Installing a set of lowering springs on a car is an ideal way to upgrade its handling and appearance. Lowering springs are generally more stiff than stock springs, so your car will experience less roll in corners. Your vehicle will also feel more responsive and nimble during quick transitions due to the heavier spring rate and lower center of gravity. The cost to install a set of lowering springs varies greatly from car to car.
The cost of lowering springs varies from car to car, but expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $300 for a set of springs for a Japanese import like a Honda Civic or an American car such as a Ford Mustang. Ultimately, this cost is dependent on the quality of the springs and the brand. Eibach springs are a good choice and usually cost around $250. Lowering springs generally lower a car anywhere from ½ inch to 2 or 3 inches lower than stock.
The other way to install lowering springs is by installing a set of coilovers. Coilovers feature an integral spring and shock unit and allow you to specify how low you want the car. Whereas, lowering springs are relatively limited in how much they can lower and car and are not adjustable; coilovers can lower a car as much as 5 or 6 inches. Keep in mind thought that if a car is too low, it may not be able to be driven safely on the street. Coilovers are more expensive than springs and cost anywhere from $300 to $400 for the cheaper brands to as much as $4,000 or more for the high end brands such Ohlins.
Installing a set of lowering springs or coilovers involves dismantling the suspension either entirely or at least partially. Generally, a good shop can install springs on either end of the car for about $100 to $200, so replacing all four corners of the suspension will run anywhere from $200 to $400. Again, this is dependent on the vehicle as well as the shop that does the work, and may be less or may be far more.
If you choose to install the springs yourself, this can be done in an afternoon or a weekend on most vehicles with the right equipment. The main tool you will need is a spring compressor to compress the springs and remove from the strut housing. This can be rented for $20 or $30 from an auto parts store.
Another factor to take into account is that often stock shocks will not work with stiffer and lower springs since the shocks are too softly calibrated. In this case, you will need to factor in the additional cost of heavier duty shocks, which can run anywhere from $200 a set to $600 or more. An advantage of coilovers is that they generally include the shock and the spring.
