Bilstein vs QA1 shocks
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 128
Likes: 1
From: Lake Geneva WI
I put Bilstein's on my '75 last year for $300 from Mid America. To be perfectly honest they could be Gabriels from the local parts store. No doubt they will last longer than a pair of Monroes or Gabriels, but the ride is really not much different. I clock about 1500 miles on this car a year and I'm sure a set of $125 stock shocks would have worked out just fine for the next 10 years.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
The Konis are adjustable ...pain though since you need to adjust them off the car. They came on the car when I bought it...they were quite old and beat up But, they performed well.
IAS was perfect balance between sport handling and ride comfort. They handled the rough roads really well and also delivered nice performance on the twisties.
The Bills. sports are "tight" and you feel much more of the road...but they are better on the twisties. They are fine for the weekend warrior type driving that I do now.....you know, the 10mpg type driving.
I am going to do a couple of longer trips. When I do those, the IAS are going back on.
IMO, If you like to play with the vette and want to try different things, then go Koni. If you don't want to play around with it, but want all around performance, go IAS. If you like the stiff feel...then Bills.
Again, just my humble opinion on those 3 shock brands.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
I'll second that on the Edelbrock IAS shocks 
. I like them for a non-adjustable shock. They are excellent street shocks and decent track shocks. However, I only do HPDE's and I am still learning (i.e. novice 
). If your serious into tracking the car, an adjustable shock would probably be better.
Oh by the way Bilstein has 3 versions: HD, sport, and extreme. I tried the extremes but they were too stiff for the street. I have no experience with the HD or sports.
. I like them for a non-adjustable shock. They are excellent street shocks and decent track shocks. However, I only do HPDE's and I am still learning (i.e. novice ). If your serious into tracking the car, an adjustable shock would probably be better.Oh by the way Bilstein has 3 versions: HD, sport, and extreme. I tried the extremes but they were too stiff for the street. I have no experience with the HD or sports.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,926
Likes: 739
From: Youngstown Ohio
I have QA-1 adjustables on the rear of my '69. I got them because of performance (drag strip).....you can adjust them independently to eliminate sway on take off and reduce rear end squat. If you want a softer street ride, just a few clicks and you have that too. I'm very satisfied with them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
I put the QA1 coil over adjustable on the front and Bilstiens in the rear. I still havn't put the body back on so I can't speak of the ride. I had a discussion with both Van Steel and VDP and I am following their advice - we will see.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: Collierville TN
This is a timely thread: I installed Bilstien Sports on all four corners yesterday. I replaced a set a of Gabriels that were a year old. The objective was to reduce body roll and eliminate my Pypes exhaust dragging when hitting certain dips in the road (the Pypes system hangs a bit lower than the stock exhaust).
It was raining yesterday so I drove it with the new shocks for the first time this morning. There was definately a big difference. From a purely objective standpoint, the exhaust no longer scrape even at places in the road where they always scraped before. There is a also a definite decrease in body roll.
Subjectively, the car rides a bit firmer than before, but it is in no way jarring or rough. That is probably why (no offense meant here) someone who doesn't drive their car often, or hard, would not notice a big difference.
For $300 + shipping from Summit I am very happy, as a serious problem was resolved and the car handles much better when being driven hard.
It was raining yesterday so I drove it with the new shocks for the first time this morning. There was definately a big difference. From a purely objective standpoint, the exhaust no longer scrape even at places in the road where they always scraped before. There is a also a definite decrease in body roll.
Subjectively, the car rides a bit firmer than before, but it is in no way jarring or rough. That is probably why (no offense meant here) someone who doesn't drive their car often, or hard, would not notice a big difference.
For $300 + shipping from Summit I am very happy, as a serious problem was resolved and the car handles much better when being driven hard.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 809
Likes: 8
From: brewster NY
Thanks those pics are great is it a straight forward swap of the front spring for the QA1 struts, and why did you not go with the QA1's in the rear. Thanks again for the response.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
I spoke with several people and explained my use - never will be raced or course driven. Really just street driven and an occasional twisty road. They said with the fiberglass rear spring that the Bilsteins would be my best choice. And then it was price - the QA1 were around $160 each and the Billsteins were around $160 a pair.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
I forgot - yes the swap is quite straight forward with no fab work at all. A very easy change with the hardest part getting the old springs out.
I did pull one of my more stupid maneuvers on the change - I was installing the shocks up through the tower and they were quite short so I started to rig up all sorts of chains and devices to pull the spring up when I happened to grab the shock rod and realized it had around 4 inches of travel left and pulled right into place. I laughed at myself for several days over that one - a good humbling experience. Thank God I didn’t hurt myself!
I did pull one of my more stupid maneuvers on the change - I was installing the shocks up through the tower and they were quite short so I started to rig up all sorts of chains and devices to pull the spring up when I happened to grab the shock rod and realized it had around 4 inches of travel left and pulled right into place. I laughed at myself for several days over that one - a good humbling experience. Thank God I didn’t hurt myself!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 809
Likes: 8
From: brewster NY
[QUOTE=column5;1569045176]This is a timely thread: I installed Bilstien Sports on all four corners yesterday. I replaced a set a of Gabriels that were a year old. The objective was to reduce body roll and eliminate my Pypes exhaust dragging when hitting certain dips in the road (the Pypes system hangs a bit lower than the stock exhaust).
These are some of the same reasons I need to change my shocks KYB's
sometimes my hooker sidepipes scrape the ground. Not to put down the KYB's they are old.
These are some of the same reasons I need to change my shocks KYB's
sometimes my hooker sidepipes scrape the ground. Not to put down the KYB's they are old.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
The QA1s are pricey but they look damm nice bolted in and the adustability is key with these - you can't be dissapointed with what you get (too soft/too firm) cause it's up to you to tune them in. I like mine. No experience with the Bilsteins - I've heard people rave about them and others complain. Sometimes I wonder if people rave about their new shocks (whatever the brand) cause they are comparing a 25 year old worn out shock to the new one they just put on which suddenly feels so much better.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,926
Likes: 739
From: Youngstown Ohio
The double ones can adjust upward and downward movement independently. Singles adjust both simultaneously, whether stiff or soft. If you want more rebound, for example, you can have it with the doubles.
