clear sign that there is a problem with your shock absorbers or struts, that needs to be checked. An easy check is the bounce test. Simply push your entire weight down on your car's bonnet. Release and count the number of times the car bounces.

How much does it cost to lower suspension on a truck?

This is the most expensive option to lower your vehicle's suspension. The most affordable hydraulic suspension kits cost around $1,300, while the high-end ones can exceed $10,000. Professional installation adds anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000.

Can you lower a suspension lift?

You just need to remove the leveling kit, easy peasy. This does not apply to “Level-Lifts” or any other kit which includes drop crossmembers. BUT! In many cases, if you have a 6” lift installed, you can go down to a 4' OR, upgrade to a different lift kit/coilover conversion, OR go even larger!

How can I lower the height of my truck?

To help explain the differences, we have gathered a list of all the available options.Lowering Springs. Back in the day, customizers would cut or heat up springs to lower vehicles. ... Drop Spindles. ... Torsion Bars. ... Suspension Arms. ... Leaf Springs and Shackles. ... Rear Flip Kits. ... Coil-overs. ... Full Chassis Replacement.

Will lowering springs ruin my suspension?

Poorly done or extreme lowering can cause suspension and steering parts to contact each other, the wheels or the tires. It could also cause tires to rub the body during turns or going over bumps.

Can you cut stock springs to lower your car?

You can lower your car by cutting the coil springs that are compressed in the strut above the car's tires. A professional mechanic often carries out the process of cutting a car's coil springs and lowering the vehicle. With a few tools, such as a coil compressor and angle grinder, you can cut the coil springs yourself.

How long will stock struts last with lowering springs?

Most shock manufacturers suggest replacing them at like 80k km's (50k miles), so it's no shock that if they're at double that they'll blow easily. If installed correctly, you should have no issues with yours.

What makes Switch Suspension different from other online retailers?

Well let’s start with the obvious one: We have a physical location in Mesa, AZ that you can come down and visit during regular hours. It’s not only...

Do you sell lift kits or just lowering kits?

Yes. OK, that’s a flippant answer, so let’s set the record straight. We sell air suspension kits, lift kits, lowering kits — if it’s a suspension-r...

Do you install air suspension kits?

Sure do. Matter of fact, it’s something that you’ll see pretty regularly if you come down to visit our retail and installation location in Mesa, AZ...

What kind of car or truck can I bag?

Most of them, really. In fact, you don’t have to limit it to traditional vehicles. We’ve seen airbagged golf carts, wheelchairs and all sorts of ot...

Do you do installations?

Absolutely. Although we’re primarily an online and retail establishment, we have a complete installation center to do whatever you need. For exampl...

What is lowering a vehicle suspension?

Lowering a vehicle’s suspension is one of the most common modifications done today, and doing so can not only add visual appeal , but may even have performance benefits, if done correctly. While lowering a vehicle is a pretty straightforward job, it may require the use of special tools. If you do not feel comfortable taking on such a task, ...

What to do if you feel something is wrong with your suspension?

If you feel like there is something wrong with the suspension after you lower the vehicle, get a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to inspect the suspension and replace the suspension springs if necessary.

How to lower a coil spring?

Method 1 of 2: Lower a coil spring suspension using lowering springs 1 Air compressor , or other source of compressed air 2 Air impact gun 3 Basic set of hand tools 4 Jack and jack stands 5 Set of new lowering springs 6 Socket set 7 Strut spring compressor 8 Wood blocks or tire chocks

How to remove lug nuts from a car?

Once the vehicle has been raised, use the impact gun, and the appropriate size socket, to remove the lug nuts. Once the lug nuts are removed, remove the wheel. Step 3: Remove the vehicle’s front strut assembly. Remove the front strut assembly, by removing the bolts that secure it at the top and bottom using wrenches, ...

What is leaf spring suspension?

Leaf spring suspension uses long metal leaf springs, secured to the axle via U-bolts, as the main suspension component that suspends the vehicle above the ground.

How to stop a car from rolling?

Step 1: Raise the front portion of the car. Raise the front of the vehicle off the ground, and secure it on jack stands. Place wood blocks, or tire chocks at the rear wheels, and set the parking brake to prevent the car from rolling. Step 2: Remove the lug nuts.

How to make a car roll?

Step 1: Raise the front portion of the car. Raise the front of the vehicle off the ground, and secure it on jack stands. Place wood blocks, or tire chocks at the rear wheels, and set the parking brake to prevent the car from rolling. Step 2: Remove the lug nuts.

Start with the car

If you want to lower your car, you need to begin with a solid idea of what kind of suspension your car has. And there are tons of different variations out there between makes, models and years, and so having all those specifics in hand will help you out a ton.

