Have you ever wondered how much it would cost to lower a car? If you own a car and have been looking to improve its appearance and trying to get a better ride, lowering your car may be a prospect you’ve been looking into. This has been a trend, and quite a few people seem to be interested in getting their cars lowered for better outlook and function.
But before doing this, understanding the types of methods there are, their prices, and the level of lowering you’re attempting, and either doing it yourself or getting a professional, is necessary to assess the overall cost of this job.
So, how much does it cost to lower a car?
The answer is that the price can vary from $100 to $10,000 depending on your car.
To know more about the types of methods, tools, and prices related to this, read on!
Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost To Lower A Car?
A quick and simple overview of the prices is given below in a tabular form:
| The Modification type: | The Acceptably lowest you can go till: | Approximate Cost doing it by yourself (in dollars): | Approximate cost for doing it professionally (excluding material cost): |
| Changing leaf springs | 2.5 inches | $100 – 200 | Till $400 |
| Lowering springs | 3 inches | Till $700 | Till $500 |
| Coilovers | 4 inches | Till $9,000 | Till $600 |
| Drop Spindles | 3 inches | Till $1,300 | Till $500 |
| Hydraulics | 5 inches | Till $10,000 | Till $5,000 |
| Airbags | 5 inches | Till $4,000 | Till $1,000 |
Why Do People Lower Their Cars?
There are many reasons why people lower their cars, ranging from prioritizing outer appearance to wanting to get a smoother ride.
One of the most common and popular reasons is that people do it for visual appeal. Compared to a normal car, a lowered car looks sleeker and more aggressive. Among the rest of the normal cars, adding this feature to your car makes it stand out more than usual in the crowd.
A lowered car can help you feel the road better. Whilst driving, you will get the full driving experience by feeling the grooves and vibrations of the road you are passing by.
Due to the lowered center of gravity and a weight change, you will experience an obvious lean reduction when you turn. The part of the car on the outside that is found when a turn is made is now at level with the section on the inside. This new ability lets the lowered car move and recovers faster when making a turn as it is more settled.
Your lowered car will help you with better handling because you are seated closer to the ground. Even at fast speeds, you will notice your car has become more stable. This has been accomplished by the use of stiffer springs, which is why the weight transfer is reduced when the brakes are hit hard. Lowered cars are known to have faster acceleration and leverage to stop faster as well.
With a lowered car, you will have bigger tires and wheels, which come with thinner sidewalls and a larger patch of contact. This design of the tire allows more grip on the road, improving traction.
Lowering a car can help improve its aerodynamics. This works in your favor because, as you corner, you are less likely to be at risk of rolling over.
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Doing It Yourself vs Hiring A Professional
Getting your work done by yourself provides you with a couple of instant advantages. Flexibility with regard to your time and money
You will have complete control over your budget and save yourself the fee for the mechanic. Along with that, you do need to wait for the auto shop to open and start your work.
In short, doing it yourself will give you control over the hours needed to finish your job, as well as save you money and provide you with a learning experience in technical knowledge.
However, if you are very new to this type of mechanical work and aren’t all that confident in accomplishing it perfectly, it is probably better to consider hiring a mechanic.
Without the proper experience, you might just be wasting your time on work you don’t understand. As well as that, if you do it incorrectly due to your lack of experience, the cost of fixing it will be more than if you had taken it to a professional in the first place.
Suspension systems are complicated to work on, and the high pressure of springs and special tools you need may be new to you. So if you are very new and lack the skills, it’s better to reach out to a professional.
How To Lower A Car?
There are more ways than one for when you want to lower your car. You may decide on one or more of them based on your preference. Here are some suggestions:
Method 1: Leaf Springs
Changing the leaf springs of the car – as leaf springs are made up of thin spring steel bands that are banded and attached together.
From the back of the suspension wheel de-arch the leaf springs – It’s advised to have this done at a spring shop but if you do decide to do it by yourself then use a reverse shackle.
To get an increased drop – take the flip kit and couple it with lowering blocks which you can find online or from a local auto-parts store. The lowering blocks come in different heights and enable a vehicle to drop very low. A home mechanic will be able to install these.
On the rear axle, a C-notch may need to be installed depending on how low you want your car to go. This notch is beneficial as it gives a clear gap between the axle and the frame. Using the leaf springs can lower a vehicle by more than two inches.
Method 2: Coil springs
Changing the coil springs of the car – you can find the coil springs in the front of your car or at the back. They are joined on the axles or A-frames.
Try replacing shorter springs with the stock coil springs OR take your springs to a spring shop and have them shortened and softened.
By cutting the coil spring – you can cut the coil spring using a torch, cutting wheel, or a grinder. It is recommended that you cut it in increments.
Method 3: Torsion Bar
Adjust the car’s torsion bar by lowering its bar key down – by sagging it lowers down the car. Can be easily adjusted using a small hand wrench.
Method 4: Hydraulic Cylinders
By replacing car springs with hydraulic cylinders – you can install hydraulics in up to 4 suspension corners of the car. In order to operate the pumps, before installing the hydraulic system you will have to install batteries, hydraulic pumps, and an internal control system. Using this method will require a heavy amount of battery power so as to operate the hydraulic pump system.
Method 5: Replacing Springs and shocks
This is a method you can do by yourself at home. Before using this method, you will need to install a system activation switch, air reservoir tank, air compressor, and air lines.
Get rid of rear leaf springs if your car has them and have them replaced with a 4 link setup. Having this done by a professional is most recommended.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Lower A Car?
