QA1 Front Coilover Experiences

[Mad_trbo]

I have a set of the QA1 coilovers on the front of my 87 T-Type and to date I haven't been real happy with the ride quality. So becuase of my lack of experience with these cars and the sad shape mine was in when I bought it I am leaning on the board for advice.

Anyone give me any feedback on there experiences with this set up? I replaced the bushings with Energy Suspension both upper and lower. Ride height is approximately 26 inches from the ground to the fender well and it rides like crap in my opinion. I cut the bump stop in half to allow for more suspension travel and have tried to find the right setting for a firm but not sled like ride and I can't seem to find it.

Seems like it is either to firm or the lower control arm is crashing into the frame. I have a good 3 - 4 inches of travel between the bump stop and frame currently and it isn't really at the ride height I want, maybe 1.5 - 2 inches lower.

Any advice or suggestions....

[Otto J]

Maybe you need a different spring in them,The current one may be to weak,or made for a lighter car

[Slow91z]

I'm with Otto probably needs a stiffer spring, if not then you'll probably just have to just suck it up and have it high.

[Bruce]

Anyone give me any feedback on there experiences with this set up? I replaced the bushings with Energy Suspension both upper and lower. Ride height is approximately 26 inches from the ground to the fender well and it rides like crap in my opinion. Any advice or suggestions....

Mine's in the shop tonight getting a set installed... For the moment I can't answer all your questions.

But, measuring from ground to fender lip doesn't allow for different tire diameters, so it's about meaningless, a better measurement is from the center of the spindle to the lip. Mine's at 13.5", and I'm shooting for 13 even.

Did you get the SB or BB version?.

In the library, one of the guys has done it, using the BB version, and said he had to cut 1.5 loops off the spring to get the ride height correct.

If the bushings are installed too tight, then they can cause the suspension to bind up, and play heck with trying to set things. IMO, any poly bushing should be loose enough that the arm, drops from it's own weight, during preassembly.

[Slow91z]

Just had another thought...Are you using stock stock spindles?? If so why don't you put drop spindles on it and raise the coil over up some...It would give you more control arm clearance and the drop you want.

[cdsttype]

i have a set on my car they are great for the track
i dont think they are for the street the spring is totallay
compressed and is designed to unload on the launch:rockwoot:

[Bruce]

Done.....

In the end it took cutting off 2.25 turns of the coil, and bolting the shock to the bottom of the arm.... I'm going to make a doubler plate, and weld that to the bottom of the arm, or just go ahead, and get some tubular lower A-Arms, and have the shock pad relocated.


FWIW, and I'm going to start a thread in the library about springs, etc.
The 3rd Gen 1LE front springs with a loop cut off dropped the car, so that the measurement from the fender lip to front axle is 13.5".

My QA1 setup is now at the same 13.5.

Installing the QA1 BB springs raised the car to a height of 16". One loop off dropped the car to 14.5.

While it will vary slightly car to car, these numbers should be used as an indicator, not an absolute.

[Mad_trbo]

I'll have to take measurements, but to answer previous questions. I am using the stock spindle.

So the suggestion is to utilize a dropped spindle and raise the ride height with the adjutsable lower spring perch? My only issue here is I keep reading negative things about the bump steer or some sort of steering geometry. This is definitely one of my weak areas, so I am looking for whatever help Ic an get.

[Mad_trbo]

I am using a single adjustable, can't remember what the SB or BB meant.

[Slow91z]

SB and BB is small block and big block...This is in reference to the stiffness of the springs.

The last person I saw talking about drop spindles said that it helped bump steer, but I'm no expert in that area.

EDIT - Ic ould be wrong about the spindles...Are you building a corner carver??

[Bruce]

The last person I saw talking about drop spindles said that it helped bump steer, but I'm no expert in that area.


Only since it changes the roll center height. IMO, not enough to actually detect when driving.

Raising the spring rate, via going to shorter springs, *lessens* the suspension movement, and in that reguard, helps min the bump steer.

[TourT]

Bruce,

Did you go with the BB springs?

If so, now after you have used and installed this would you still have gone with the BB or use the SB system instead?

Thanks
Rick

[Bruce]

Bruce,
Did you go with the BB springs?
If so, now after you have used and installed this would you still have gone with the BB or use the SB system instead?


I goofed and used the BB springs......
Had to cut 2+ turns off of them to get the ride height close. Which drove the spring rate way up.

I'm going to get some SB springs, and tubular lower arms, with the pockets moved an inch or so down. To drop the nose alot more before having to cut the springs at all.

[Turbo Noob]

Which QA1's are you all using?

They make drag-specific coil-overs, http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=HAL%2DRCGMP15&N=400026+4294852491+4294906918+115&autoview=sku

and more street/handling-oriented coil-overs,
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=HAL%2DGMP15&N=400026+4294852491+4294906918+115&autoview=sku

I was planning on getting a set for my car, but it doesn't sound like everyone's having a great experience with them. I figured coil-overs would solve problems, not create them. My goal is a corner carver.

[Bruce]

and more street/handling-oriented coil-overs,
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=HAL%2DGMP15&N=400026+4294852491+4294906918+115&autoview=sku

I was planning on getting a set for my car, but it doesn't sound like everyone's having a great experience with them. I figured coil-overs would solve problems, not create them. My goal is a corner carver.

The street ones.
Ya, that's what I was hoping for......