Installing new QA1 shocks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Ga
Installing new QA1 shocks
I've installed the front two shocks and noticed something odd. 
With the new QA shocks in place the front suspension falls much father down than it did before. When I put a jack under the A-arm to raise it will raise but then before moving all the way back to horizontal the car begins to lift of the stands? It seems like these shock have much more travel but also don't seem to compress the same as the originals.
I know some folks on the forum have told me that you need to fabricate a stop of some type but I'm unsure how to do this?? Can't understand where the stop would go to keep the suspension from droping. I understand the bilsteins had something built in so I will assume I need to modify the shock some how
Thanks for any help.
Mike
With the new QA shocks in place the front suspension falls much father down than it did before. When I put a jack under the A-arm to raise it will raise but then before moving all the way back to horizontal the car begins to lift of the stands? It seems like these shock have much more travel but also don't seem to compress the same as the originals. I know some folks on the forum have told me that you need to fabricate a stop of some type but I'm unsure how to do this?? Can't understand where the stop would go to keep the suspension from droping. I understand the bilsteins had something built in so I will assume I need to modify the shock some how
Thanks for any help.
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by Dolfan
I've installed the front two shocks and noticed something odd. With the new QA shocks in place the front suspension falls much father down than it did before. When I put a jack under the A-arm to raise it will raise but then before moving all the way back to horizontal the car begins to lift of the stands? It seems like these shock have much more travel but also don't seem to compress the same as the originals.
I know some folks on the forum have told me that you need to fabricate a stop of some type but I'm unsure how to do this?? Can't understand where the stop would go to keep the suspension from droping. I understand the bilsteins had something built in so I will assume I need to modify the shock some how
Thanks for any help.
Mike
With the new QA shocks in place the front suspension falls much father down than it did before. When I put a jack under the A-arm to raise it will raise but then before moving all the way back to horizontal the car begins to lift of the stands? It seems like these shock have much more travel but also don't seem to compress the same as the originals. I know some folks on the forum have told me that you need to fabricate a stop of some type but I'm unsure how to do this?? Can't understand where the stop would go to keep the suspension from droping. I understand the bilsteins had something built in so I will assume I need to modify the shock some how
Thanks for any help.
Mike
-JRC-
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Ga
Actually the problem seems to be more that the shock doesn't stop. It extends and allows the A-arm to fall lower than normal. I also have an email in to QA1 for some help, but I have heard about adding "stops". Just not sure how or where?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Many people report that....
Many people report that new shocks make their car sit much HIGHER and not lower. The advice that is to put a few miles on it and it will settle down. In your case, I hope your car doesn't also settle down.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Ga
I know you will need the washers for the rear, hope to get something for that tonight. Maybe the front will be OK once I get it of the stands and the wheels back on but the suspension drop so far down it doesn't seem right.
Someone on the forum said something about a "stop" or "bumper" that they needed to put together?
Someone on the forum said something about a "stop" or "bumper" that they needed to put together?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 4
From: Frostburg MD
The bump stop would be for up travel, not down, like for when you would hit a big bump and bottom out the suspension. If you pull the dustcover off your old shocks, you will see a big rubber or plastic ring on the shock shaft to take the jolt. I haven't figured out yet where to put new bump stops on the front of mine, but with salt and snow season coming up, I'll have some time to get to it.
Also the new shocks shouldn't increase your ride height, they aren't pressurized.
Also the new shocks shouldn't increase your ride height, they aren't pressurized.
Last edited by shotchkiss; Oct 25, 2004 at 01:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Ga
shotchkiss,
When you installed did you simply unbolt and bolt new ones in? If so I can't understand why my A-arm are traveling down so much??? Also I wouldn't expect the car to lift of the stands when jacking the A-arm until the shock bottoms out right? Maybe on the hardest setting but I installed at about +4.
The installed easily but just worried that something isn't right with the positioning.
When you installed did you simply unbolt and bolt new ones in? If so I can't understand why my A-arm are traveling down so much??? Also I wouldn't expect the car to lift of the stands when jacking the A-arm until the shock bottoms out right? Maybe on the hardest setting but I installed at about +4.
