Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

QA1 Shocks

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 4, 2005 | 10:49 PM
  #1  
FstBlkz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
Default QA1 Shocks

How adjustable are these in height?

And anyone w/ these shocks, are you happy w/ them? I'm thinking about switching to them atleast in the fronts, maybe the rears too.

Last edited by FstBlkz28; Oct 4, 2005 at 10:57 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2005 | 02:13 AM
  #2  
sssalah's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 444
Likes: 1
From: Bahrain
Default

About height adjustment I would guess 3-4" range, the threaded part is longer, but it's not recommended to adjsut much past the center maybe 1.5-2" both ways.
I'm very happy with these, I keep the firmness **** on 6 and it becomes well manared on the street altough there's no front sway bar, for the track it's on 1 and that raises the front weight very well.
One thing about them is the height adjustment is very hard, I recommend that you get the bearings for the spring seats.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2005 | 04:28 PM
  #3  
FstBlkz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
Default

ok awesome. i might look into a set for the fronts depending on what perch my SA's are set on now.

thanks!
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2005 | 05:29 AM
  #4  
Runn's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 1
From: Tranås, Sweden
Default

I have them too, And i like them... I usually have them set at 5 in front and 4 rear.
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2005 | 12:04 PM
  #5  
FstBlkz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
Default

what springs are you guys running w/ them? stock, or the hal springs, if the hal's what lb'age do you have for fronts and rears?
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2005 | 01:56 PM
  #6  
sslow2000's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Default

i have them with the hal springs... i started out lowering the car an inch and a half from stock but the springs settled a lot so the skinnies in front were very close to being tucked inside the wheel wells... which looked badass, but wasn't very practical... they seemed like they would have gone an inch or 2 lower than that.. and a few inches taller than stock, so a pretty good range of height adjustability... i love these things and HIGHLY recommend them! one of the best mods for the money i've ever done! i have the front set at 4 and the rear set at 8...
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2005 | 05:24 PM
  #7  
SLowETz's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,356
Likes: 2
From: Padded cell
Default

Just installed the QA1/Hal 12 way 90/10 single adjustables with 325# springs up front and the 12 way singles/150#'s coil over conversion in the rear this week. Didn't get to the track this weekend but will do some testing/tweaking next Sunday.

Was able to get the car down on the tires(P185-70 front/MT 325-50-15 rear). Dropped it about 1-1/2" at all four corners... looks much gooder

Got'em set a 6/front and 8/rear for the street. Prolly start off w/3 & 7 at the track and dial in the rear drag bar..... tweak from there.

Wish I'd gone w/the bearing setup at the castle nuts.... a bitch to adjust ride height even w/the shock extended/un-loaded.

Last edited by LowETz; Oct 9, 2005 at 05:29 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2005 | 11:27 PM
  #8  
94FBIRD's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 516
Likes: 1
From: Highlands Ranch, CO
Default

Originally Posted by sssalah
One thing about them is the height adjustment is very hard, I recommend that you get the bearings for the spring seats.
I think adjusting them is very easy. I just bought a REAL spanner wrench from a welding supply shop. It is much better than that crappy "spanner" wrench that QA1 sells. Bathe the shock threads in anti-seize. Put the car on jack stands to take the pressure off the springs and it takes me no longer than a couple of minutes to change ride height by an inch.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

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

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 12, 2005 | 04:19 PM
  #9  
RW99's Avatar
TECH Resident
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Castro Valley, CA
Default

"Wish I'd gone w/the bearing setup at the castle nuts"

LowETz, can you expand on that? What exactly should be ordered? And these were the f series?

Thanks in advance for any info...
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2005 | 10:35 AM
  #10  
SLowETz's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,356
Likes: 2
From: Padded cell
Default

Just a bearing(not sure if it's a ball or needle set-up)race between the castle nut and spring. You'd have to go to the site and have a look.

I've been playing w/mine a lot over the last few days to get it just right. I screwed up and didn't unload the rear drag bar(spherical rod endlinks)before I set ride height and couldn't figure out why the passenger side castle nut ended up in a different location on the shock body than the driver side when both sides were set to the same fender to floor distance..... the light finally came on

I agree on the spanner wrench though. It is junk. Maybe w/a better one(that actually FIT), it wouldn't be so bad, but at least in my case, w/out the rear bar endlinks dropped, the rear won't come down enough to completely unload the springs and make qwik adjustments w/the wrench they supply w/the kit.

Btw..... the kit itself kicks ***. Between ride height adjustment and compression/rebound adjustment, I'm really likin' this setup. We'll see if it does the price tag justice this weekend....
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2005 | 10:05 PM
  #11  
FstBlkz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
Default

Hows the install on the rears? I realize that the fronts are pretty much direct replacements. But for the rears, what all is involved w/ installing the rear shock perches or whatever.
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2005 | 02:18 PM
  #12  
SLowETz's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,356
Likes: 2
From: Padded cell
Default

Straight from Spohn's site...... easy intall-

http://www.spohn.net/product.cfm?productid=1533
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2005 | 04:31 PM
  #13  
FstBlkz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
Default

thanks LowETz ... can't wait to get them on the car
Reply
Old Oct 23, 2005 | 11:17 PM
  #14  
FstBlkz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
Default

Has anyone had any problems w/ the durability of the shocks? I had a friend mention that they might have a problem leaking.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2005 | 06:26 AM
  #15  
94FBIRD's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 516
Likes: 1
From: Highlands Ranch, CO
Default

I had a set on a Syclone and they had 40,000 miles on them and weren't leaking yet.

I have had a front set on my Formula for about 8,000 miles, so far, so good.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:00 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE