***SHOCKS: Bilstein vs QA1 vs ???***
Thread Starter
The ORIGINAL and bestest
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From: Toronto Ontario
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***SHOCKS: Bilstein vs QA1 vs ???***
I am looking to replace my current shocks, and I am looking for some opinions. Coil overs are not an option.
Currently I have Carrera single adjustables, the old style that you have to remove to adjust. They were great shocks, and I am very happy with the performance, but they are worn out now. I have composite mono leaf springs front and rear.
I am considering the Bilstein sport shocks, but I am also wondering if the QA1's are more what I am looking for. I don't want or expect a soft ride, I drive my car hard.
The QA1 single adjustables are roughly twice as much as the Bilsteins, and the double adjustables are about four times the price!!! Are they really worth the much greater expense??? Any others I should be considering?
Remember, I am looking for performance, not a Cadillac-type ride!
Currently I have Carrera single adjustables, the old style that you have to remove to adjust. They were great shocks, and I am very happy with the performance, but they are worn out now. I have composite mono leaf springs front and rear.
I am considering the Bilstein sport shocks, but I am also wondering if the QA1's are more what I am looking for. I don't want or expect a soft ride, I drive my car hard.
The QA1 single adjustables are roughly twice as much as the Bilsteins, and the double adjustables are about four times the price!!! Are they really worth the much greater expense??? Any others I should be considering?
Remember, I am looking for performance, not a Cadillac-type ride!
Thread Starter
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
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From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
I could be worng, but I don't think Monroe offers shocks that are performance oriented. I have always viewed them as a OE replacement/jobber type shock.
Last edited by 7t2vette; Dec 8, 2011 at 07:02 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
I have had the same four Koni's on my '69 for 35+ years. Still very good, control the VBP rear mono-spring very well. VBP recommends their specially valved shocks with the mono-spring because there is no interleaf friction to damp unwanted motion. My old Koni's do the job
!Koni shocks are pricey, but over the long haul, well worth the money.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
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From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
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What about semi-coil overs???
You can run the stock a-arms w/ NO mods..
NEVERMIND- I see you've got the mono leaf out back and in FRONT...
But I'll still throw out my shameless plug....
I've gone w/ Vansteels full coilovers & tubular a-arms- not going to be using these. Brand new never mounted $500 + shipping
Richard
You can run the stock a-arms w/ NO mods..
NEVERMIND- I see you've got the mono leaf out back and in FRONT...
But I'll still throw out my shameless plug....
I've gone w/ Vansteels full coilovers & tubular a-arms- not going to be using these. Brand new never mounted $500 + shipping
Richard
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Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
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From: East TN
I have VBP Performance Plus suspension with Bilstein Sports. The ride is very hard on the softest spring settings with the sports, but stays very flat it the turns, handling like it's on rails. I'm also running 275/40 ZR17 tires all around. The Bilstein HD's on the rear will help soften the ride a bit, but if you just want performance then Sport's all around.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
The QA1 single adjustables are roughly twice as much as the Bilsteins, and the double adjustables are about four times the price!!! Are they really worth the much greater expense??? Any others I should be considering?
I have QA-1 dual a front and QA-1 single Adjust rears. You are paying for convenience. i had rear bilstiens and it was a pain to remove and set the changes. The little dials on Qa's are nice. They are the last shock that you will ever buy.
I have QA-1 dual a front and QA-1 single Adjust rears. You are paying for convenience. i had rear bilstiens and it was a pain to remove and set the changes. The little dials on Qa's are nice. They are the last shock that you will ever buy.
Thread Starter
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
I have had the same four Koni's on my '69 for 35+ years. Still very good, control the VBP rear mono-spring very well. VBP recommends their specially valved shocks with the mono-spring because there is no interleaf friction to damp unwanted motion. My old Koni's do the job!Koni shocks are pricey, but over the long haul, well worth the money.
