QA1 Guys come in
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From: Lake of the Ozarks, MO
QA1 Guys come in Im wanting to get some QA1s for all four corners of my hawk. Im not happy with the way its transfering weight and traction. I want to know are they good for an all around shock spring set up. I plan on running the 300lbs up front and some pro kits on the back. I want to lower my car a bit and make it hook up a bit better. Iv been told these are great and I will love them and others tell me Ill hate them and the car will feel sloppy and not fun to drive. I have more of a street/show car than a race car but Im wantin to dip into the mid 11s on motor if its possiable in a full weight car with my set up..
Im wanting to get some QA1s for all four corners of my hawk. Im not happy with the way its transfering weight and traction. I want to know are they good for an all around shock spring set up. I plan on running the 300lbs up front and some pro kits on the back. I want to lower my car a bit and make it hook up a bit better. Iv been told these are great and I will love them and others tell me Ill hate them and the car will feel sloppy and not fun to drive. I have more of a street/show car than a race car but Im wantin to dip into the mid 11s on motor if its possiable in a full weight car with my set up..
Shouldn't be anymore of a problem then what you have now. Got 12 ways all the way around with 300Lbs in the front, stock springs in back cut an inch. The front set you can make as high or low as you want. I want to get regular height rear springs cause my car doesn't look right to me.
Depending on how hard or soft you set the springs will determine the cornering ability.
Depending on how hard or soft you set the springs will determine the cornering ability.
QA1s are drag shocks, that's it.
They do very well at the dragstrip, but they are not what I'd call a good handling shock.
You don't have to baby it on the street (unless you're on skinnies), but you can't go abuse
them the way you might an AGX or Strange shock.
I currently run 275# springs with QA1s up front / stock springs with QA1s out back.
I've run them in "race" setup (9 rear, 2 front), it's painful LOL
I usually set them around 5 or 6 on the street.
They do very well at the dragstrip, but they are not what I'd call a good handling shock.
You don't have to baby it on the street (unless you're on skinnies), but you can't go abuse
them the way you might an AGX or Strange shock.
I currently run 275# springs with QA1s up front / stock springs with QA1s out back.
I've run them in "race" setup (9 rear, 2 front), it's painful LOL
I usually set them around 5 or 6 on the street.
Last edited by James Montigny; Dec 7, 2009 at 08:08 AM.
I'd start with 12 way's all around, and leave the stock springs on the car. That way the weight is supported properly... putting 275 lb springs on a car that's more then 3200 lbs, is a really bad idea. It's not enough spring to hold the car up for street driving IMO.
Just the shock change, and addition of a good rear swaybar, will make a world of difference.
Just the shock change, and addition of a good rear swaybar, will make a world of difference.
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From: Lake of the Ozarks, MO
But If this is a car I enjoy cruzin around in on nice days and little track time..Will I like like them for driving on the street, will the car feel crappy and ruff?
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I ran mine on the street at 5 and they rode decent, 6 was spoty feeling, 7 was stiff. 4 they seemed to allow a little more weight transfer then you want.
1 they were just stupid, tried it for about a 1/2 mile LOL. 12 was the same, just too stiff to be enjoyable.
1 they were just stupid, tried it for about a 1/2 mile LOL. 12 was the same, just too stiff to be enjoyable.
I put on 12 rears, stock rear springs, and it has a Drag bar by UMI. Runs on 5 and drives great, you can feel it feed back, not annoying at all. I will soon have R Series fronts and then I can go make track runs.
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For the $$ I would look at AFCO. The SA shocks are 199.00 Each and the DA are 299.00 Each. They are a better shock for not much more. You will be fine on the street with them.
FWIW I've been running the 12 ways on my car for about 5 years with stock springs. They're great at the strip over stock. They're not that great on the street. I set them to 6 all around, and the car is very bouncy but with limited travel. I feel like a ricer with cut springs sometimes. They will handle well if you set them stiffer - definitely not Koni's or anything but probably a hair better than stock.
I have QA1's adj.'s on all 4 corners. With all being adj. you can adjust them to how you like them...i don't see a big deal. Made a world of difference in weight travel and hooking.
I'd start with 12 way's all around, and leave the stock springs on the car. That way the weight is supported properly... putting 275 lb springs on a car that's more then 3200 lbs, is a really bad idea. It's not enough spring to hold the car up for street driving IMO.
Just the shock change, and addition of a good rear swaybar, will make a world of difference.
Just the shock change, and addition of a good rear swaybar, will make a world of difference.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,798
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From: St.Charles MO
"Best of both worlds" would be something like Konis, where you get BMW like handling and ride quality and still have a decent launch.
i run Qa1 12 ways on all 4 corners, and my car is a street car and i run the 300 or 325 spring up front i dont remember since its been so long, but the fronts ride fine set on 4 the rears i am not 100% happy with on the street, the car kinda rides like a lowered honda a little bouncy but i am NOT afraid to take a off ramp at a fast speed with them at all
now at the track they work awesome
now at the track they work awesome
