Aftermarket suspension is abundantly available in the Type R world. There is a wide range of options as many suspension companies have hopped on the Type R train when it rolled into town in 2017, at least in the USA. It's not surprising after you see how many Type R's make their way to the track or just get lowered. Whether you're trying to dial in better handling or customizing your ride height, you need a set of coilovers to do it.

6 of the Best Honda Civic Type R Coilover Kits and Why

With how many there are to choose from, it gets tough figuring out which ones are going to fit the bill. Having sold many suspension systems and experienced a handful of them ourselves, we have a pretty good "handle" on what each set is going to provide, in terms of value and experience. We've gotten to know a lot of the brands and options throughout the years so we're familiar with what people say and the overall quality of different setups.

Hopefully, you can find some value in our list. For the record, we're not saying other kits aren't worthy of being underneath your Type R. But if we were choosing based on common criteria, this is what we'd be looking at for our own Type R. If you have questions about other kits compared to these, we're glad to help you figure out if a different kit is the best option for you.

Like many other parts, it's not reasonable to say one is the "best". The best coilover is different for everyone. It depends what you're doing with it and why you're buying it. Sure, some kits are pure junk. But we don't sell anything like that in any category so our customers don't really face that concern. If one of these fits within what you're trying to accomplish, you can be confident in selecting any of the kits listed here. We'll also include information about error cancelers, an important factor for those not interested in the pesky warning light saying you just unplugged your stock suspension every time you start up your CTR.

Feel free to skip to a category.

Budget | Performance | All-Around | Value | Because Race Car | Honorable Mention

Budget - BC Racing BR-Type

BC Racing offers a handful of different setups for different applications but only offers the BR-Type for Civic Type R's, their most popular model. It features 30-way adjustable rebound/compression for a range of comfortable street settings to stiffer, track setups. They come standard with adjustable upper mounts that allow for fine tuning a wide range of front camber and aggressive wheel fitments from the top. They are height adjustable through the shock body without affecting the preload on the spring, so travel isn't compromised. BC Racing offers a few custom spring rates, an "extreme low" option, and a Swift Spring upgrade if you're willing to wait a few weeks for it to be put together the way you want.

BC Racing isn't the cream of the crop suspension in terms of performance and technology. But they are rock solid for reliability and value. You get a coilover that's way more versatile than stock without spending too much. They feature stronger components than a typical OEM setup so you can bash them at the track reliably. Don't count on them to have amazing ride quality or unlimited adjustment potential to dial in an optimal track setting. But they will give you that proper stance, much improved handling, and thousands of miles on the street without a hiccup.

Default setting: -23mm Front, -29mm Rear
Front Height Range: 0mm (stock) through -43mm Lower
Rear Height Range: -9mm through -48mm Lower
(Standard kit height settings, not Extreme Low)

*Does NOT come with electronic error canceler and BC does not offer one. You will need to purchase separately (we have them).

Performance - KW V3 or V3 Clubsport

The V3 Clubsport is the big brother of the V3, so technically, you could choose either one here. But the Clubsport has the upper mounts included, the standard V3 doesn't. Since the Clubsport has upper mounts, you can thrash them indefinitely at the track and get a little more adjustability out of the front for more serious track setups and wheel/tire fitments. If all you're doing is having fun on the street in between the daily commutes, I would actually encourage you to get the standard V3 for comfort's sake. Plus you save some money. But by all means, get whichever one you really want, no bad choices here.

These are the best in the performance category for their performance everywhere, not just the track. Having personally had a set of V3's on another vehicle, I can attest to the amazing ride quality and handling ability combined into one here. Some people wouldn't notice it's not stock while hitting the standard bumps and dips on the street. But when you turn in hard and fast, damn it feels so crisp and predictable. You find yourself asking, how does it feel that comfortable AND that tight at the same time? That's a V3.

You simply won't find a better coilover in a reasonable (to the suspension world) price range. Here's what you get.

