Aftermarket Suspension Parts & Kits

What This Category Covers

Suspension is the highest-leverage handling upgrade on any vehicle. A properly matched shock, spring, and sway bar package produces measurable improvements in cornering grip, transient response, and ride quality that no amount of engine, exhaust, or wheel work will replicate. It is also the modification most affected by installation quality and post-install alignment, so plan for a professional four-wheel alignment on the same day as any suspension change.

Ride Height and Damping

Coilovers offer adjustable ride height and damping. Lowering springs offer a fixed drop with factory or matched shocks. Shock and spring kits pair matched components at a lower cost than full coilovers. Lift kits and leveling kits raise trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps for larger tires and off-road clearance.

Handling and Chassis

Sway bars, endlinks, chassis bracing, and subframe braces reduce body roll and chassis flex. Control arms, tie rods, ball joints, and bushings restore or upgrade suspension geometry. Alignment hardware, camber plates, and caster kits allow proper alignment after ride height changes.

Steering and Air

Steering racks, dampers, and stabilizers handle bump-steer and shimmy on lifted vehicles. Air suspension kits, airbags, compressors, and tanks provide adjustable ride height on the fly.

Coilovers vs Lowering Springs vs Shock and Spring Kits

Coilovers

Complete shock and spring assemblies with adjustable ride height set by threading the spring perch on the shock body. Coilovers replace the factory strut and spring and offer flexibility for ride height, spring rate, and damping tuning. Available in single-adjustable (rebound only), double-adjustable (rebound and compression), and triple-adjustable configurations for street, track, and race use. Top brands include KW, Ohlins, BC Racing, Silvers, Fortune Auto, HKS, TEIN, Feal, MCS, and JRZ.

Lowering Springs

Drop-in spring replacements that lower the vehicle a set amount when used with factory shocks. Lower cost and simpler install than coilovers, without the adjustability. Recommended when factory shocks are still healthy and the goal is a moderate 1 to 1.5 inch drop for improved appearance and mild handling gains. Top brands include Eibach, H&R, Swift Springs, RS-R, and Vogtland.

Shock and Spring Kits

Matched shock and lowering spring pairs from a single manufacturer, tuned together for correct spring rate and damping. A step up from mixing standalone lowering springs with factory shocks, and a step below full coilover adjustability. Common examples include Bilstein B12 Pro Kit, KW Variant 1 fixed-height coilover, and Koni matched packages.

Lift Kits, Leveling Kits, and Truck Suspension

Lift kits raise trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps 2 to 12 inches for larger tire fitment, off-road clearance, and appearance. Leveling kits raise only the front to match the factory rear ride height, allowing a modest tire size increase without a full lift kit.

Lift Kit Components

Lift springs, spacer kits, extended shocks, replacement control arms, drop brackets, extended brake lines, sway bar drop kits, track bars, and pitman arms. Top lift and leveling brands include ICON Vehicle Dynamics, BDS Suspension, ReadyLIFT, Rough Country, Skyjacker, Zone Offroad, Pro Comp, and Fabtech.

Fitment Notes

Confirm year, make, model, cab and bed configuration, factory suspension type, and any pre-existing modifications before ordering. Vehicles lifted more than 3 inches typically need upper control arms and drop brackets to correct ball-joint and CV-joint angles.

Sway Bars and Anti-Roll Kits

Aftermarket sway bars are the single most cost-effective handling upgrade on most vehicles. A modest investment produces immediately noticeable reduction in body roll and improvement in transient response. Available with thicker bar diameters, adjustable mounting positions, and matched-pair sets for front-and-rear balance tuning. Top brands include Eibach Anti-Roll Kit, Whiteline, Hotchkis, Cusco, Steeda, and Progress Group.

Control Arms, Tie Rods, and Ball Joints

Adjustable and billet control arms replace factory stamped-steel or bushing-loaded arms for increased strength, adjustable camber and caster, spherical bearings for reduced deflection, and correcting suspension geometry after ride height changes. Tie rods, tie rod ends, and heavy-duty ball joints replace worn or under-spec factory components on high-horsepower, off-road, and heavy-load applications.

Featured brands include SPC Performance, Moog, Whiteline, Mevotech, ICON, RCV Performance, and Black Ops Auto Works billet control arms.

Bushings and Bushing Kits

Polyurethane and spherical bushings replace factory rubber bushings for reduced deflection, sharper handling, and longer service life on high-mileage and heavily driven vehicles. Available as single-component replacements, subassembly kits (control arm, sway bar, differential), and full-vehicle bushing kits.

