Sun’s out, Camaro’s out! It’s summer and we all want to show off our Camaro – either in a car show, road trip or just cruising around town.
Everyone wants to stand out in a crowd so styling is important this time of year. What are some ways to improve your Camaro’s stance?
One way is to lower your Camaro. Decreasing the altitude can increase that attitude!
You can drop it using either lowering springs or coilovers. Each of these methods has distinct handling characteristics, so it’s really up to the driver for which they prefer and how you plan to drive your Camaro.
Lowering Springs
Lowering Springs are going to be the cheaper and easier decision. You just swap out the stock springs and install some aftermarket springs – easy right? Not really. You want to make sure you’re purchasing the right kind of spring to handle the weight of your Camaro.
An aftermarket lowering spring will drop your car lower than the springs from the manufacturer without needing to replace the strut. This allows your Camaro to sit lower to the ground.
When it comes to measuring spring rates, they are measured in pounds per inch. Your spring rate refers to the amount of weight that is needed to compress a spring one inch.
So your aftermarket springs need to have a lower spring rate to lower the center of gravity. Lowering the center of mass improves stability and handling. This results in less body roll and allows your Camaro to remain composed when turning corners. It also gives an aggressive stance – that we all want for our Camaro.
Benefits of Lowering Springs
- Fewer Lean in Corners – a lower center of gravity means your Camaro will settle more quickly into a turn
- Better Handling – Softer springs means better weight transfer for launching and braking. Basically, you’re looking at a faster acceleration and the ability to stop quicker.
- Better Traction – a low-stance Camaro means you can plant your tire better. This is what results in less roll when you take a corner.
- Attention-Getter – Of course the lowering springs stand out in a crowd and give your Camaro an aggressive stance. Partner some springs with a new set of wheels and you’ll be sure to steal the show!
Coilovers
Coilovers are a completely different ballgame than lowering springs. Lowering springs tend to play nice with the rest of your factory parts. Coilover is short for coil spring over strut – so you’re looking to replace your Camaro’s shock/strut and spring combination.
Installing coilovers allows you to take each corner independently for increased balance and control.
Coilovers will have stiffer spring rates than lowering springs alone. They offer a larger range of adjustability because you can adjust the ride height or damping anytime.
Coilover Benefits
- Adjustable ride height
- Adjustable damper settings
- Ability to fine tune your suspension. You have more options to adjust than your lowering springs alone.
Making the decision between lowering springs or coilovers can be tricky. Ultimately, it comes down to how you drive your Camaro. If you’re visiting the track, then coilovers might be the right choice for you.
If you’re looking to simply steal the show, then lowering springs are going to be a more cost efficient option that still gives you an improved, aggressive stance.