How can they still possibly be good, unless you have no use on them! Anyways, I've looked at the Koni's, and they are priced just a little more than the Bilstein Sports. They are also adjustable. More research is needed.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KON-80401020
What about semi-coil overs???
You can run the stock a-arms w/ NO mods..
NEVERMIND- I see you've got the mono leaf out back and in FRONT...
But I'll still throw out my shameless plug....
I've gone w/ Vansteels full coilovers & tubular a-arms- not going to be using these. Brand new never mounted $500 + shipping
Richard
You can run the stock a-arms w/ NO mods..
NEVERMIND- I see you've got the mono leaf out back and in FRONT...
But I'll still throw out my shameless plug....
I've gone w/ Vansteels full coilovers & tubular a-arms- not going to be using these. Brand new never mounted $500 + shipping
Richard
I have VBP Performance Plus suspension with Bilstein Sports. The ride is very hard on the softest spring settings with the sports, but stays very flat it the turns, handling like it's on rails. I'm also running 275/40 ZR17 tires all around. The Bilstein HD's on the rear will help soften the ride a bit, but if you just want performance then Sport's all around.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 698
Likes: 8
From: Stockholm Sweden
I have VBP Performance Plus suspension with Bilstein Sports. The ride is very hard on the softest spring settings with the sports, but stays very flat it the turns, handling like it's on rails. I'm also running 275/40 ZR17 tires all around. The Bilstein HD's on the rear will help soften the ride a bit, but if you just want performance then Sport's all around.
The suspension funktions very well and the car is very rigid in the corners.
However, those BilsteinHD:s are to soft for the fiberglass springs and the car "bounces" when driving on a uneven surface.
//Ricky.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 698
Likes: 8
From: Stockholm Sweden
The QA1 single adjustables are roughly twice as much as the Bilsteins, and the double adjustables are about four times the price!!! Are they really worth the much greater expense??? Any others I should be considering?
I have QA-1 dual a front and QA-1 single Adjust rears. You are paying for convenience. i had rear bilstiens and it was a pain to remove and set the changes. The little dials on Qa's are nice. They are the last shock that you will ever buy.
I have QA-1 dual a front and QA-1 single Adjust rears. You are paying for convenience. i had rear bilstiens and it was a pain to remove and set the changes. The little dials on Qa's are nice. They are the last shock that you will ever buy.
It would be crap to buy BS Sports and not being able to adjust if needed.
About the Konis.. I had a set of those on my old Dodge Charger and one have to order those to the config you wanted (like 70-30% and so on).
To fine adjust those Konis on the car one had to remove the shock and rotate the "piston stem".. Quite inconvinient i must say..
I like to hear that you are happy with the QA1:s exept for the price.
However, my experince are that the high cost is quickly forgotten about when you get the ride you want and that they are easy to adjust without removing from the car.
Thanks.
//Ricky.
Thread Starter
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Thats the same suspension that i have appart from that i didnt buy mine as a kit and used it with my BilsteinsHD that i already had.
The suspension funktions very well and the car is very rigid in the corners.
However, those BilsteinHD:s are to soft for the fiberglass springs and the car "bounces" when driving on a uneven surface.
//Ricky.
The suspension funktions very well and the car is very rigid in the corners.
However, those BilsteinHD:s are to soft for the fiberglass springs and the car "bounces" when driving on a uneven surface.
//Ricky.
I must say that it would be interesting to go for a set of QA1 shocks..
It would be crap to buy BS Sports and not being able to adjust if needed.
About the Konis.. I had a set of those on my old Dodge Charger and one have to order those to the config you wanted (like 70-30% and so on).
To fine adjust those Konis on the car one had to remove the shock and rotate the "piston stem".. Quite inconvinient i must say..
I like to hear that you are happy with the QA1:s exept for the price.
However, my experince are that the high cost is quickly forgotten about when you get the ride you want and that they are easy to adjust without removing from the car.
Thanks.
//Ricky.
It would be crap to buy BS Sports and not being able to adjust if needed.
