Eakster

Need some opinions - I'm done with the flouncy bouncy soft ride especially in the front of my 96. The problem probably is these were brand new OEM Bilsteins when I got the car a few years ago, but the PO also had it lowered, and had a Sport front spring from VBP put in the front. It handles nice and flat but man it's bouncy, I hit the bump stops very easy in some situations (those little yellow parking lot speed bumps), and the front end lifts off on hard acceleration. I want firm and planted, no bump stops!

So I'm getting adjustable shocks for the front end, and later for the rears. Can't justify the price of double adjustibles, the singles I've found run at about 170 bucks each, but I have a choice of QA1 or Koni. I know QA1 stuff is highly regarded on the Forum, but also Koni have been doing this for years.

So which should I get?

konis
QA1s

Cheers

BrianCunningham

If you install the Koni singles in the rear the only way to adjust them would be to either drill a hole in the frame or take them off.

I ran the single adjustable QA1's before, they're a good shock. the adjusters on the ones I had did BOTH compression & rebound.

Get the ones with threads on them in case you want to go to coilovers later.

Bobby Joe

This is exactly why I went with QA1 back when I was making the same choice! I ended up getting the 18 point adjustable shocks in the front and rear. $500 new, from QA1 was the best deal I could find 1 year ago. To adjust them, I just reach around each wheel and turn the ****, counting the clicks. Daily driving, I use 4 or 5. If I wanna ride a bit sporty, I take it between 10-12. Much harder than that...I dunno where a road perfect enough to handle that exist. Either way though, I can pull over at a gas station just before the twisty roads and twist a ****, but I sure can't take the Koni's off on the side of the road.

Have fun with your choice!!

gerardvg

I would recommend QA1 they have a valve on the outside to adjust them, the Koni coil overs i have need the springs removed and shock absorber depressed fully to engage the dial.

The QA1 coilovers have a smaller diameter spring so fit easier.

http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...&SubGroup=1972

shakedown067

QA-1! I have double adjustable on the vette as I didn't want compression to go up with rebound in the rear. I have single adjustable QA-1s on my bagged truck and absolutely LOVE them. The QA-1s are quite easy to change settings...you may get a little dirty, but it's easy.

rocco16

I faced the same dilemma when I replaced my shocks.
I went with KONI.

They are very agricultural in looks, but solid units. I found that once I discovered that one perfect (for me) setting, I never had to adjust them again. Remember, once you have that "perfect" setting, any changes cause them to be "imperfect". That's why easily adjustable shocks just get most of us in trouble.

The QA1's are superb looking units, though, and if you can purchase them for the same price as the KONI's, it would be hard not to go that way.
Bottom line: either way, you can't go wrong.


Larry
_____________
not easily impressed....

Eakster

Thanks for all the comments. Think I'll go with the nice silver shiny ones I will be adjusting them as I'll be commuting but still taking it up the mountain for fun. Trackday is in this car's future too!

Tom400CFI

I bought the Koni's, but have no experience with the QA1's.

If I were buying again, I'd probably get the QA1's. I feel that the compression damping on the Koni is not enough, and the rebound is all that is adjustable.