QA1 Shocks and Lowering
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 109
From: Crystal lake Il
2022 Corvette of the Year Winner -- Modified
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Winner
QA1 Shocks and Lowering
Anyone running QA1 Shocks and lowered the front and rear, I notice its for stock ride height but does it have a margin were I could lower it without bottoming out the shock?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 859
Likes: 17
From: Houston TX
It may be worth your time to discuss directly with QA1. Their bodies lend themselves to easy customization, so you may be able to get a shock from them with the correct fastening for a C4 that has the right height range for how much you're wanting to lower it.
If you're not married to the QA1 choice, you might also consider the Ridetech offerings as an option.
I have QA1 Coilovers from Van Steel on my car and have been disappointed with the ride height that I have to run. If I lower my car anymore than where I'm at, the shock will bottom out. Van Steel told me it was up to me to let them know if I wanted it lower. Honestly, my car never sat this high with the Bilsteins and OEM Springs. I intend to purchase a shorter shock someday.
If you're not married to the QA1 choice, you might also consider the Ridetech offerings as an option.
I have QA1 Coilovers from Van Steel on my car and have been disappointed with the ride height that I have to run. If I lower my car anymore than where I'm at, the shock will bottom out. Van Steel told me it was up to me to let them know if I wanted it lower. Honestly, my car never sat this high with the Bilsteins and OEM Springs. I intend to purchase a shorter shock someday.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
I put QA1's on the front of my 84. I did a write up about it here
The ride quality is very good. I can't say that it handles much better then before. But I'm very happy with it. I still haven't had a chance to fine tune the shocks at all. I put the dial in the middle and then just ran it there.
The ride quality is very good. I can't say that it handles much better then before. But I'm very happy with it. I still haven't had a chance to fine tune the shocks at all. I put the dial in the middle and then just ran it there.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 109
From: Crystal lake Il
2022 Corvette of the Year Winner -- Modified
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Winner
Thanks for the iinput, I got these shocks second hand, someone put them on their 87 drove it for 150 miles and then decided they wanted full coilovers and I got a $275 discount off new.... so cant complain for adjustable shocks at the same price as base Bilsteins.... I will see what QA1 says. This is for a 1987 Callaway TT build; all new Superpro bushings going on also.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
If they have the same compressed and extended lengths as the stock shocks (i.e. if they're the proper shock for your car) and you're using stock bump stops, then lowering should be the same as with a C4 on stock Bilsteins: you lose compression travel and gain extension travel. The problem with lowering a car for most people is that they don't increase spring rate, so they run into the limits of compression travel over bumps and dips where that didn't happen at the stock height.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 319
From: Ohio
I've found it difficult to lower my C4 without losing travel or going with springs that are too stiff.
I'm likely cutting and redoing my mounts, possibly even making custom brackets for the lower mount on the control arm.
I'm likely cutting and redoing my mounts, possibly even making custom brackets for the lower mount on the control arm.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
That's basically what I did. I welded new mounts on top of my factory shock mounts That let me go with a way longer shock and spring. It gave me a lot more travel that way. I have pictures of it in that link I posted. On QA1's website they have a calculator that figures out what spring rate you need. The only issue I ran into was when I tried the length of spring they recommended it sat like a monster truck. So I swapped those out for a shorter/stiffer spring. It sits just the way I want it to now.
