Honda Civic Coilover Setup: Cost, Ride Height and Damping
Ordering the kit is the easy part. This guide covers what comes after: what a Honda Civic coilover setup costs once alignment and parts are added, how to set ride height and damping so the car still drives like a Honda, and which brand suits the way you use yours.
Civic owners ask us two kinds of question. The first is which kit fits. The second is everything else: the bill, the setup, the knobs. This page is for the second kind.
Looking for the kit list?
Our Honda Civic page lists every coilover kit we carry for the Civic, generation by generation from 1973 to 2025, with the Si and Type R splits called out. Start there to find your kit, then come back here to set it up.
- Honda Civic coilovers: every generation, every brand we carry, BC Racing first
- Honda del Sol coilovers: the Civic-based targa top
- Honda CR-X and others: the CR-X kits, plus a few rarer Hondas
The BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2012 to 2015 Honda Civic and Civic Si. Photo: BC Racing.
What a Civic Coilover Project Costs in Total
The kit is the biggest line, but it is not the only one. Plan for all of it before you order so there are no surprises. Our guide to coilover total cost of ownership runs the long-term numbers.
The coilover kit. Price follows engineering, adjustability and build method. Check the product page for current pricing on your fitment.
Installation. Doing it yourself costs time and tools: jack stands, a torque wrench, spring tools if needed and a free afternoon. A shop charges labor, so ask for a coilover install cost quote up front. Our guide on how to install coilovers shows the job so you can decide.
Alignment. Not optional. Any ride height change alters camber and toe. Plan an alignment after the car settles.
Extras. Some cars need end links or camber correction at lower heights. Some Fortune Auto kits include front end links, which helps. Custom spring rates on BC Racing carry a custom build fee, which we pass on without markup.
Upkeep. Seals and oil are wear items on any damper. Fortune Auto publishes its own rebuild schedule. Street use only is every 60,000 miles. Mixed street and track use is every 15,000 to 30,000 miles.
Setting Up Your Civic After the Install
Most Civics are daily drivers that see the odd autocross or track day. Set it up for the driving you do most, which is on the street.
Start with ride height. There is no single safe drop for every Civic. It depends on your wheels, tires and remaining bump travel. On full-length kits like BC Racing and Fortune Auto, height is set at the lower mount. The spring perch sets preload. Lock each locking collar once you are done, and recheck after a few hundred miles.
Next, damping. Start from the kit's manual setting, then adjust in small steps. Click counting differs by brand, so read your manual. Coilover spring rate is the bigger lever for ride quality. If you mostly commute, tell us and we will check that the kit's default rate suits it.
A word on unsprung weight. A coilover kit does not automatically cut it. The wheel, tire, brakes and hub make up most of the unsprung weight on a Civic. Lighter wheels do more there than any damper swap.
If you are new to this, start with what are coilovers for the basics of how the parts work together.
Matching a Brand to Your Civic Build
We are an authorized dealer for every brand here. Each one suits a different kind of Civic build.
BC Racing covers every generation in this guide with nitrogen-charged monotube dampers. The BR Series runs 30-click simultaneous compression and rebound. Swift Springs SPEC-R springs are an upgrade option on most BC Racing fitments.
Fortune Auto hand-builds in Virginia, with deep Honda specialization. The 500 Series is a single-adjustable monotube, custom valved for your car.
KW is a German brand with TÜV certification on most kits. KW V1 to KW V3 use twin-tube dampers in stainless steel bodies.
TEIN is a Japanese brand, with 16-click damping on Street Advance Z and Flex Z. Öhlins offers TTX twin-tube technology and DFV on Road & Track. Bilstein put the first monotube gas pressure shock absorber into series production in 1957, and the B14 PSS has fixed damping with adjustable height.
Feal and Ksport cover plenty of Civic years too. Pick Honda Civic coilovers for how you drive, then confirm the exact kit for your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Honda Civic coilovers cost in total?
Add up the kit, installation, an alignment and any extras like end links or custom spring rates. Pricing changes, so check the product page for your fitment. Call us and we will walk through the full list for your car.
Do I need an alignment after lowering my Civic?
Yes. Any ride height change alters camber and toe. Set the height, let the car settle, then align it. Skip it and you will chew through tires.
What is the Extreme Low kit for BC Racing Civic fitments?
BC Extreme Low coilovers are a separate kit for owners who want a deeper drop. It appears for several Civic generations. Most daily drivers do not need it. Call us before you choose between it and the standard kit.
Get Help With Your Civic Coilover Setup
From an EK hatch to an FL5 Type R, the right kit depends on the exact year and body style. Get one wrong and the kit will not bolt on.
Call 1-800-460-9106 with your VIN and tell us how you drive. We will confirm the fitment and talk through spring rates and setup with you. Free shipping on BC Racing kits in the continental US. Shipping for other brands is shown at checkout.
1-800-460-9106Browse Coilover Kits