✅Stainless steel (inox-line) housing for the highest level of durability
✅Height adjustable with helper spring for constant preload
✅Adjustable front upper camber plate (Clubsport only)
✅Composite threaded ring for spring perches that resists cracking and degrading over time, which can negatively affect adjustment and fastening security
✅Independently adjustable rebound settings
✅Independently adjustable compression settings (low speed)
✅Upper mount with camber adjustability and more robust spherical bearing mount

Front Height Range: 0.4-1.2" Lower
Rear Height Range: 0.4-1.2" Lower

*Does NOT come with electronic error canceler. KW makes their own and is available separately, or you can use another brand (we have them).

**At the time of writing, the V3 Clubsport is only available for FK8. V4 Clubsport available for FL5. Standard V3 available for both.

All Around - ST Suspension XTA Plus 3

ST Suspension didn't start out as a subsidiary of KW, but they became one many years ago so KW has been able to transfer a lot of their performance and technology over to the ST brand by now. You can physically see the similarities in design, but the ST line ends up being more budget friendly. This is great news for someone interested in saving a few bucks on a suspension system but still values a quality setup with lots of adjustability. That's why this is the "all around" winner for me. Sometimes I think about what this setup has and I ask myself, am I missing something? It's (currently) priced at $2,549.00 and it comes with:

✅ Upper mounts on the front with spherical bearings and camber adjustment
✅ 18 levels of independent rebound adjustment
✅ 24 levels of independent low speed and high speed compression adjustment (holy s***!!!)
✅ Galvanized and coated housings for great durability
✅ Height adjustability
✅ 5 Year Warranty

That's just not something you see in this price range anywhere else.  These types of features usually scream, "Sorry, you can't afford me!" But this is a serious suspension for a fair price.

The two major differences between this and the KW above are the stainless steel construction and the  twin tube style damper, versus KW's monotube. Twin tubes have very different internal construction and ultimately, they are a little bit more cost effective. They are actually a good setup for the street as they can provide a good level of comfort. But ultimately, they can't compete with a mono tube in the performance department. They don't dissipate heat as well, they don't have quite the damping force, they might not last quite as long before a rebuild, and they are less consistent, among other differences. I wouldn't call it deficient though, unless you were going after lap records. Even then, you might be okay.

If you're not competing for championships but still want to play with a track suspension to keep eating away at your personal best time while saving some money, this is the one.

By the way, if you're sold on ST but still don't want to take a ~$2500 hit, they still make two other systems with less features and similar quality, well within a budget friendly range.

Front Height Range: 0.4-1.2" Lower
Rear Height Range: 0.4-1.2" Lower

*Does NOT come with electronic error canceler. KW/ST makes their own and is available separately, or you can use another brand (we have them).

Value - Ohlins Road & Track Coilovers

As I write this, it was announced that Swedish based Ohlins would be acquired by Brembo in early 2025. As if it wasn't already a high quality, leading technology brand already, now it has even more resources to make cool stuff. Ohlins makes many different suspension products across different industries including bicycles, motorcycles, and powersports. But their presence in automotive is heavy and comes with as good of a reputation as any. 

The Road and Track Type R coilover kit features a more basic, straightforward dampening adjustment with 20 levels that simultaneously change rebound and compression. They are height adjustable allowing you to dial in the perfect stance, but don't count on these to drop it down to show car levels. It's a proper height adjustment. They feature a monotube style construction making these an excellent choice for a daily driven Type R that occasionally hits the track hard. You'll need to reuse OEM upper mounts on this set, which is fine for many of us. Dual Flow Valve (DFV) technology allows a very competitive track setup without compromising comfort on the street.

Personally, I really like what Ohlins presents. It's extremely high quality backed up with great performance but without the fuss of a fully adjustable kit. Set it and forget it, or keep playing with the settings and enjoy your Type R wherever you take it.