About the Konis.. I had a set of those on my old Dodge Charger and one have to order those to the config you wanted (like 70-30% and so on).
To fine adjust those Konis on the car one had to remove the shock and rotate the "piston stem".. Quite inconvinient i must say..
I like to hear that you are happy with the QA1:s exept for the price.
However, my experince are that the high cost is quickly forgotten about when you get the ride you want and that they are easy to adjust without removing from the car.
Thanks.
//Ricky.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 698
Likes: 8
From: Stockholm Sweden
My questions are more functionrelated than economyrelated at the stage im in.
My questions are adressed to those use their car similar to how i use mine, so please fill me up with inputs of function on the shocks.
//Ricky.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I presently have the rear 420# mono and 3/4 spring ends sway and I had re repair my wheel flares because of tire rub. So I was considering getting the rear QA-1 dual adjust with a coil over and use some very light spring like 50 or 80 # in conjunction to my Mono.
some how I manage to get over 3 inches of wheel compression in a turn I have about 58% rear weight bias on a just over 3000 lb car. with additional spring I want to limit the tire to @ two inches of compression in a turn with big road racing slicks
some how I manage to get over 3 inches of wheel compression in a turn I have about 58% rear weight bias on a just over 3000 lb car. with additional spring I want to limit the tire to @ two inches of compression in a turn with big road racing slicks
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 698
Likes: 8
From: Stockholm Sweden
I thik you are pushing quite a bit harder in the corners than i do "gkull", Im running on DOT street tyres so i will never se the same g-forces as you do. 
But it is an interesting thougt to go for the "dual adjust" shocks to be able to find "my own" settings.
Is it posible to put on an additional "wery light spring" on any QA1 or does it have to be a purpouse made shock for coilover use?
//Ricky.
But it is an interesting thougt to go for the "dual adjust" shocks to be able to find "my own" settings.
Is it posible to put on an additional "wery light spring" on any QA1 or does it have to be a purpouse made shock for coilover use?
//Ricky.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Anyways, I've looked at the Koni's, and they are priced just a little more than the Bilstein Sports. They are also adjustable. More research is needed.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KON-80401020
Bilstein makes adjustable shocks for our cars? I thought they didn't, but I will look again. I know what you mean about the convenience with the QA1's, so much easier than removing the shock to make a change! I also know they are a quality product, and are also rebuildable......but the cost!!!
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KON-80401020
Bilstein makes adjustable shocks for our cars? I thought they didn't, but I will look again. I know what you mean about the convenience with the QA1's, so much easier than removing the shock to make a change! I also know they are a quality product, and are also rebuildable......but the cost!!!
I was wrong. It was the Koni adjustables I had on the rear. You had to remove them and do some twist and turn and hope that it went to the next setting. I have them in my new used parts junk pile
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I thik you are pushing quite a bit harder in the corners than i do "gkull", Im running on DOT street tyres so i will never se the same g-forces as you do.
But it is an interesting thougt to go for the "dual adjust" shocks to be able to find "my own" settings.
Is it posible to put on an additional "wery light spring" on any QA1 or does it have to be a purpouse made shock for coilover use?
//Ricky.
But it is an interesting thougt to go for the "dual adjust" shocks to be able to find "my own" settings.
Is it posible to put on an additional "wery light spring" on any QA1 or does it have to be a purpouse made shock for coilover use?
//Ricky.
But other than that having a 100 combinations is kind of fun. My fronts are set to more rebound resistance than compression because of my 600 - 700# springs and lighter front end
I was going to say that my Kumho street tires are actually pretty good. It takes pretty high cornering speed to get 335/17 rears to slide sideways
Last edited by gkull; Dec 10, 2011 at 10:00 AM.
Thread Starter
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
I talked to the owner of my local road race shop about them, he told me Koni's were junk and he wouldn't recommend them to anyone! I guess it's either the Bilsteins or saving my pennys for the QA1's.