Move on to the parts

Now you need to start making some purchases. Again, what you buy will depend on what kind of car you want to lower, but here are a few options:

How to lower front and rear of Chevy?

METHODS. Cutting Coils. This is probably the most time-honored method for lowering the front (and sometimes rear) of a Chevy, but that doesn't automatically make it the best. It basically entails removing the coil springs and cu tting off a coil or so, making the springs shorter.

How does adjusting the pressure on a car help?

They allow you to easily lower or raise your car by adjusting the pressure in the springs ( an on board compressor and air storage tank facilitate this). Adjusting the pressure can also "tune" the suspension to some degree by making the springs softer or stiffer.

Why does my pinion rotate?

As the back of the car is lowered (which raises the axle housing), the pinion has a tendency to rotate downward, creating a positive pinion angle. This can cause extra stress on the U-joints (especially if the car is creating a lot of horsepower), as well as some nasty driveline vibrations at certain speeds.

Can sport springs alter ride height?

And finally, realize that when you're replacing sagging 30-year-old stock springs, some sport springs won't alter your car's ride height much. See all 22 photos.

Do bumpstops help?

Bumpstops can help by limiting suspension travel, but constantly bottoming out on the bumpstops isn't wise either. See all 22 photos. All too often an enthusiast will lower his car only to discover problems with its tires rubbing on the fenders, quarter-panels, or suspension parts.

Why do trucks have suspension drop?

For those that don’t test the limits of a trucks’ hauling capabilities, a suspension drop is a good way to improve both form and function.

Why lower a truck?

Besides the obvious reason of lowering a truck for the sake of style, there are some benefits that come along with it. A lowered center of gravity will help cornering and improve the overall performance. Also, lowered trucks are a bit more aerodynamic, which in turn makes them a bit faster.

Why do trucks have lowered center of gravity?

A lowered center of gravity will help cornering and improve the overall performance. Also, lowered trucks are a bit more aerodynamic, which in turn makes them a bit faster. There are multiple ways to drop a truck and results vary with the type of suspension set-up you choose.

Why do you need to bump stops on a truck?

If you don’t haul heavy loads, bump stops can help lessen the feel when your suspension bottoms out while going over large bumps. To eliminate most of this, you can notch your frame for even more suspension travel.

Can a slammed truck scrape driveways?

Like all vehicles, slammed trucks can have issues with scraping driveways and speedbumps. The best approach is to figure out how low you want to go and what your needs actually are.

Can late model trucks have coilovers?

Late-model trucks can also take advantage of coil-overs, but it will take some advanced fabrication to implement them. 8. Full Chassis Replacement. For those looking to get the most performance from a vehicle, changing out the entire chassis is a must.

What type of spring should be cut to lower your car?

However, there is only one type of spring that should be cut to lower your car — the T angential-end spring . This type of spring has the end of the last coil just ending, instead of being curled upon itself (pigtail type) or flattened against the previous coil (square end coil).

Why are coil springs reduced rate?

But, reduced rate coil springs do more than just lower the car. They help the handling characteristics. This happens because they are stiffer than the stock springs, and since there is less suspension travel, the suspension is stiffened, making the car handle better at speeds. When you change your car’s ride height by modifying the springs, ...

What is special order coil spring?

Special order coil springs are designed so that they fit your car, and provide the amount of lowering desired. They take the guesswork out of lowering your car. This type of coil spring is known as a reduced rate spring, because the spring rate (the amount of spring motion), has been reduced in order to lower the car.

What is a drop spindle?

Dropping In New Drop Spindles. The spindle is the part that sticks out from the side of the car with the wheel off. The wheel bearings rotate on the spindle. Although it’s the most expensive and time consuming way to lower your coil spring front end, it’s also the only way that’s guaranteed to not change the alignment much.

Why is my car camber negative?

As the car gets lower to the ground, the top of the tires tend to pull in, causing negative camber. To an extent, this is good for handling at highway speeds. However, after completing the work you should take the car to a shop and have it checked.

Which axle is higher in the spindle?

The spindle on the right has the hub axle higher in the spindle, and that effectively lowers the ride height. The spindle is the component that the steering system pushes and pulls against to direct the wheels left and right. Stock knuckles/spindles usually have the hub axle centered vertically in the knuckle.

Is it dangerous to work with coil springs?

Working with Coil Springs Is Dangerous. When working with coil springs, always use the proper tools and equipment such as this coil spring compressor. No matter which method you choose to lower your coil sprung front end, please remember to work safely. Always wear safety glasses and gloves , and always use the proper tools .