Front Height Range: 10-20mm Lower
Rear Height Range: 10-20mm Lower

*Does NOT come with electronic error canceler. Ohlins makes their own and is available separately, or you can use another brand (we have them).

Because Race Car - AST/Moton

Yes, you can buy a $8,550 set of coilovers for your Type R. No, I did not mistype that. It's the Moton 3-Way kit with independent adjustments, remote reservoirs, and the highest quality components money can buy. In addition to needing that 1 percenter budget, you would have to understand how to drive a car better than most other drivers that you'd compete with for championships. You can spend that much on suspension, but if you're not actually a talented race car driver doing sets of 20+ laps at a time, you'll most likely be just as fast with the Ohlins, KW, or most other sets listed here. If all you want is to be able to brag, don't worry, that's a good enough reason, too.

Realistically, AST/Moton makes a couple "lower end" kits (to them, ha) that are on par with a KW V3 in performance and price. The AST branded 5100 series are a measly $3,200-FK8/$3440-FL5 (street version, no upper mounts) and $4,350 (comp version, includes front and rear upper mounts). So those are the "cheapest" kits they offer. There are many options they offer in between if you're really interested in finding the baddest setup for your track ready Type R.

AST and Moton were born out of competing in formula, GT, touring, rally, and other motorsport disciplines and according to their site, by the year 2000, 30% of the field at Le Mans featured Moton equipment. You can be sure you're getting a serious suspension with an AST/Moton setup.

*Does NOT come with electronic error canceler and AST/Moton does not offer one. You will need to purchase separately (we have them).

Honorable Mention - HKS Hipermax

I love everything HKS. The brand is iconic. They've been around for a long time and they are much of the reason why tuning an import car exists today. Before most of us ever had a diaper wrapped around our hips, they were busy building the world's first ever aftermarket turbo kit for a Skyline over in the land of the rising sun.

As far as coilovers go, I've spent some time with them on our 2017 Civic Si project car and even put them on the track for a handful of laps. So I'm familiar with their features and how they perform/feel. Hipermax is how HKS refers to their entire coilover lineup. There are some variations between platforms but for the Type R, two styles are available - Hipermax S and Hipermax R. They both handle the daily grind with ease and feel very comfortable cruising around the street. They also feel solid at the track and can take the demanding punishment of some time attack laps. The Hipermax R features a few items that make it better suited for the track, including higher performance oil and a low vibration spring. Both of them include an upper spring perch that pivots with the rest of the shock, giving it a more predictable and stable level of performance when you're out doing laps. This is something they just upgraded from the previous outgoing Max IV SP model.

Hipermax R
Front Height Range: -23mm Factory Setting, 11-39mm Lowering Range
Rear Height Range: -28mm Factory Setting, 3-52mm Lowering Range

Hipermax S
Front Height Range: -18mm Factory Setting, 10-40mm Lowering Range
Rear Height Range: -16mm Factory Setting, 1-51mm Lowering Range

*Does NOT come with electronic error canceler. HKS makes their own and is available separately, or you can use another brand (we have them).

A Note About Error Cancelers

Any error canceler will work with any kit. There might be some mounting differences that make one kit slightly easier than another. But they all do the same thing and are independent of any coilovers you get. There are two different types of error cancelers.

The only one that I know of that doesn't plug into the individual connectors at each shock is the HKS unit, which plugs into the body harness located right behind the plastic interior panel for the rear, driver's side seat belt (at least in USDM models). It's tougher to get to and requires some interior disassembly. But it's simple and once installed, you'll never see it, so it's super clean. This one is ONLY for the FK8 as they have switched to the other individual modules for the FL5 kits.

All the others I've seen are individual modules that plug directly into the connectors that originally plugged into the OEM shocks. These get zip tied in a convenient location in the wheel well.

If you got this far, thanks for reading! Don't forget to visit our site for any of your Type R performance parts and upgrades you're looking into next. We'd be glad to help!