SWK Lowering Springs on the Suzuki Swift Sport (ZC33S): How Did They Change the Handling and Ride?

スイフトスポーツ ZC33S | 車, 山, 道路, フェンス, 駐車場, 屋外, SUZUKI, SWIFT SPORT, ZC33S
Reviews & Test Drives

I recently wrote a review of the Suzuki Swift Sport in completely stock form. Since then, I’ve made a few changes and fitted SWK’s Lowering Sports Spring Set. Here are my impressions of how it’s changed the car.

SWK Lowering Sports Spring Set (ZC33S)

The springs I chose are sold by SWK (Suzuki Works Kurume), a Suzuki dealer that operates Suzuki Arena Kurume Nishi.

SWK lowering springs

When choosing a lowering setup, I had a few priorities:

  • My wife and kids are the main drivers, so I didn’t want a harsh, overly stiff ride.
  • I wanted to keep the factory Monroe dampers.
  • I wanted to preserve ride comfort while improving stability through corners.

With those requirements in mind, I wasn’t looking for coilovers. I wanted springs designed to work well with the stock dampers. I was told that SWK’s springs were a good match, so I decided to give them a try.

The set includes springs, bump stops, and camber bolts, all for ¥32,500 (before tax)—a very reasonable price. I ordered them online, and they arrived in about two days.

Lowering springs fitted to the Swift Sport

SWK Lowering Springs: Installation Review and Driving Impressions

The difference in appearance is immediately noticeable. Based on my measurements, the car sits about 2.5 cm lower, but that small drop makes the whole car look lower and more purposeful. From the driver’s seat, it feels a little closer to the ground, giving the cabin more of a sports-car feel and less of a family-car vibe.

Out on the road, the ride is far from harsh. In fact, on smooth pavement, it feels even better than before, with a flatter, more settled ride.

Over small bumps and slightly rough roads, the ride is pretty much unchanged from stock.

The only real difference is an occasional sharp thump when going over a large bump. I also fitted the dedicated bump stops, which should make the suspension much less likely to bottom out. Even so, I still feel a jolt now and then over bigger bumps, so I imagine it could be quite unpleasant with the stock bump stops still in place.

If you’re considering these springs, I’d recommend replacing the bump stops at the same time.

Ride height immediately after installing the lowering springs

Right after installation, there was just enough room for three fingers between the tire and fender. The springs have settled slightly since then, and now there’s room for about two and a half fingers.

Stock ride height

This is how much space there was between the tire and fender with the stock suspension.

The biggest improvement is the added stability through corners. The stock car’s slightly top-heavy feel is gone, and I can take corners with confidence at a decent pace. It turns in eagerly, making for a lot of fun behind the wheel.

The spring rates are 2.3 kgf/mm at the front and 2.7 kgf/mm at the rear—not especially high. But lowering the car seems to have brought its center of gravity down noticeably. There’s no sudden increase in body roll partway through a corner; instead, the roll stays more consistent, which makes it easier to carry confidence through the turn.

It also feels more stable on the highway. The stock suspension was already composed at highway speeds, but now the car feels more planted. Ride comfort at speed is still good, too. It’s comfortable enough that I don’t expect any complaints from the family.

Suzuki Swift Sport ZC33S

So far, my wife seems to love the changes. She says the car feels more stable and is even more fun to drive. I take the Swift Sport out from time to time, and I have to agree.

It’s light, so it accelerates eagerly at any speed, and its quick, nimble handling makes it a blast around town. The shift action is satisfying, and the clutch is easy to use. It’s the kind of car that makes you want to keep driving.

I’m very happy with this setup. If I let myself dream, though, I’d add a stiffer front anti-roll bar to reduce body roll and swap the seats for ones that sit a little lower. The list of possibilities just keeps growing. But I don’t want to go so far that the family can’t enjoy the car, so I’ll try to keep things in check for now.

Hiro

Minaの夫です。 ファッションやステータスシンボルのためにクルマは乗りません。 運転して楽しく、工業製品として優れ、作り手の意思が感じられるようなクルマを好んで乗ります。長距離ツーリングをこよなく愛し、「クルマは走らせてナンボ」と思ってます。休日には日本全国を愛車で旅しています。 ブログでは主に試乗レポートやツーリング記などを執筆しています。またブログのシステム周りやチューニングなども担当しています。

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