Guide to Lowering Your WRX or STI the Right Way
Lowering your WRX/STI is where a build starts to feel intentional. It’s sleeker in profile and sharper in motion. The move looks simple from the outside; the difference comes from the choices behind it. Spring rates, damping, geometry, and alignment all play a role, and small missteps can undo the payoff.
This walkthrough focuses on lowering your WRX or STI the right way, guiding you through the options, the trade-offs, and the setup details that separate a quick drop from a dialed ride. If you want the look to match the drive—and the drive to match the look—you’re in the right place.
Why Enthusiasts Lower Their WRX/STI
Lowering a WRX/STI offers dual benefits: enhanced performance and improved aesthetics. A lower center of gravity significantly reduces body roll. This enhancement provides a more stable and responsive feel for sharper handling. Visually, this modification minimizes the wheel gap, giving your vehicle a more aggressive, planted stance.
However, it is crucial to perform this modification correctly; improper lowering can compromise ride comfort, cause costly suspension damage, or lead to premature tire wear. Therefore, understanding your options and planning thoroughly before proceeding is essential for a successful outcome.
Understanding Your Suspension Options
There are three primary methods you can consider when you’re ready to lower your Subaru. Each of these methods comes with its own set of trade-offs. The debate over WRX coilovers vs lowering springs is common, but air suspension adds another dimension to the choice.
- Lowering Springs: These are an affordable way to achieve a modest, fixed drop in ride height. They work with your factory or aftermarket shocks and are relatively simple to install.
- Coilovers: This option replaces the entire shock and spring assembly, offering adjustable ride height and, in many cases, damping control. They will cost more but offer the greatest level of customization for performance tuning.
- Air Suspension: As a premium choice, air suspension allows on-the-fly ride-height adjustment via an onboard compressor and controller, perfect for show-level aesthetics and obstacle clearance.
Choosing the Right Drop Height
Deciding how low to go is a crucial balance between looks and practicality. A drop of 1.0 to 1.5 inches is a popular sweet spot for the vehicle you drive daily because it offers a noticeable aesthetic improvement and enhanced handling without major compromises. This range typically avoids suspension geometry issues and scraping on most roads.
For those aiming for a more aggressive show or track stance, drops of 1.5 to 2.0 inches or more are possible but require more planning. Going too low risks scraping the undercarriage, bottoming out the suspension, and creating alignment headaches. That slammed look might photograph great, but daily driving could get painful fast. Always measure clearance for your regular driveways and local speed bumps before deciding on your final drop height.
The Importance of Proper Alignment
Lowering your vehicle immediately alters its factory suspension geometry, affecting the key angles of camber, toe, and caster. This makes a professional four-wheel alignment an absolute must after installation. Skipping it will lead to poor handling and rapid, uneven tire wear.
Common symptoms of bad alignment include the steering wheel pulling to one side, drifting at highway speeds, and visible wear on the inner or outer edges of your tires. When you get a WRX alignment after lowering, the technician will correct these angles.
In some cases, the factory adjustments are not sufficient to bring the car back into specification. You may need to install adjustable rear lower control arms or front camber bolts to achieve the desired settings for optimal handling and tire life.
Maintaining Ride Quality and Comfort
A common concern when lowering a car is that the ride will become harsh. This is influenced by your chosen spring rates, shock damping, and even your tire profile. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort for handling if your setup is balanced.
For instance, pairing quality lowering springs with performance shocks designed for a shorter suspension travel can maintain a comfortable yet responsive feel. Stiffer spring rates are necessary to prevent bottoming out, but well-designed components manage this without being overly jarring.
Upgrading to polyurethane bushings or adding stiffer sway bars can also improve stability without directly making the ride harsher. Every modification contributes to the overall driving experience, much like how a cold air intake can improve engine response without a complete overhaul.
Complementary Upgrades to Consider
Once your WRX/STI sits lower, a few targeted upgrades can further enhance capability and longevity. These options support your suspension changes and help you get the most out of every drive:
- Roll center adjustment kits: Restore proper suspension geometry and handling control after significant drops.
- Shorter end links: Maintain correct sway bar angles to avoid preloading or premature wear.
- Upgraded ball joints and tie rod ends: Improve steering response and durability with components designed for lowered setups.
- Chassis bracing (e.g., lower arm bars, subframe braces): Strengthen the vehicle structure for increased stability during aggressive driving.
- Adjustable bump stops: Fine-tune suspension travel and comfort to prevent bottoming out with a lower stance.
Legal and Practical Considerations
Before committing to a specific ride height, it is wise to check your local laws. Some states and provinces have regulations on minimum vehicle height, which could make an aggressive drop illegal. A significantly lowered car also requires the headlight aim to be readjusted to avoid blinding other drivers.
On a practical level, you will need to be more mindful of steep driveways, speed bumps, and potholes to prevent scraping your bumper, exhaust, or undercarriage. While the look is rewarding, it comes with the responsibility of navigating daily obstacles with more care. Stay safe and street-legal. Performance doesn’t have to mean breaking the rules.
A lowered WRX/STI delivers on all fronts, enhancing both its aggressive style and its sharp handling capabilities. The key is to approach the project with a clear plan, prioritize quality components, and pay close attention to the critical details of installation and alignment. When done correctly, the result is a car that feels more connected, looks incredible, and makes every drive a reward.
WRXDaily is here to help you gather everything you need for lowering your WRX or STI the right way. From coilovers and lowering springs to LCAs and alignment kits, we stock trusted brands that fit your goals and budget. No matter if you need 2018 WRX parts or components for an older model, we have various parts from 2002 WRX/STIs and beyond. Shop with us for curated suspension parts now and chat with our team for a tailored setup recommendation.