Friggin QA1's!!!
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Friggin QA1's!!!
Picked up some QA1's for my race car.. Actually wanted to pick them up at Van Steel but they didn't have any in stock, so I picked up a set on the way up to the Cruise In at the Summit retail store in McDonough (Atlanta area)..
Installed them in the Hotel parking lot at the Cruise in and noticed that the tubes that come with the shock that go into the upper shock bushing are not the correct size and the suspension ended up being completly loose because there was too much movement without ever hitting the shock.. Now I only have 2 options..
a) Remove the tubes (which will be a pain) and get the correct ones
b) Drill out the upper shock mount holes for a bigger bolt to fit so that the shocks will be tight..
Don't know yet which solution is better? Any suggestions?
I talked to other people and some of them had the same problem with the wrong size tubes
Why aren't they able to supply the correct ones? If you pay $140 for a friggin shock, I'd expect that it'll fit!!
Installed them in the Hotel parking lot at the Cruise in and noticed that the tubes that come with the shock that go into the upper shock bushing are not the correct size and the suspension ended up being completly loose because there was too much movement without ever hitting the shock.. Now I only have 2 options..
a) Remove the tubes (which will be a pain) and get the correct ones
b) Drill out the upper shock mount holes for a bigger bolt to fit so that the shocks will be tight..
Don't know yet which solution is better? Any suggestions?
I talked to other people and some of them had the same problem with the wrong size tubes
Why aren't they able to supply the correct ones? If you pay $140 for a friggin shock, I'd expect that it'll fit!!
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Not to mention what a pain in the azz it was to change those things out in the first place. Someone was saying that you can press the sleeve out of the old shocks and install them in the new shocks.
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
Not to mention what a pain in the azz it was to change those things out in the first place. Someone was saying that you can press the sleeve out of the old shocks and install them in the new shocks.
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
Those QA1 shocks have 1/2" eyelets most likely, just drill out the holes for a 1/2" bolt.
They don't mention ANYTHING in the manual that they are the wrong size
If you spend that kind of money on shocks, you'd expect that it comes with parts that'll actually fit!!
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Too bad that Van Steel was out of stock. I'd bet that they'd supply the correct eyelets with the shock as they have to be aware that the supplied ones are the wrong size...
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the shocks are 1/2" because that's a standard in aftermarket equipment. You're getting all wound up about a no brainer as a hole, take out the drill and get at it. If you want stuff to fit right out of the box buy original. That's what hot rodding is about, making stuff fit.
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Thread Starter
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
the shocks are 1/2" because that's a standard in aftermarket equipment. You're getting all wound up about a no brainer as a hole, take out the drill and get at it. If you want stuff to fit right out of the box buy original. That's what hot rodding is about, making stuff fit.
They should at least mention that it's the wrong size so that I'll know BEFORE installing them..
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Are the shocks specifically for a c3 corvette?? I think they are just a generic shock w/ the correct compressed and extended length to work on a vette. BTW, is this a front or rear shock you're talking about???
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From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
the shocks are 1/2" because that's a standard in aftermarket equipment. You're getting all wound up about a no brainer as a hole, take out the drill and get at it. If you want stuff to fit right out of the box buy original. That's what hot rodding is about, making stuff fit.
TT, sorry but I can't agree. If the shocks were sold as fitting a C3, then they should fit a C3! If the QA1s are generic in their mounting bracket then they should say so. When I buy an aftermarket cam or intake for my SBC, it darn sure better fit a SBC, and not need a hole drilled somewhere. QA1 needs to get the message that either their C3 shocks fit a C3 or we'll buy other brands. If they wish to loudly announce that their shocks may require the car to be modded for fitment, then that is also acceptable as the buyer assumes the responsability to make them fit. It should not be a surprise.
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You guys are too spoiled with your bolt on, direct fit stuff. The guy has a race car for crying out loud. Chopping holes in the car is not a problem but drilling a couple of holes for a shock is? It's not the shocks fault that it didn't fit, it's his own fault. If he had done the install sooner so he was actually ready for the CI then he would have known sooner something was not right. Having to work on a car in a hotel parking lot is just inviting trouble...regardless if it fits or not. I spent well over 1000$ on shocks...none of them fit. Maybe I should go compain about it 
Last edited by Twin_Turbo; May 29, 2006 at 10:43 AM.
Drifting
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From: Big Pine Key FL
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
You guys are too spoiled with your bolt on, direct fit stuff. The guy has a race car for crying out loud. Chopping holes in the car is not a problem but drilling a couple of holes for a shock is? It's not the shocks fault that it didn't fit, it's his own fault. If he had done the install sooner so he was actually ready for the CI then he would have known sooner something was not right. Having to work on a car in a hotel parking lot is just inviting trouble...regardless if it fits or not. I spent well over 1000$ on shocks...none of them fit. Maybe I should go compain about it
I NEVER load my track bike for the track unless it is 100% ready to go! I have test run it up to operating temp on the stand, installed the tire package, and set the baseline suspension setting for the destination track.
When it rolls out of the trailer it is ready for tech and the first practice session.
16:1 is a good ratio of prep to track time...
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Burning Brakes
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From: Nederland Texas
I have to say, you would think that swapping a couple shocks (stock replacement size) should be a matter of removing a couple of bolts. So I can understand why Oliver thought it would be no big deal to swap them before the race. I bought these shocks recently and had the same problem. I used a small socket the size of the shock sleeve and an extension in the socket to hit with a hammer. I then put the old sleeve in the new shock.
In Oliver's defense, things were happening pretty fast at the track and there wasn't much time for crap like this. That's what makes racing exciting!!!
-Patrick
In Oliver's defense, things were happening pretty fast at the track and there wasn't much time for crap like this. That's what makes racing exciting!!!
-Patrick
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
Are the shocks specifically for a c3 corvette?? I think they are just a generic shock w/ the correct compressed and extended length to work on a vette. BTW, is this a front or rear shock you're talking about???
BTW - I just drilled out the holes and used the 1/2 inch bolts.. Not really a problem but they should specify that you need to do that in the instructions!!
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by pef427
I have to say, you would think that swapping a couple shocks (stock replacement size) should be a matter of removing a couple of bolts. So I can understand why Oliver thought it would be no big deal to swap them before the race. I bought these shocks recently and had the same problem. I used a small socket the size of the shock sleeve and an extension in the socket to hit with a hammer. I then put the old sleeve in the new shock.
In Oliver's defense, things were happening pretty fast at the track and there wasn't much time for crap like this. That's what makes racing exciting!!!
-Patrick
In Oliver's defense, things were happening pretty fast at the track and there wasn't much time for crap like this. That's what makes racing exciting!!!
-Patrick
As I said... Drilling out the holes is not a big deal.. The only thing that I'm complaining is that the instructions didn't mention anything and those shocks are supposed to be direct fit for '63 to '82 Vettes!!
The same thing happened to me with the poly transmission mount.. The bolt required to hold the transmission mount was bigger than the holes in the crossmember on the '68. I believe that the hole size changed in '69..
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Me2
Mine came with sleeves that made them fit the upper mount with no drilling.