Suzuki Alto HA36S.
The coilover guide.
Shop the coiloversCheck the driven wheels before choosing the kit. Our HA36S range has separate BC Racing references for front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive; the shared chassis code and spring rates do not make them interchangeable.
From everyday kei car to Works.
The Japanese HA36S is the boxy eighth-generation Alto, launched in December 2014. Identify the frame code, original market and drivetrain before comparing suspension; the Alto name on a registration document is not enough.
The current starting points are BC Racing V1 VN L-19 for front-wheel drive and L-21 for four-wheel drive, both listed for 2015–2021. Send a Works, Turbo RS or altered car's full specification for confirmation against the chosen reference.
The Alto name began in 1979 as Suzuki's small, economical Japanese runabout. The eighth generation arrived on 22 December 2014 with a new platform and a five-door body. Its short bonnet and upright cabin make it easy to recognise, but neither the shape nor the registration year identifies the suspension underneath.
Suzuki added the Turbo RS in March 2015, combining the R06A turbo engine with five-speed AGS. The Works followed that December with a short-stroke five-speed manual option as well as AGS, dedicated KYB dampers and Recaro front seats. Both turbo versions were offered with front- or four-wheel drive.
A standard naturally aspirated car, Turbo RS and Works can share HA36S on their identification plates while needing their grades and reused parts checked individually. The commercial HA36V van has its own code.
Plan the car's next changes alongside its suspension. Give the fitter the wheels and tyres already fitted, any altered engine output and the load normally carried. A car that still carries rear passengers needs its available movement checked with that use in mind.
Model history: Suzuki: eighth-generation Alto launchSuzuki: Alto model historySuzuki: original HA36S specificationSuzuki: Turbo RS launchSuzuki: Works launch.
Start with your Alto HA36S.
Confirm the chassis, year and existing suspension before choosing your setup.
HA36S front-wheel drive
BC L-19 names the Japanese HA36S Alto FWD, 2015–2021. It is the front-wheel-drive starting point, with V1 VN configuration. Check the exact grade and original upper-mount hardware before ordering, especially on a Turbo RS or Works.
See the FWD V1 starting kit
HA36S four-wheel drive
BC L-21 is the separate HA36S AWD reference, 2015–2021. Suzuki's 4WD rear layout differs from the front-wheel-drive car. Choose by the actual drivetrain, then confirm the grade and reused mounts; matching spring-rate numbers do not establish shared hardware.
See the 4WD V1 starting kit
Works or Turbo RS
Include the turbo model, transmission and driven wheels in the enquiry. The Works and Turbo RS had their own factory suspension specifications. Have the selected BC reference and mount requirements checked against that complete car, including any parts already changed.
Check my Works or Turbo RS
Van, other generation or altered car
HA36V vans, older Altos and later HA37S/HA97S cars need their own application checks. Include suspension conversions, changed arms and drivetrain swaps. A British registration or an Alto badge alone cannot identify a Japanese HA36S kit.
Ask about my AltoWhat do you want
from the car?
Road miles, circuit weekends or a car built around the lap. Start with how you drive.
Start with the FWD reference and the mounts it will reuse.
Read the buying advice
L-19 V1 VN is the current front-wheel-drive kit. Its listed default rates are 4 kg/mm front and 2.5 kg/mm rear, with adjustable damping. VN supplies no front top mount and lists a rubber rear arrangement. Check the original mounts and bearings, then choose the finished height around the tyres, passengers and roads the car uses.
- Front-wheel-drive HA36S reference
- Inspect reused mounts and bearings
- Leave movement for everyday loads
Use the AWD kit and include the tyres and drivetrain in the setup discussion.
Read the buying advice
L-21 V1 VN is the separate four-wheel-drive reference. It lists the same 4/2.5 kg/mm default rates as L-19, but the car has a different rear suspension structure. Discuss the actual kit, tyre compound and loaded travel with the supplier before using it for circuit work. Record the agreed height and damping settings so changes between events can be checked.
- Separate L-21 AWD application
- Check grade and tyre specification
- Agree travel and settings for the use
Specify the whole car before deciding springs, mounts or rear hardware.
Read the buying advice
Include the frame code, driven wheels and transmission, then describe the cage, tyres and any substantial weight changes. A turbo badge or a set of track wheels does not settle the specification. Confirm whether one of the current V1 references is suitable for the build and discuss spring choice with the supplier.
- Identify Works or Turbo RS and drivetrain
- Include tyres and weight changes
- Confirm springs, mounts and rear hardware
The rear layout follows the drivetrain.
On a standard Suzuki Alto HA36S, the rear spring and damper are mounted separately.
Component layout only. Mounts, dimensions and adjusters vary by kit.The HA36S has MacPherson front struts. At the rear, Suzuki specifies a torsion beam for front-wheel drive and I.T.L. (isolated trailing link) for four-wheel drive. Both factory arrangements place the rear spring separately from the damper. That shared spring position does not make the two rear suspensions the same.
Check how the selected kit sets rear height at the spring seat and how its damper length is set. The spring must remain correctly located through the usable movement. Follow the exact kit instructions; turning a front lower bracket is not a description of the separate rear adjustment.
Measure the geometry at the intended finished height. Ask the fitter which corrections are appropriate for the actual rear layout, and check clearance on both sides. A height-adjustable spring seat does not itself provide a rear camber or toe adjustment.
Understand height and spring preload
Measure the car on the wheels it uses.
