Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

HAL QA1 suspension

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 19, 2004 | 02:45 AM
  #1  
VaNDaL*SS*'s Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: Salinas, CA
Default HAL QA1 suspension

I was told that the QA1 coil over kit for my SS would be great. what do all of you think of QA1 and what have u heard?
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2004 | 02:49 AM
  #2  
2MuchRiceMakesMeSick's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Default

I think that kit is pretty pricey. I was considering it for my daily driver. What is everyones opinion on these.
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2004 | 05:44 AM
  #3  
Camaro01SS4life's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: San Jose
Default

For street/track shocks I think they are top notch...You cannot go wrong with the 12 way-adjustable...I have had them on my car now for about a year and I love them...With being able to adjust the ride height in the front of the car I can get the stance that I like...For cruisin around town setting 6 or 7 seems to work well...Then when you hit up the track set them to 1 ...
Even though they are a little pricey just do it right the first time and get yourself a set of QA1's...

Kevin
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2004 | 07:00 AM
  #4  
No Juice's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 19
From: Minnesota Corn Fields
Default

I like mine as well. You can't beat the adjustment options.

I will say this make sure you have a good set of springs and I suggest using a full set fronts and rears. It will ride much better than mismatching springs like I did. BMR rears and HAL fronts don't match

Camaro01SS4life what springs are you running front and rear?
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2004 | 12:22 PM
  #5  
2FAST4U's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 0
From: F.H,Waterford,Port Huron, MI
Default

You can't use the rear QAL coil over kit on F-Body's with out alot of work!
Understand Hals are not a street are handling shock/spring combo!
Can you drive on the street with them. Yes you can drive with blown shocks to.
They are built to transfer weight being drag raceing and stoping!
If you where to use a stock or performance shock you will solve 30% of the problem compared to the Hal front springs! If you like to just cruise, and only get on it is opean areas that a straight with room to brake your are ok!

When I had them on my 01" and hit the brakes hard the front of the car would kiss the ground (weight trabsfer). It is like driving a old Buick, with the soft suspension for grandma!

I still have a band new coil over rear kit that is going on my 92" but that is a drag only car the chute is going to stop that one!
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2004 | 06:12 PM
  #6  
VaNDaL*SS*'s Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: Salinas, CA
Default

so what does that tell me? I hear that QA1 is the best to go with. and to do it right the first time so i should get the QA1 full coil over kit http://ls1speed.com/catagory.cfm?catagory=suspension . that is the set i was thinking of. is it a good all around kit? i want it right first and to never do it again. tell me what up
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2004 | 10:58 PM
  #7  
01SLPSS's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (47)
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: NE OHIO
Default

I have had the QA1 Conversion on my SS all summer and love it!!!!
Highly Recommended!!! I Autocross, Drag Race, & Daily Drive my car on long trips and they are awesome!!! Adjustability is great!!

If you don't want the car to nose dive, I recommend the Front Spring rate to be 325lbs and not the 300lbs that comes in the kit!!! I have had no nose dive problems with the 325lbs spring rate up front. In the rear amrunning the stockV8 Springs and they seem to work well also!!!!
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2004 | 08:15 AM
  #8  
No Juice's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 19
From: Minnesota Corn Fields
Default

01SLPSS : You can get different HAL/QA1 spring rates for the front? I didn't know there was a choice other than the drag spring or the regular spring. Would running the stock spring in front be a good choice?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 20, 2004 | 10:44 PM
  #9  
MidnightWS6's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Default

As for daily driving we set ours at #12. That nose will almost kiss the ground if you slam on your brakes set at #6. But it can be greatly affected by your height adjustment also. The higher your front sits the more compressed the sping will be, etc....
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2004 | 04:08 AM
  #10  
Camaro01SS4life's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: San Jose
Default

Originally Posted by No Juice
I like mine as well. You can't beat the adjustment options.

I will say this make sure you have a good set of springs and I suggest using a full set fronts and rears. It will ride much better than mismatching springs like I did. BMR rears and HAL fronts don't match

Camaro01SS4life what springs are you running front and rear?
I am runnim the QA1 drag springs up front, with cut springs in the back...I know cut springs, but its workin out pretty good...I first keeped the springs un-cut in the back...Drove the car for a bit and handling was pretty nice...Then I cut the springs down to where there is a 2 finger gap from the top of the tire and the wheel well...Took the car out again and noticed similiar results in handing if not a little better...

Kevin
Reply
Old Oct 22, 2004 | 01:03 AM
  #11  
01SLPSS's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (47)
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: NE OHIO
Default

No Juice:
When you order the setup just ask for the spring rate you want. I went with the 325lbs springs and love them!!!!

You can run the stock front spring but it will cost you more because you need the optional hardware to run the stock springs.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2004 | 12:45 PM
  #12  
95_Firehawk_Dude's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
From: Tinley Park
Default

When adjusting the ride hight, do you want to sping the spring perch up or down (tword the upper or tword the lower control arm)?
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2004 | 01:42 PM
  #13  
2FAST4U's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 0
From: F.H,Waterford,Port Huron, MI
Default

well do you want to go up of down? Turn the uper nut up or down. Up with the spring perch makes the car go up! the second nut is a jammer nut so it doesn't move.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2004 | 04:10 PM
  #14  
95_Firehawk_Dude's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
From: Tinley Park
Default

Thats what i thought. Can you do it without compressing the spring (raise the ride hight) or is it to hard to turn like that? Becuase my car is slammed in the front right now and i want it back to or very close to stock ride height.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2004 | 04:33 PM
  #15  
2FAST4U's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 0
From: F.H,Waterford,Port Huron, MI
Default

No NO NO you can't get very far with raising the cars ride by hand! It hurts to compress 300 some pounds with a spaner wrench! Trust me I tryed it! If you have the HALS you can use a in car compressor but it won't work well as the coils get closer together the compressor doesn't fit! Have to do it of the car and WATCH your spring rates! You can't read the instructions if the springs you had arn't the same rate as the Hals and measuring will not work!
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2004 | 07:07 PM
  #16  
MidnightWS6's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Default

You can turn them up as far as you want with the #212 Channel locks. No need to take them off the car. You can come close with some standard channel locks if you grind them right. PM me if need a picture of either..
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2004 | 08:33 PM
  #17  
95_Firehawk_Dude's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
From: Tinley Park
Default

MidnightWS6 - PM sent

2FAST4U - I had spring compressers on the car Sat. night and got them like up half an inch. Not far enough though, and then i started haveing problems with them fitting so i can not do it that way. Also couldn't get the spindle arm off the upper control arm. So if there is a way to do it on car, that would be awesome. Otherwise i have a feeling I'm going to have to take it in. We tried for 6 hours and got nothing sat. night.

And they are the HAL front drag springs that come with the f series shocks.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2004 | 09:51 AM
  #18  
obe1 95Z28's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Default

The trick to being able to raise the spring is to lubricate the flat washer so it doesn't bind on the spring. I found that antisieze grease works well. Others have installed a bearing under the flat washer.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2004 | 10:30 PM
  #19  
95_Firehawk_Dude's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
From: Tinley Park
Default

Just want to thank all you guys for the tips here and there. Just finished it up tonight. Its back to stock ride height (maybe a little heigher but not much). I used a channel lock (#212) and it worked great. Spun a little easier with some WD40 becuase i coudn't use anything else to grease that washer up.

Thanks again!
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2004 | 11:35 PM
  #20  
MidnightWS6's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Default

Glad they worked! Mine were almost stripped and those channel locks still didn't have any problems. Just for future reference, where did you find yours? I found mine at Super Chevy which doesn't help anyone.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:37 PM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE