Coil Over vs. Adjustable Shock for Drag Racing
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,836
Likes: 110
From: El Paso TX.
Coil Over vs. Adjustable Shock for Drag Racing
im looking to upgrade at the beginning of the year to either some coil overs or adjustable shocks. i do 1/4 mile racing and drive the car on weekends. i am aware of the cost difference but am more interested on which would benifit my application the most.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Dirty South Louisiana
I also do the same. I just ordered some qa1's for the rear and a transmissionbrace from pfadt. i will install as soon as they come in. pm me in about a week or so. ill let you know how they work.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 2
From: Destin FL
The QA1s are about the best performance for the money. Most of the others are too expensive in my opinion. The QA1s are 12 way adjustable and the fronts will cost about $500. On the lowest setting, you can pull the piston/cylinder apart quite easily by hand (not installed in the car, naturally). The goal for drag racing is to allow the front end to rise as easily as possible on launch to help transfer weight to the rear, so when you get to the track, just dial them down (by hand - no tools needed). Your front end will rise several inches higher than stock shocks. If you stick with stock rear shocks, the back end will squat and the tire contact patch will be biased toward the inner halves of the tires (i.e. once you get enough wear, you'll see that there is more wear toward the center of the car), so if you're having alot of tire spin, you might need rear QA1s also (which can easily be dialed UP at the track).
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,836
Likes: 110
From: El Paso TX.
they are listed on there site. it looks like they are priced a few hundred cheeper than the qa1's. if i do get the qa1s, should i get the c, r, or double adjustable? bare in mind i still drive my car on the weekends. i thought of getting the double adjustable, but i thought that may open a whole new can of worms when trying to dial in the car at the track.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 2
From: Destin FL
If you're not trying to turn the car into a true race car (i.e. just having some fun on the weekends), you want the C series - specifically designed for Corvettes. The R series is more expensive and designed for hard core racers. The double adjustables are more expensive and generally too complicated for weekenders (like me). The C series single adjustables are affordable, give results easily felt by seat of the pants and do indeed make a difference in the car's performance. So far, my best 60' time is 1.61 with only 470 rwhp / 425 rwtq. Before the QA1s, my best 60' time was about 1.74 with the same hp/tq. This also was accomplished by totally removing the front sway bar. I've never put it back on and my car is a daily driver. If you're not autocrossing, you'll never miss it. The body roll is nearly identical to with the sway bar on. Mine stays off.
Last edited by Bell; Dec 26, 2008 at 03:31 PM.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 2
From: Destin FL
I have 25 rwhp more than you and 17 ft-lbs more rwtq and I can't get down in the 1.5s. The only obvious difference is the rear end gear. Mine is 3.42, not 3.90. My installer suggested that 3.42 was about the limit to still use as a daily driver. I'm only getting about 17 mpg city / 20 mpg highway (6 mpg decrease across the board from when I was stock). Super duper fast, but you have trade economy for performance.
Maybe I'll talk to my installer again about a higher rear end gear.
Is yours a daily driver? What mpg are you getting?
Maybe I'll talk to my installer again about a higher rear end gear.
Is yours a daily driver? What mpg are you getting?