For a mostly street-driven Ford Focus ST, lowering springs are the budget choice at about $395 to $439, while coilovers cost roughly three times as much at about $1,089 to $1,195 and add adjustable ride height, with the BC Racing kit also adding adjustable damping and front camber plates. Springs suit a lower stance and sharper handling on a budget. Coilovers make sense when adjustability, tunable damping, or track use matters more than the price.
The Focus ST handles well from the factory, but the stock ride height leaves a visible gap in the wheel wells and some body roll in hard corners. Springs and coilovers both fix that, and they get there in very different ways. This guide compares two spring kits and two coilover kits that Wrench Masters carries, explains the real tradeoffs, and covers what each one means for ride quality, alignment, and budget.
Springs vs Coilovers: What Actually Changes
Lowering springs replace only the springs and keep the factory dampers. They lower the car by a fixed amount and stiffen the spring rate, which reduces body roll and closes the wheel gap. The drop cannot be adjusted afterward, and the damping stays whatever the factory shocks provide.
Coilovers replace the spring and damper as a matched unit. Their main benefit is height adjustability, since a threaded collar sets the ride height. Some kits add adjustable damping or camber plates, which spring kits cannot offer. That extra control costs more, and the right choice depends on how the car is used. The broader context in the must have suspension upgrades guide covers where this decision fits in a full build.
Check Fitment First
Both coilover kits fit the 2013 to 2018 Focus ST. Eibach and H&R springs listed here fit the 2014 to 2018 car, and both makers sell a separate kit for early 2013 cars built before about July 2013. Owners with a 2013 model should confirm the build date before ordering springs.
Eibach Pro-Kit: The Mild, Street-Friendly Spring
The Eibach Pro-Kit lowers the Focus ST about 0.7 inches in front and 1.0 inch in the rear, according to dealer listings. Progressive-rate springs keep the ride manageable, and COBB’s listing quotes rates of 194 to 394 lb/in in front and 171 to 217 lb/in in the rear. The kit works with the factory dampers and can be aligned to factory specs.
At about $395, it is the least expensive option here, and the modest drop suits owners who want better handling and a tighter wheel gap without a dramatic change. It also keeps the car closest to its original ride height, which helps on rough roads and steep driveways.
H&R Sport Springs: A Bigger Drop for the Same Idea
The H&R Sport kit follows the same concept with a larger drop. H&R’s average figures, quoted by dealers, are about 1.4 inches in front and 1.3 inches in the rear, though some listings give different numbers. H&R builds the springs in Germany from 54SiCr6 spring steel and shot-peens them, and they use a progressive rate.
At about $439 it costs slightly more than the Eibach, and the extra lowering is the main reason to pick it. Owners should expect a firmer, lower car, and a lower ride height raises the importance of a proper alignment afterward. Anyone choosing between the two spring kits is mostly choosing between a mild drop and a more noticeable one.
ST X Coilovers: Adjustable Height Without the Complexity
The ST X coilover is built by KW in Germany and designed as an entry-level kit for daily-driven cars. ST presets the damping for the Focus ST, so there are no rebound or compression settings to learn. Ride height adjusts through a threaded collar, with front lowering of 0.9 to 1.6 inches and rear lowering of 0.8 to 1.4 inches.
The strut bodies are galvanized steel, and the spring perch is a polyamide composite with a stainless steel insert to resist corrosion. Adjustable top mounts are not included, so the kit offers no camber adjustment. At about $1,089 it suits an owner who wants adjustable height and a quality build without managing damper settings.
BC Racing BR Series: Tunable Damping and Camber Plates
The BC Racing BR Series is the most adjustable option here. It uses a mono-tube damper with 30 levels of simultaneous compression and rebound adjustment, and the kit includes front camber plates. BC says the standard drop gives roughly 1 to 2 inches below factory ride height, and an Extreme Low version is also available for a lower stance.
It starts at about $1,195, and owners should confirm the exact option and price on the product page. The damping adjustment and camber plates make this the choice for drivers who want to tune the car, especially anyone who tracks it. Customizing a BC kit can delay shipping by a few weeks, according to the maker.
Which One Fits Which Owner
A budget-focused daily driver fits the Eibach, and an owner who wants a more dramatic stance on the factory dampers fits the H&R. Adjustable height without any tuning points to the ST X, while track days or adjustable damping and camber point to the BC Racing.
The price gap is the biggest factor. Springs cost about $395 to $439, while coilovers cost about $1,089 and up, which is more than double the cost for the extra control. Owners with high-mileage factory dampers should also weigh whether to replace them at the same time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Three mistakes show up again and again. The first is ordering springs for the wrong build date, since early 2013 cars need a different kit. Another is skipping the alignment, which leaves uneven tire wear and a car that feels off. The last is lowering a daily driver too far, which invites scraping on driveways and speed bumps and strains the factory dampers.
Moderate drops usually satisfy owners longer than extreme ones. A mild kit like the Eibach, or a coilover set at a conservative height, keeps the car usable every day. Owners who later want more can always lower further with an adjustable kit, while raising a car that sits too low is the harder direction.
What Comes After the Suspension
An alignment is the next step with any of these kits, since lowering changes the geometry. The Whiteline sway bar links guide covers a low-cost companion upgrade for handling, and the sway bar endlinks category lists more options, and the Ford Focus ST stimulus package guide shows how suspension fits into a wider build. Owners adding boost-related parts can read the Turbosmart plumb-back versus dual-port comparison.
The Wrench Masters shop in St. Petersburg handles installs, and appointments can be scheduled online. More options live in the lowering springs category, the coilovers category, and the suspension packages category. The same decision comes up on other cars, and the coilovers versus lowering springs guide for the Civic Type R covers it for the Honda platform. More Focus ST guides live in the Ford blog category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are coilovers better than lowering springs for a Focus ST?
Coilovers offer more adjustment, including ride height and, on some kits, damping and camber. Springs cost about a third as much and suit owners who mainly want a lower stance and sharper handling.
How much do lowering springs lower a Focus ST?
The Eibach Pro-Kit lowers it about 0.7 inches in front and 1.0 inch in the rear, according to dealer listings. H&R’s Sport kit lowers it about 1.4 inches in front and 1.3 inches in the rear on H&R’s average figures.
Do lowering springs work with the factory shocks on a Focus ST?
Yes. Both the Eibach and H&R kits are designed to work with the factory dampers, and the Eibach can be aligned to factory specs. Owners with high-mileage shocks may want to replace them at the same time.
Do the ST X coilovers have adjustable damping?
No. ST presets the damping for the Focus ST, so the kit offers adjustable ride height only. The BC Racing BR Series adds 30 levels of damping adjustment.
Do I need an alignment after lowering a Focus ST?
Yes. Lowering changes the suspension geometry, so an alignment is part of the job with springs or coilovers. The BC Racing kit includes front camber plates, which give more alignment range.
Which springs fit a 2013 Focus ST?
The Eibach and H&R kits in this guide fit 2014 and newer cars. Both makers sell a separate kit for early 2013 models built before about July 2013, so confirm the build date before ordering.
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