Record width, offset, tyre size and any spacers. Check the inner suspension clearance and the outer arch through steering and suspension movement before choosing a final drop.
Inspect the original front upper mounts and bearings, rear spring pads and damper bushes. The named V1 VN configurations supply no front top mount. Confirm the reused hardware against the actual grade before assembly, then arrange the final alignment with the height settled.
Wheel and tyre clearance
Give the fitter the full wheel width, offset and tyre size. Include spacers and changed arches. Check clearance with the loads the car carries and throughout the steering range, rather than judging from the parked arch gap.
Original mounts and grade
VN means the selected kit does not supply a front top mount. Check the bearings, rubber and the hardware being retained. Include the standard, Turbo RS or Works grade when confirming the parts required; replacing suspension is a useful time to address worn mounts.
Rear layout and existing changes
Tell us whether the car is FWD or 4WD and photograph any altered rear spring seats, dampers or locating links. A previous rear conversion needs its own assessment. Keep the spring-retention and travel checks with the selected kit instructions.
Height, alignment and records
Settle the intended height before taking the final geometry readings. Keep the alignment printout with the wheel specification and damping settings. If the wheels or normal load change later, those records give the fitter a starting point for checking the setup again.
The current Alto HA36S range.
Compare the controls and hardware included in each range.
Our current HA36S range has two V1 VN references: L-19 for FWD and L-21 for AWD. Both list 4 kg/mm front and 2.5 kg/mm rear springs, adjustable damping and no supplied front top mounts. Confirm the exact grade, original hardware and fitting requirements.
View BC Racing Alto HA36S kitsFind your Alto HA36S coilovers.
Prices include UK VAT. Choose an application and brand, then open a kit for its current options and availability.
2 listings
Match the engine, body style and axle-load limits on the product page before ordering.
![BC Racing Coilovers - Suzuki Alto (FWD) (15-21) [HA36S]](/images/9c1ba2358f3b4e-480.webp)
BC Racing · BCR-L-19
BC Racing Coilovers - Suzuki Alto (FWD) (15-21) [HA36S]
HA36S front-wheel drive
BC Racing · BCR-L-21
BC Racing Coilovers - Suzuki Alto (AWD) (15-21) [HA36S]
HA36S four-wheel drive
All Alto HA36S kit links and part numbers
Before you order.
Identify your car
Record HA36S, the original market, build date, grade and driven wheels.
Match the kit
Match L-19 FWD or L-21 AWD, with a separate Works or Turbo RS check.
Check what’s included
Confirm reused front mounts, bearings, rear spring seats and kit contents.
Check your modifications
Provide wheels, tyres, spacers and altered parts for clearance and travel checks.
Plan fitting
Plan fitting, spring-retention checks and final alignment at the finished height.
See what the adjustments do.
Damping adjustment explained
What combined, two-way and three-way controls change.
Ride height and spring preload
Understand the two adjustments before choosing a lowering range.
What spring rate tells you
Compare force and movement, read the units and choose a spring with the damper in mind.
Alignment after changing ride height
Set the intended height, check the geometry and keep a useful record of the result.
Questions about Suzuki Alto HA36S coilovers.
Check the details before choosing your kit.
Which Alto does this guide cover?
The Japanese eighth-generation HA36S, launched in December 2014. Our current BC Racing applications are listed for 2015–2021. The rounded European Alto, HA36V van and later HA37S/HA97S are separate application checks.
Which coilovers are currently listed?
BC Racing V1 VN BCR-L-19 is the FWD reference and BCR-L-21 is the AWD reference. Each currently has one listed configuration. Match the driven wheels and have the exact grade and reused hardware confirmed before ordering.
Can I use the FWD kit on a 4WD Alto?
Choose the reference for the actual drivetrain. L-19 and L-21 are separate applications. Suzuki specifies a torsion-beam rear for FWD and an I.T.L. rear for 4WD, so a shared HA36S code does not establish interchangeable suspension parts.
Does HA36S alone confirm Works or Turbo RS fitment?
Send the grade, transmission and drivetrain for confirmation against the selected BC reference. Works and Turbo RS versions had dedicated factory suspension specifications. Their shared HA36S code does not identify every original mount or altered component.
What spring rates do the current kits list?
Both list 4 kg/mm front and 2.5 kg/mm rear as their default rates. Those numbers do not establish shared hardware or identical behaviour between FWD and 4WD. Discuss a rate change with the supplier using the car's tyres, load and intended use.
Are new front top mounts included?
The listed V1 VN configurations supply no front top mount and describe a rubber rear arrangement. Inspect the original upper mounts and bearings, and confirm exactly which parts are retained or supplied for your grade before fitting.
How much should I lower the Alto?
Agree the finished height after checking the exact kit, wheels, tyres and usable movement with normal loads. The current application details do not give a verified recommended lowering range for these two kits. Use the kit instructions and clearance measurements to set the car, then measure its alignment.
Are the rear spring and damper separate?
Yes, on the factory HA36S layouts the rear spring sits separately from the damper. The FWD car has a torsion beam; the 4WD car uses I.T.L. Follow the selected kit's rear spring-seat, damper-length and spring-retention instructions.
Will a registration lookup identify the exact kit?
It can help find the vehicle, but confirm the original Japanese frame code, driven wheels, grade and build date as well. Include any conversions or suspension parts already changed. A registration result alone does not approve an application.
Let’s talk suspension.
Tell us whether your HA36S is FWD or 4WD, then add its grade, transmission and wheels. We can help check the current BC reference and the original hardware needed for fitting.