The Truth About Coilovers vs. Lowering Springs

Most enthusiasts hit this crossroad: Do I buy lowering springs or go straight to coilovers? At first glance, lowering springs seem like the budget-friendly shortcut to better looks and handling. But once you dig into the engineering, the differences are night and day. Let’s cut through the hype.

The Common Misunderstanding

Many drivers believe lowering springs are “just as good” as coilovers for the street. The logic goes:

• Springs are cheaper.

• They lower the car for a sportier stance.

• That’s all you need, right?

The truth: lowering springs are only half the equation, and they introduce compromises most drivers don’t see coming.

The Real Engineering Truth

Lowering Springs

• Reduce ride height by increasing spring rate.

• Work with stock shocks, which are not designed for the added stiffness or reduced travel.

• Lead to premature shock wear, poor ride quality, and limited performance gains.

Coilovers

• Replace both springs and dampers as a matched system.

• Offer height adjustability without sacrificing travel.

• Feature tuned valving (linear, progressive, or digressive) designed specifically for performance.

• Deliver true suspension control, not just cosmetics.

When you only change the spring, you’re asking the factory shock to do a job it wasn’t designed for. When you choose coilovers, the entire suspension system is engineered as one unit.

Practical Impact for Enthusiasts

• Handling: Coilovers reduce body roll, squat, and dive more effectively than springs alone.

• Comfort: Properly valved coilovers (like digressive designs) ride smoother than mismatched springs + stock shocks.

• Longevity: Coilovers protect against premature shock failure that lowering springs often cause.

• Adjustability: Ride height and damping can be tuned for your goals—daily comfort, track use, or both.

Put simply: lowering springs look lower. Coilovers make the car perform better.

Why Dežru Builds Coilovers, Not “Quick Fixes”

This is exactly why Dežru Suspension doesn’t make lowering springs. They’re a compromise. Every Dežru coilover—whether it’s the Spec-S for street/track, or the Spec-R for dedicated circuit use—uses matched HyperCoils springs and precision-valved dampers. The result is true performance without compromise.

Final Takeaway

Lowering springs may seem like an easy upgrade, but they come with hidden costs: worn shocks, harsh ride, and minimal performance. Coilovers are the real solution—engineered for comfort, control, and confidence.

Want to see how we apply this philosophy? Explore the Dežru Spec-S Coilover, our street-and-track system built around Bilstein digressive piston technology.