I installed a set of QA1 shock the other night in the front of the car.

My car after launching on the strip would bounce 2-4 times. This effectely was loading and unloadin the rear wheels and effection traction I believe.

I chose the QA1 shocks for one reason. Their adjustability. They offer 12 setting for different applications. Which for me was perfect.

I installed them in about a 1/2 hours or so, with no problems. The stock ones were all but completely shot. While they still moved apart by themselves, they had little or no resistance in the together position.

After installing the shocks I set them on setting 6, middle of the road for starters.

Man what a difference in the car! It felt like it was on rails compared to the floater feel its had. I knew for quite a while that the shocks were bad. And the rear ones equally as bad, so they are next.

Last night I cranked them up to 12 (stiffest) there is absolutely no roll to the car now and the feeling is spectacular.

I have not been to the strip yet with them which will either make or break the shocks for me. On a setting of 1 they act like 90/10 shocks. 10 percent resistance in the upward direction and 90 resistance downward. This will allow the spring to spring up, loading the rear wheels with weight, then the front will come down real slow as you make your way through the 1/4. One thing I noticed right away with the shocks while the car was up on the lift is the wheels "hang" MUCH lower with these shocks. Which probably mean no more baby wheelies :lolg: Or maybe it will make it better. Only one way to tell.

Thus far I am very pleased with the shocks and would recommend them to anyone that is into drag racing and street handling. I can only imagine what 1 on each corner of the car will feel like. But for now I am very impressed and feel much safer without the floater feel on the road.

:cheers:

 

Jesse, they are really not like 90/10s when set loose. Both compression and rebound are adjusted at the same time, so they are just loose when set to zero. They ARE also longer as you noted. put some grease on the shaft and see if they bottom out while street driving. Mine do when i have the rear raised and the big tires on. I only have about 1 1/2in of compression travel. However, my front spring is so stiff, i could throw the shocks away and the car still doesn't bounce. I had a similar problem with the rear (only worse), but i think it was because of my hybred setup (85 car, 93 rear). I had to make custom brackets for the rear to increase the travel. In all, i still really like them for their wide range of adjustability. Enjoy

 

Ralph,

Yes I should have probably cleared that up in my post. I guess what I was trying to say is the desired effect I am trying to get would be a 90/10 shock. But you are right I noticed the same resistance upward/downward.

But in comparison to my stock shocks that basically pull apart like butter and drop the from of the car like and an ugly stepchild, they are 100X better. And will/should eliminate the bounce, bounce bounce I get when the front hits back down.

I will have to check the compession on the shocks as you say.

:cheers:

 

I love mine since I do all sorts of racing, drag, autocross and road courses.
I've got them on all 4
The rears are shorter BTW.

They are 50/50 shocks as pointed out.

You can actually turn them OFF
Great for launches, but the car tends to float at the end of the strip.
The lowest I'd go is one.

 

What do you mean by turn them off?

Do you mean turned all the way counter clockwise? :confused:

Ralph, where do you have your set at the track? :cheers:


[Modified by ski_dwn_it, 5:56 PM 8/22/2003]

 

:cheers: Good to hear. I have a set sitting in the garage ready to be installed some weekend when I get time. I'm looking primarily for autocross usages, althought then getting a good street settings as well (since its my daily driver in the summer).

 

Turn them off????

 

I think Brian means setting them to zero (all the way counterclockwise). This is how i set my fronts at the track, however, like i mentioned above, my spring is very stiff on it's own. The rears i just keep at 5 or 6.....seems to provide a nice ride and work well at the track.

 

:yesnod:

 

:iagree: me too :thumbs:

 

Could you post a picture of your front install, I just did mine, want to make sure I placed all the bumpers correctly?

 

Thanks guys for all the comments. As for the pictures I do not have any yet of mine. Maybe some else might. Sorry. :cheers:

 

Sounds like you cant really go wrong with QA1's...either just street or both autoX and drag, its a shock that'll do it all. :cool:

 

They are extremely nice for us vette guys. We can get at the **** with little or no trouble at all. Changing the setting takes literally seconds.

I definately am getting some for the rear next. :cheers:

 

Sounds like a great replacement for FX3 cars. Who makes them and where do you buy them. Looks as if this forum will give me a supercar and a slim wallet. :steering: :auto: :D

 

I've had mine for about 8 months now and love 'em! They work out great for Auto-X, you can " dial-in" the amount of stiffness you need for the track conditions. You can also adjust them for a heck of a smooth ride for cruisin...best of both worlds. :cheers:

 

I just got my fronts on last night, took a ride today. They feel great. Road to work on 5, felt super smooth, went to 12 for the ride back, felt amazingly tight. Best investment I have ever made. Can't wait until I get the rears on.

 

Lot of chatter on qa1's. How long have they been around? Warranty? Rebuildable? Are the rears also ez to adjust.

 

I am pretty sure they are rebuildable, rears are just as easy to adjust, same easy ****. Can't remember about the warranty, someone else can chime in.


http://www.halshocks.com

 

Jesse,

Drop me a line about the rear QA1s, I'll be back home by the weekend.

Dave :D