The cheapest way to lower a car would be to install springs similar to but a little shorter than the suspension system of your car.
This would lower your car by around one or two inches. Doing this by yourself would cost from $100 to $500.
Having the professionals take care of the labor would charge you around $500, if not more.
As a result, the simplest way to lower a car is to simply install short springs on your own vehicle.
How Much Does It Cost To Lower A Truck?
The cost of lowering a car or truck can be almost similar. But depending on the type of truck or vehicle you choose, the price may vary.
Another factor that influences how much money you spend is the type of modification you want.
How Much Does It Cost To Lower Suspension?
One option to lower the suspension on your car is to use lowering springs instead of stock springs in the suspension.
The kits for lowering springs can cost anywhere from $100 to $700. For it to be done professionally, you can expect the range to be around $200 to $800.
These lowering springs lower your car by approximately 3 inches.
Advantages of Lowering Suspension
Aside from having your car look sleek and getting a better driving experience, you also get a better sense of road feel.
By getting your car lowered, you can feel the stiffer ride.
When cornering with your lowered car, you will be able to feel less roll than with a normal car.
A lowered car is better and easier to handle. It also has traction that is improving.
Being able to handle it easily also makes the lowered car less likely to roll over.
Another advantage of having your car lowered is that it will have comparatively bigger wheels and tires with a larger contact patch and thinner sidewalls.
If you’re wondering what’s so great about a tire having a big contact patch and thin sidewalls, Then let me tell you it’s because a tire designed like this lets you have more rubber grip on the streets, hence improving traction.
Disadvantages of Lowering Suspension
While lowering a car has its advantages, it also has some disadvantages which need to be known. These include:
Riding a car that has been lowered may not be as comfortable as a regular car that has a soft suspension. This is because a lowered car serves the function of letting you get the full experience of driving on the road, meaning you will be able to hear every noise and feel everything you pass by.
If you don’t like noise much, then consider this before deciding to lower your car.
Driving a lowered car on a rocky road is not a good idea as its tires could wear and tear. This could give rise to a chance for your lowered car to bottom out.
If not done properly, you have the risk of your car malfunctioning as well as you might even face warranty issues.
Lowering a car may affect its design or the geometry of its wheels and tires. Not having this done by a professional puts your car at a major risk for alignment problems.
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Laws Related To Car Lowering
If a car is lowered by more than one-third of its original height, it may be considered illegal in some countries. So, before you get your car lowered, consult a professional as they can help you understand this further in detail.
The people from the insurance company can warn you beforehand of any risks that may come with lowering your type of car and may even recommend your premium increase.
A key factor to avoiding legal issues is being authorized, as not being authorized could prove to be dangerous. Also, contact your insurance company to check if this can be a part of your coverage. please read this one to know more about unlawful vehicle modifications
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Some Frequently Asked Questions About Car Lowering
Q. Is it illegal to lower your car?
Depending on where you live, the law would vary about the acceptable height to lower your car. Some U.S states put a limit on how to lower suspension.
If you wish to understand this further consult your local law and traffic rules enforcement. Also, check with them if you are lowering your car for the first time.
Q. How Much Does It Cost To Drop A Car?
Depending on the type of lowering you need and whether you’re hiring a professional or doing it yourself the cost to lower the car can range anywhere from $100 to $10,000.
Q. How Much Does It Cost To Drop A Truck?
Again, depending on the type of lowering, price of lift kits, and whether you’re hiring a professional or doing it yourself the cost to lower the car can range anywhere from $400 to $12,000.
Q. Where Can I Get Lowering Springs Installed?
The best place to get your car lowered is to go to an alignment shop. Your car has unique geometry and it needs to be aligned justly which is why it is better to get it done at an alignment shop.
Q. Why is lowering a car so expensive?
Lowering a car requires effort and quite a lot of materials which is one reason for it being expensive. Also, it needs to be done properly and carefully to ensure it does not become risky or defective.
Q. How Much Do Lowering Springs Cost?
Depending on the cost of your spring, the price of installation will vary. For example, if your spring costs $150 the installation will be synonymous with that.
Final Words
So, how much does it cost to lower a car? The price can vary from $100 to $10,000 to lower your car. The prices depend on whether you choose to do it by yourself or have a professional do it for you. It also depends on what methods you use.
If you have materials to replace, that could cost you extra too.
If you are a beginner and have found a new interest in lowering your car, it would be wise for you to plan, save up, and understand as much as possible about all the things you need to know about lowering your car.
The price might seem a little too much, but if you’re really into driving, then you will definitely enjoy this little addition to your car. With little savings and good planning, this should not be too hard to achieve. Although beginners are not highly encouraged to do it by themselves, having a professional get the work done would put your heart at ease as they’d be less likely to make mistakes.
Basically, the more complex the method of lowering the car, the more it will cost. Doing it by yourself will always be cheaper than having it done by a pro.
So, if the plan is to be the lone wolf by doing the task yourself, all the necessary tools and kits should be bought well beforehand.
Therefore, before getting started, be sure to check if you already have the materials needed ready or need to buy them. And depending on your preference, you can work on it by yourself or have a professional do it for you.
One important thing to keep in mind is that if you are not very experienced or a beginner and make a mistake, repairing that mistake may cost you more than if you had gone to a professional in the first place.
Michael Rosales
Hello, I’m Michael Rosales an expert in cars. As a little boy, I have always loved cars. Over the years I became lucky to have the opportunity to work as a car dealer. It was at this stage I became vast in the knowledge of cars, things you need to know when buying cars and how to minimize cost while still getting your dream car.