QA1 HAL Adjustable Shock Questions
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 9
QA1 HAL Adjustable Shock Questions - and significant problems with these.
I recently purchased a set of these, but I have a few questions related to installing them.
1) The front shocks do not come with a boot of any kind to keep dirt off the shaft. Is there an aftermarket boot available that can be used with these shocks? Did anyone re-use the stock steel boot from the original shocks?
2) The stock front shocks have a thick cylindrical spacer that fits inside the boot that may act as a bump stop? Should I re-use this somehow with the new shocks?
3) The lower mount of the rear shocks does not work well with the stock bolt configuration. With the bolt fully tightened, the shock can move side to side about a 1/2 inch. What did you guys do about that?
4) The rear shocks do not come with a boot either, but the stock one appears to work
5) The QA1/HAL rear shocks do not extend as far as the stock shocks, and therefore limit the useable suspension travel significantly (at least 1/2 inch of travel is lost). I'm pissed about this, bit I don't see any way to fix that.
While QA1 lists these shock part numbers as specifically for the corvette; with all these issues, they are obviously not specifically designed for C4 corvettes, and come with no corvette specific directions. :cuss
[Modified by Mr6spd, 4:57 PM 4/5/2003]
1) The front shocks do not come with a boot of any kind to keep dirt off the shaft. Is there an aftermarket boot available that can be used with these shocks? Did anyone re-use the stock steel boot from the original shocks?
2) The stock front shocks have a thick cylindrical spacer that fits inside the boot that may act as a bump stop? Should I re-use this somehow with the new shocks?
3) The lower mount of the rear shocks does not work well with the stock bolt configuration. With the bolt fully tightened, the shock can move side to side about a 1/2 inch. What did you guys do about that?
4) The rear shocks do not come with a boot either, but the stock one appears to work
5) The QA1/HAL rear shocks do not extend as far as the stock shocks, and therefore limit the useable suspension travel significantly (at least 1/2 inch of travel is lost). I'm pissed about this, bit I don't see any way to fix that.
While QA1 lists these shock part numbers as specifically for the corvette; with all these issues, they are obviously not specifically designed for C4 corvettes, and come with no corvette specific directions. :cuss
[Modified by Mr6spd, 4:57 PM 4/5/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,627
Likes: 8
From: Drag racing junkie Va.
Re: QA1 HAL Adjustable Shock Questions - and significant problems with these. (Mr6spd)
I've had the HAL/QA1s on my C4 for a few years now, and moved them from one car to another.
1&4) Haven't had any issues with not having dust boots front or rear.
2) I just used the poly bushings that came with the front shocks, no problem.
3) The rear lower mount wasn't any problem on either car, fit snug.
5) I don't think I've ever fully entended the shock while driving so I it didn't
miss the 1/2" of travel.
1&4) Haven't had any issues with not having dust boots front or rear.
2) I just used the poly bushings that came with the front shocks, no problem.
3) The rear lower mount wasn't any problem on either car, fit snug.
5) I don't think I've ever fully entended the shock while driving so I it didn't
miss the 1/2" of travel.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 572
Likes: 1
From: plainview ny
Re: QA1 HAL Adjustable Shock Questions - and significant problems with these. (new92racer)
I've had the HAL/QA1s on my C4 for a few years now, and moved them from one car to another.
1&4) Haven't had any issues with not having dust boots front or rear.
2) I just used the poly bushings that came with the front shocks, no problem.
3) The rear lower mount wasn't any problem on either car, fit snug.
5) I don't think I've ever fully entended the shock while driving so I it didn't
miss the 1/2" of travel.
1&4) Haven't had any issues with not having dust boots front or rear.
2) I just used the poly bushings that came with the front shocks, no problem.
3) The rear lower mount wasn't any problem on either car, fit snug.
5) I don't think I've ever fully entended the shock while driving so I it didn't
miss the 1/2" of travel.
1,4) No issues without dust boots either
2) I used some odd combination of old/new bushings. If I remember corectly I used mostly old bushings as they seemed to fit better.
3) I used spacers (washers) to take up the slack... no issues.
5) No issues with the 1/2"
The shocks seem great, although it is hard to tell how much of a difference the actual shock made as I replaced the sway bars and added camber and cross bars at the same time. I have this thing about tackeling many jobs at once to limit the number of times I have to disassemble my car. I am waiting to be ready for an exhaust to add a hurst shifter (might even tackle a clutch and beam plates at the same time).
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 9
Re: QA1 HAL Adjustable Shock Questions - and significant problems with these. (BrianS)
Thanks for the great info. I went ahead and reused the stock plastic rear shock boot, and used a thick rubber bushing at the rear lower mount to take out all the side to side play. On the front I installed them without any boot, although it looks like the stock metal boot may work, If I use it, I will have it ceramic coated to match the appearance of the aluminum shock body.
One thing I noticed by manually extending and compressing the shocks is that the rear shocks are massively stiffer than the front shocks for any given adjustment **** setting. In fact with the rear shocks at the 4rd click (3nd setting from soft), I can't even move the plunger at all, in either direction, with my entire body weight. Is this right? Is there a chassis dynamics reason for this to be appropriate?
Brian, I have exactly the same mod implementaion philosophy ... combine any interrelated mods and do them at the same time. Saves a lot of work.
One thing I noticed by manually extending and compressing the shocks is that the rear shocks are massively stiffer than the front shocks for any given adjustment **** setting. In fact with the rear shocks at the 4rd click (3nd setting from soft), I can't even move the plunger at all, in either direction, with my entire body weight. Is this right? Is there a chassis dynamics reason for this to be appropriate?
Brian, I have exactly the same mod implementaion philosophy ... combine any interrelated mods and do them at the same time. Saves a lot of work.
