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HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

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Old Aug 26, 2002 | 08:18 AM
  #1  
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Default HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

I want to lower the front of my car 2" or so, since it is at stock (or even a little higher) ride height now. I have the QA1 shock/spring combo up front.

Any guesses as to how much I need to lower the bottom spanner nut to achieve a 2" or so change in ride height? I don't believe it's a linear change (i.e. a 2" change on the spring = 2" lower ride height).
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Old Aug 26, 2002 | 08:34 AM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

Never thought much about it...cranked my fronts down about an inch last week (measured on the perches). The car has a nice aggressive low stance now. Unfortunately, I didn't measure the height of the car before to see what the net change was <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

I did this in combination with removing the upper rubber thingy on the rear springs. I like the way the car sits now.
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Old Aug 26, 2002 | 09:08 AM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

If you back the spanner nuts down 1" it should give you a 2" drop.
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Old Aug 26, 2002 | 10:19 AM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

George,I would suggest u have an alignment done IF u plan on lowering the car.
It will handle differently at a lower ride height.

I would also sit in the car have them preload the car too.We just did mine,it required 1/4in height adjustment from side to side to get my car perfect with me in the car.

The car is PERFECT now with no wandering and the steering is much tighter w/no driveline vibrations....

JS

<small>[ August 26, 2002, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: JS ]</small>
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Old Aug 26, 2002 | 11:40 AM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

George....check your PMS

thanks

jim
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Old Aug 26, 2002 | 02:24 PM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Richie Carbone:
<strong>If you back the spanner nuts down 1" it should give you a 2" drop.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Actually sounds about right. I'd say mine dropped pretty close to 2 inches after a 1-inch crank down on the perches.

Todd
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Old Aug 26, 2002 | 02:37 PM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

I'll probably give it a try later this week, and move the spring seat down 1" or so. Thanks guys!

JimmyKash, you have a reply <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
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Old Aug 26, 2002 | 10:27 PM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

I just installed the HAL 12-ways tonight on my SS. When I was dialing in the ride height, it took several trial and error attempts to get the height just where I wanted it. It seemed to me as I was making adjustments, that it was indeed a linear 1:1 change. Perhaps it is because I have lowering springs...can that have an effect?? For whatever reason, raising the spanner nut 3/8" resulted in a 3/8" change in my ride height.

On a side note, did anyone use their stock springs (or any other spring besides the HAL drag springs)? What did you do about the lower spring perch? I ended up cutting the stock spring perch off the DeCarbon shocks and dremmeling out the center so that it would fit onto the HAL spanner nut. Has anyone else done this...any problems later on? Just wondering if my ghetto-rigging will suffice?
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Old Aug 27, 2002 | 07:12 PM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Ebbsnflows:
<strong>

On a side note, did anyone use their stock springs (or any other spring besides the HAL drag springs)? What did you do about the lower spring perch? I ended up cutting the stock spring perch off the DeCarbon shocks and dremmeling out the center so that it would fit onto the HAL spanner nut. Has anyone else done this...any problems later on? Just wondering if my ghetto-rigging will suffice?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I did the same thing...must have taken forever with a dremel no?
I just used a sawzall to cut the bottom lip and then opened it up..used my stock springs too, I like the ride the best that way and it`s been fine all summer. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
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Old Aug 27, 2002 | 09:48 PM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

Actually I used an angle grinder w/ a 4" cutting disc to remove the spring seat....I used the Dremmel to smooth out the center and finish up the final touches. But you are correct, using a dremmel to do the cutting would've taken FOREVER! The seat is made from thicker steel than I first thought. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
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Old Aug 28, 2002 | 07:58 AM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

I found one complete turn of the nut = 1/4" on body height. I measured before and after at the top of the wheel openings and also the front bumper. Then took a test drive and remeasured and the 1/4" held true.

BTW, did anyone else bend that stupid wrench? Does anyone make a better one? That overseas metal stinks.
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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 10:51 PM
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Default Re: HAL/QA1 ride height adjustment

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Lar's SS:
<strong>BTW, did anyone else bend that stupid wrench? Does anyone make a better one? That overseas metal stinks.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Get the King Kong sized Channel Locks <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
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