The installed easily but just worried that something isn't right with the positioning.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 60
From: Fremont Oh
Dolfan,
I mentioned in your other post, about this... if you are using your stock front spring, if I recall it is about 300 lbs/in roughly.. the front end of the car is about 1800 total so if you have the front end completely off the ground on jack stands you may get it to bottom out. But I found that the shocks would not bottom out. again I'm using HAL 4885 coilovers. But the spring rate is close to the same. Remember also your swaybar will add somewhat into the mix if you are only jacking one side of the car...
So you would see about a 3 inch static drop just in the weight of the car alone also remember the bilstiens are gas charged where the QA1's are not so I would suspect you may lose a little height. With the coilovers of course it it easy to compensate for the ride height. I'm about 25.5 in the front from the ground to the center of the front wheel opening. In my case, this may give you are rough indication where you are setting. If you mearsure at the jack location I'm at about 5 3/4 I think stock it is somewhere around 7 1/4 inches.
Mo
I mentioned in your other post, about this... if you are using your stock front spring, if I recall it is about 300 lbs/in roughly.. the front end of the car is about 1800 total so if you have the front end completely off the ground on jack stands you may get it to bottom out. But I found that the shocks would not bottom out. again I'm using HAL 4885 coilovers. But the spring rate is close to the same. Remember also your swaybar will add somewhat into the mix if you are only jacking one side of the car...
So you would see about a 3 inch static drop just in the weight of the car alone also remember the bilstiens are gas charged where the QA1's are not so I would suspect you may lose a little height. With the coilovers of course it it easy to compensate for the ride height. I'm about 25.5 in the front from the ground to the center of the front wheel opening. In my case, this may give you are rough indication where you are setting. If you mearsure at the jack location I'm at about 5 3/4 I think stock it is somewhere around 7 1/4 inches.
Mo
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,861
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
My rear shocks are shorter than the stock ones. But it does sit higher, since they are pressurized, and my stock ones were completely gone. People at the autocross were accusing me illegally lowering my car. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Middletown N.Y.
I don't remember having any problems with the front ones, although I still have the front end on jack stands, but I went to install the rear ones and the lower bushing is too big for the lower shock stud! Did anyone run into this problem? I'm gonna call QA1 tommorrow and find out whats up with that lower bushing?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Ga
bleeder does go up, just remember that the air bubbles will rise.
Finished the shocks and after jacking the control arm up to make room for the wheel and puttin the cars weight the wheels things seem a bit more normal. The car does seem a bit higher overall, but of course my original shocks were toast.
Just a quick test ride with all set to +4 and I could feel a totally new ride quality. Need to play with the setting abit befor ethe autoX this weekend but might go a bit light on the shock setting until I get used to the new feel.
I'm going to drive a bit, then re-tighten, and call this one quits. I thinks its a done deal.
Finished the shocks and after jacking the control arm up to make room for the wheel and puttin the cars weight the wheels things seem a bit more normal. The car does seem a bit higher overall, but of course my original shocks were toast.
Just a quick test ride with all set to +4 and I could feel a totally new ride quality. Need to play with the setting abit befor ethe autoX this weekend but might go a bit light on the shock setting until I get used to the new feel.
I'm going to drive a bit, then re-tighten, and call this one quits. I thinks its a done deal.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
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From: Australia
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Portsmouth Virginia 396LT4 435RWHP/400RWTQ Best so far 11.26 @ 123mph
I don't remember having any problems with the front ones, although I still have the front end on jack stands, but I went to install the rear ones and the lower bushing is too big for the lower shock stud! Did anyone run into this problem? I'm gonna call QA1 tommorrow and find out whats up with that lower bushing?
Rick
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 60
From: Fremont Oh
Guys,
It has been a long time. I reviewed the shock part numbers. If you are doing coil overs I have them posted on my website in my signature.
The shocks were set for about a 1.5 inch drop so you may be able to compare the lengths is you are going with standard shocks.
Even with the coil overs I did weld a smaller washer as well as the diameter of the shock stud of the top rear was too small as well.
Mo
It has been a long time. I reviewed the shock part numbers. If you are doing coil overs I have them posted on my website in my signature.
The shocks were set for about a 1.5 inch drop so you may be able to compare the lengths is you are going with standard shocks.
Even with the coil overs I did weld a smaller washer as well as the diameter of the shock stud of the top rear was too small as well.
Mo
Last edited by Mo_Bandy; Jun 29, 2010 at 01:29 PM.
