Rear Shock Help

[SeanC]

Hey guys,

So i'm going to the track for the first time in about two weeks, and am looking to do one last upgrade before I go. I asked for suggestions on upgrades in another thread, but I think I may have decided to get some rear shocks...(only suspension mods are panhard/LCAs with relocation brackets).

I dont have a ton of money to spend, and was looking at the Competition engineering "drag" shocks. I drive my car on the street more than at the track. I think I may start racing more, so I want to start focusing on really getting my car drag ready. Are the CE shocks really harsh on the street? I cant find a definitive answer....

Even if I drag my car more, im still going to drive it on the street. What do you guys think?

[deadtrend1]

I didn't see the other thread, what else is done to the car (suspension wise)?

[SeanC]

Sorry for the confusion, the other thread is in the drag racing area (asking questions to prepare for first race day). I have a UMI Panhard bar, lower control arms, and relocation brackets...thats it suspension wise...

[LTb1ow]

I rock the summit variants at 50/50 street use, I don't mind it at all.

[SeanC]

Thanks for the response man...I dont mind a harsh ride (its already a harsh ride...), but I just dont want to make it so I cant take some corners.. Have you driven it hard not in a straight line? haha

[LTb1ow]

Um, not really, I mean, I run no front sway bar, and have never noticed entrance/exit ramps to be any different.

Granted I don't drive it like mark42.

[SeanC]

Haha...damn this is a hard decision. Wish I could just dedicate this to a pure track car :-?

Would I be better off going with a more adjustable shock like the QA1? I'm guessing that a shock like that would give me enough adjustment to have a stiff rear at the track, and a softer adjustment on the street....What do you think?

Sorry for all the questions...I really just dont want to screw up my car on the street...

[LTb1ow]

I would run it at the track first, get somebody to video/photo how bad it squats, and go from there.

[sweetbmxrider]

qa1's are rated for street duty and tend to leak from the abuse

[SeanC]

Yeah I havn't heard anything too great about the QA1s unfortunately now that im looking into them...I'll definitly wait until track day to get some videos, and decide from there. Now I just have to find someone to take a video for me! haha

[misfit385]

Strange single adjustables from JSP on my car work great.

[JSPERFORMANCE]

We have a special going on them right now too!

[Slow-V6]

If your on a tight budget then the Competition Engineering shocks are good. They can be had for around 80.00 a pair. I used them on my old V6 and had them on the car for about 2 yrs of daily driving and track use. Never really cut a good 60' due to breaking my rear ends off launch.

QA1 and the Koni's are probably the best out there but they are 4-5 x's the price. If you have the money I would get the QA1's. They have a little dial that you turn while they are on the car I believe as oppose to the CE shocks were you have to undo one end of them, Compress them,then turn the dial to set them.

[Pampered-Z]

The "poor mans" set-up: Remove front swap bar, install air bags in the rear springs.

Hoestly, I think unless you have a full out race car the QA1s in the rear are a bit overkill on a heavy car. Anything firmer then stock will help. Also most people like the stock rear springs. The real key is getting the front to lift and not unload the rear tires when the weight transfers back onto the front wheels. The QA1s up front or something adjustable is important.

That said, I've removed my sway bar, installed air bags, have a fully upgraded rear suspension with SLP springs and decarbon shocks and still only pull 2.1 60's. I need different front shocks/springs and sticky tires (and rear to hold then) more then rear shocks springs.