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QA1 owners please chime in

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Old Mar 28, 2004 | 12:22 PM
  #1  
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Default QA1 owners please chime in

I just had the 12 way shocks put on my car and was wondering how everyone liked them.I got them mainly to get weight transfer but the car does not seem to do much of that on et streets.Just wondering how you guys were liking them.
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 12:00 AM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

ttt
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Old Mar 29, 2004 | 09:59 AM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

I just installed them on my ride, but haven't been to the track as yet. I was looking for transfer as well and planned on adjusting the fronts to the softest setting and the rears to the hardest. How did you have yours set at the track?
Joe
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 12:53 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (C54FUN)

Well I set the front shocks to dead soft and the rear on 4 clicks from dead soft.It worked ok but the car did not look to transfer any weight.I just wonder if the front sway bar needs to be removed?
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Old Mar 30, 2004 | 04:48 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

I have them on and went to the track on Sunday for test and tune. All set to play around and there were so many cars I only got 2 runs. I had them set to 5 all around and on Pilots got pretty good weight xfer. I had heard that you should set the rears to 3 and the fronts to 4-5 for drag racing, but I didn't get enough runs to test this. :( I did pull a 13.1 @ 110 with T/C on... :smash:
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Old Mar 31, 2004 | 05:38 AM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (ArKay99)

Well I dont know for sure but I would figure that the softest setting would give the most weight transfer in the front.I do agree with the rear setting though.I just wonder if removing the front sway bar would be the key factor in getting the front end to move?
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Old Apr 12, 2004 | 12:44 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

I was advise to use 2 in the front and 6 in the rear.

Will be on track first time Saturday in Maryland
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Old Apr 12, 2004 | 03:25 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

Edgar, please let me know how your settings work for you. My car is going to Carmen for some tweaking next week and should make the next ECC event. I'll be looking for some improved traction with the QA1s.
Joe :seeya
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Old Apr 12, 2004 | 04:43 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (C54FUN)

Will do Joe
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Old Apr 18, 2004 | 02:28 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (REDGAR)

I was advise to use 2 in the front and 6 in the rear.

Will be on track first time Saturday in Maryland
Hey REDGAR did you have any luck at mastering those shocks?
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Old Apr 18, 2004 | 02:37 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

Here is what I have picked up from others. I have mine on order a plan to use these settings as goos starting point.

Local roads (bumpy) -- a setting of 3 or 4 all around
Drag racing -- a setting of 1 in front and 4 to 5 in the back
Autocrossing -- a setting of 7 to 8 all around
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Old Apr 18, 2004 | 02:57 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

Okay so here is my result from the first track day.

Started at 2 front and 6 rear
First couple runs did not hook for lack of a decent burnout.
Third run hooked well, good lift. My 60' was 1.618

Then I went to 2 and 5
two consecutive runs produced 1.601 and 1.611

Went to 1 and 5
two consecutive runs at 1.634 and 1.638

I consider this data NOT GOOD. This is why, we were hot lapping the cars and the track hook was very inconsistent. It would appear 2 and 5 was the best but I will really wait until I run at E-town (my regular track) a few times before I will reach a conclusion.

I have been in the low 1.6 range already so comparing to what I have already there appears to be no benefit but I will do more testing before I decide on the benefit.

What I did learn and you should all be ready for is that you will feel the bumps more at top end because the suspension is so soft that a divot or bump will feel like the car wants to lift (bounce) off the ground. Be careful you first few times out to get used to it.
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Old Apr 18, 2004 | 08:28 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (REDGAR)

Have I told you the story about forgetting to readjust them before heading home from the track... :bb :nono:
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Old Apr 18, 2004 | 11:03 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (ToplessTexan)

Kurt I would bet it would be very frightening the way it bounced up top on me.

Good thing I trailer;)
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Old Apr 18, 2004 | 11:53 PM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (REDGAR)

REDGAR I checked your sig and your car looks like its about to lift the front tires. What did you do to get it to do that? My car does not look that way even with the Qa1s.
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Old Apr 19, 2004 | 12:01 AM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

I don't really drag much, But the one time I went with the QA1s I was told to set them more like 2 and 8 or even 9.
I like to canyon run and roadrace. I was out this weekend in the canyons and had the backs on 8 and the fronts on nine. with GTS springs and T-1 bars, the car is on rails!! I crank the shocks up to 11 and 12 with slicks on the roadcourse and love the ride!
JB
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Old Apr 19, 2004 | 08:35 AM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

I do have the front sway bar removed. Do you? Other than that, maybe it is stock cheaper version shocks with like 55K miles on them, maybe wear? The stockers were tighter than the QA1 set at 2 I can tell you so it probably jumps even more now.

The other thing is the picture was caught at the perfect split second which is very hard to do. Photographer (INSANITY) did a great job.


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Old Apr 19, 2004 | 09:59 AM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (REDGAR)

I do have the front sway bar removed. Do you? Other than that, maybe it is stock cheaper version shocks with like 55K miles on them, maybe wear? The stockers were tighter than the QA1 set at 2 I can tell you so it probably jumps even more now.

The other thing is the picture was caught at the perfect split second which is very hard to do. Photographer (INSANITY) did a great job.

No I still have the front sway bar. I was going to take it off but I heard that it does not help. Can you tell any difference in normal driving? I took the one off my 01 camaroand could not tell any difference under normal driving. I was just wondering if the c5 is the same. My best 60' with the QA1's is a 1.54.
The setting on the shocks was 1and 5 if I remember correctly.
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Old Apr 19, 2004 | 10:17 AM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

Under normal driving with stock shocks, I don't feel the difference. I don't take spirited corners though so that helps.

With the QA1, I only drove it about 10 miles at 6 all the way around and I did feel a difference but I am sure it can be handled through adjustment on the shocks. I don't drive much on the street.
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Old Apr 19, 2004 | 10:19 AM
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Default Re: QA1 owners please chime in (vette man 01)

Brad-

Personally, I HATED my QA1's. They're probably pretty good for drag racing, but for street and autocross/RR driving, I felt they were awful. I sold them and went with Koni's and am MUCH happier.
I would HIGHLY recommend at least the Z51 springs for these shocks... Otherwise you're going to wear them out REALLY fast. Mine had to be rebuilt three times in two years with the FE1 springs.
:nonod: :nonod:
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