Bushing Material Tradeoffs

Polyurethane offers a balance of durability, reduced deflection, and street comfort. Spherical offers the sharpest response and least deflection but generates more noise, vibration, and harshness. Rubber offers the best isolation from road noise but the most deflection. Top brands include Energy Suspension, Prothane, Whiteline, Powerflex, SuperPro, and Daystar.

Alignment Kits, Camber Kits, and Caster Kits

Alignment adjustment hardware is required to restore correct camber, caster, and toe settings after ride height changes. Available hardware includes camber bolts, camber plates, adjustable ball joints, adjustable control arms, adjustable tie rods, and caster/camber offset bushings.

Vehicles lowered more than 1 inch or lifted more than 2 inches typically cannot be aligned to factory specifications with factory hardware alone. Plan on ordering the appropriate adjustment components before the alignment appointment. Top brands include SPC Performance, Ingalls, Eibach Pro-Alignment, Whiteline, and Moog.

Air Suspension Systems

Air suspension kits replace factory springs and shocks with airbag-and-shock combinations that allow ride height to be adjusted on the fly from a controller inside the vehicle. Available for lowering (show, static-drop appearance), leveling (load-carrying, towing), and lift (off-road ground clearance) applications.

Components include air struts and airbags, air compressors, air tanks, air lines, pressure sensors, height sensors, and management controllers. Top brands include Air Lift Performance, Air Lift Company, Firestone Ride-Rite, AccuAir, Universal Air, and Ridetech.

Chassis Bracing and Strut Bars

Chassis bracing reduces flex in the vehicle body and subframe under cornering, braking, and acceleration loads. Available products include front and rear strut tower bars, subframe braces, sway bar reinforcement plates, undercar cross braces, and structural chassis stiffener kits.

Chassis bracing produces the largest improvement on unibody sports and performance cars with removable roof panels or a convertible body style, where factory chassis rigidity is inherently reduced. Top brands include Cusco, Ultra Racing, Beatrush, Hotchkis, and Black Ops Auto Works billet strut braces.

Shocks and Struts

Aftermarket shocks and struts replace worn factory dampers with performance-tuned or heavy-duty units. Categories include OE-replacement shocks (matched to factory ride height and rate), performance shocks (firmer damping for sport handling), lifted-truck shocks (extended length for lift kits), and off-road shocks (large bore, remote reservoir, adjustable damping).

Top brands include Bilstein B6, B8, 5100, and 6112, KYB Excel-G and Gas-a-Just, Koni Yellow Sport, Red Special, and STR.T, Fox 2.0 and 2.5 Performance Series, KING Off-Road, Radflo, and ICON Vehicle Dynamics.

Top Suspension Brands

• Bilstein. B6, B8, B12, 5100, 5160, and 6112 shocks and matched kits
• KW Suspension. Variant 1, 2, and 3 coilovers, Clubsport, and adjustable spring kits
• Ohlins. Road and Track, TTX, and DFV coilovers
• Fox. 2.0 and 2.5 Performance Series and Factory Series shocks
• KING Off-Road. Coilovers, bypass, and remote-reservoir shocks
• ICON Vehicle Dynamics. Lift kits, coilovers, and heavy-duty suspension
• BC Racing. BR, DS, ER, and ZR-series coilovers
• Silvers. NEOMAX and NEOMAX-R coilovers
• Eibach. Pro-Kit, Sportline, Anti-Roll Kit, and Pro-Truck lift
• H&R Springs. Sport, Race, and Deep lowering springs
• Swift Springs. Spec-R lowering springs and coilover springs
• Whiteline. Sway bars, bushings, and alignment hardware
• Energy Suspension. Polyurethane bushings and full kits
• Moog. Control arms, ball joints, and steering components
• SPC Performance. Adjustable alignment hardware
• Rough Country, ReadyLIFT, BDS, Skyjacker. Truck and Jeep lift kits
• Air Lift, Firestone. Air suspension kits and airbags
• Black Ops Auto Works. Billet control arms, toe links, sway bar end links, and strut braces

How to Choose the Correct Suspension

• Confirm the exact year, make, model, trim, and factory suspension configuration
• Match the intended use (daily street, weekend track, show, off-road, tow, drag)
• Verify factory suspension type (MacPherson strut, double wishbone, multi-link, live axle)
• Check factory electronic suspension equipment (adaptive dampers, air suspension, magnetic ride)
• Confirm current wheel and tire size, offset, and fender clearance for lowered or lifted setups
• Verify spring rates against vehicle weight and driving style before purchase
• Order matching alignment adjustment hardware (camber bolts, camber plates, adjustable arms)
• Confirm brake line, ABS harness, and sway bar end link length for large ride-height changes
• Plan for a professional four-wheel alignment on the day of install
• Read the complete fitment notes and confirm any professional-installation recommendations

Common Questions

What is the difference between coilovers and lowering springs?

Coilovers are complete shock and spring assemblies with adjustable ride height set by threading the spring perch on the shock body. They replace both the factory strut and spring and offer flexibility for ride height and suspension tuning. Lowering springs are drop-in spring replacements that lower the vehicle a set amount when used with the factory shock absorbers, at a lower cost but without the adjustability of a full coilover kit.

Do I need an alignment after suspension upgrades?

Yes. Any change to ride height, spring rate, or suspension geometry requires a professional four-wheel alignment to restore proper camber, caster, and toe settings. Driving on a misaligned suspension after a ride height change causes accelerated tire wear and can hurt handling stability. A four-wheel alignment is recommended immediately after any suspension modification is complete.

How much can I lower my car without buying camber kits?

Most vehicles can be lowered about 1 inch on factory alignment hardware without exceeding manufacturer camber and caster specifications. Beyond 1 inch of drop, adjustable camber plates, camber arms, or camber bolts are typically required to restore correct alignment. Confirm with your alignment shop before purchase whether adjustment hardware is required for the target ride height.

How much lift can I add without new control arms or drop brackets?

Most trucks and SUVs accept 2 to 3 inches of lift on factory control arms and factory brackets before geometry issues appear. Beyond 3 inches, upper control arms, drop brackets, or extended-length components are typically required to maintain correct ball-joint and CV-joint angles. Confirm the lift kit manufacturer recommendations before purchase.

Are coilovers OK for daily driving?

Yes. Quality coilovers from Bilstein, KW, Ohlins, BC Racing, Silvers, and similar manufacturers are designed for daily street use with adjustable ride height and damping. Race-only single-purpose coilovers with very high spring rates and limited damping range are not recommended for street use. Match the coilover series to the intended balance of street comfort and track performance.

What is the difference between a strut and a shock?

A strut is a structural suspension component that carries the vehicle weight and locates the wheel, integrating a shock absorber inside the strut body. A shock absorber is a damping-only component that does not carry weight or locate the wheel and works alongside a separate coil spring or leaf spring. Most modern front suspensions use struts. Most modern rear suspensions use separate shocks and springs.

Can I mix and match brands of shocks and springs?

Yes, but matched shock-and-spring kits from a single manufacturer (Bilstein B12, Koni STR.T with Eibach, and similar) are engineered together for correct spring rate and damping and generally produce better results than mixing standalone components. If mixing, select shocks with damping matched to the target spring rate and lowered ride height.

How long do aftermarket shocks last?

Quality aftermarket shocks and struts typically last 50,000 to 100,000 miles under normal street use. High-performance coilovers driven on the street and track often benefit from a rebuild every 20,000 to 30,000 miles, or every 1 to 2 years of hard use.

Do sway bars affect ride quality?

Larger aftermarket sway bars mildly increase ride harshness on rough single-wheel bumps because the stiffer bar transfers more motion between the left and right suspensions. On smooth roads and in cornering, they primarily reduce body roll and sharpen turn-in with minimal impact on straight-line comfort.

What is a shock and spring kit versus a coilover kit?

A shock and spring kit is a fixed-height matched pair (shocks with lowering springs) engineered to work together. A coilover kit is a fully adjustable ride-height and damping assembly. Shock and spring kits offer a matched setup at a lower cost. Coilovers offer adjustability at a higher cost.

Why Buy Suspension from Black Ops Auto Works

Black Ops Auto Works stocks 20,812 suspension SKUs with real fitment data, competitive pricing, and support from staff who build cars themselves. Products are filterable by vehicle year, make, model, trim, and factory suspension configuration to confirm correct spring rate, shock length, and mounting hardware compatibility before ordering. Coilover, lift kit, and lowering spring product pages include installation notes and alignment recommendations. Orders ship fast from stocking warehouses across the US.

For related upgrades, browse our coilovers, lowering springs, lift kits, shocks and struts, sway bars and bushings, bushings, brakes, wheels and tires, Eibach, and Black Ops Auto Works.