shocks/coil overs ? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

mtg6486 · 10-14-2007, 11:10 PM

im finally looking to do shocks im looking for something that will be good for street and around corners as well as some track duty. some of my friends with imports have kits with electronic adjustable shocks that seems like it would be nice for adjustabilty. the only ones ive really looked @ are the qa1 firm ride and great handling unless you guys have other suggestions.

Tru2Chevy · 10-15-2007, 04:05 PM

Well, if you want improved cornering ability and help at the drag strip you are prolly gonna want to go with adjustable shocks all around, even though you will still end up compromising somewhere.

What is more important to you, street or track? Is your car a DD, or just a nice weather ride? How much track time do you plan on?

- Justin

mtg6486 · 10-15-2007, 11:29 PM

i want the ride mainly for the street and its somewhat of a dd

Batman · 10-20-2007, 02:16 PM

Just did the edelbrock shock/spring package on a car up here recently and was extremely impressed with the package. With DR's he is still cutting 1.7XX 60's and the car handles awesome. Best part is the shock does all the work for you, no adjustment required. I am 99% sure this is going to be my next shock/spring package. If you are determined to go adjustable get QA1's but DO NOT GET DRAG SPRINGS for a DD. Also with slicks My 1.498 60 foot was with stock WS6 shocks and springs, they are a very good street/strip package also.

qwikz28 · 10-20-2007, 06:35 PM

stock springs/koni SA. best street combo

mtg6486 · 10-22-2007, 11:27 PM

thanx ill look into those combos

NightRydaSS · 11-02-2007, 06:28 PM

any con's to going with a coil over spring? I kno they have benifits (being able to adjust the ride hight to exact preference) and i kno they are supposed to handle better. If this true? I going to lower my car, but i don't want the "i thought it was going to be lower" or the "this is too low" reaction when i look at my car.

qwikz28 · 11-02-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightRydaSS

any con's to going with a coil over spring? I kno they have benifits (being able to adjust the ride hight to exact preference) and i kno they are supposed to handle better. If this true? I going to lower my car, but i don't want the "i thought it was going to be lower" or the "this is too low" reaction when i look at my car.

the advantages to coil overs? PRICE!!!!

find a car with lowering springs you like, and gauge the ride height from there. takes out the guess and check part and saves you money! coilovers are only adventageous to shocks and springs because of the height adjustment

coilovers are about 2k, and a good set of shocks and springs are about half that. its simple

JSPERFORMANCE · 11-03-2007, 08:20 AM

I can get you a complete QA1 front Kit for around $500 For the rear QA1 has a matching single adjustable shock set up that is a direct replacement which I can get you for around 300 for the pair.. So you are looking at around $800 for a full QA1 kit with front coil overs.. not $2000 The only other thing you would have to get is rear springs. I have had very good luck with Hypercoils or even stockers with the isolater removed depending on your height preference.

qwikz28 · 11-03-2007, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

I can get you a complete QA1 front Kit for around $500 For the rear QA1 has a matching single adjustable shock set up that is a direct replacement which I can get you for around 300 for the pair.. So you are looking at around $800 for a full QA1 kit with front coil overs.. not $2000 The only other thing you would have to get is rear springs. I have had very good luck with Hypercoils or even stockers with the isolater removed depending on your height preference.

are those QA1s a drag setup? i gathered from his post that he was going for more of a street/handling setup which led me to believe he was gonna go for a bilstein/eibach kind of setup

JSPERFORMANCE · 11-03-2007, 01:14 PM

no they are the road race version

NightRydaSS · 11-03-2007, 04:35 PM

i just bought bilstein shocks all the way around last yr. These are the ones that SLP has w/o the springs. I want to drop my ride height next yr (not slammed, just kill the wheel gap).

qwikz28 · 11-03-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightRydaSS

i just bought bilstein shocks all the way around last yr. These are the ones that SLP has w/o the springs. I want to drop my ride height next yr (not slammed, just kill the wheel gap).

here: http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=406330

NightRydaSS · 11-03-2007, 05:35 PM

nice man, thanks!

what r rear isolators?

qwikz28 · 11-03-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightRydaSS

nice man, thanks!

what r rear isolators?

ever install springs? its the little rubber hat that sits on the spring to avoid it binding on the body and making squeaky noises

Batman · 11-07-2007, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

I can get you a complete QA1 front Kit for around $500 For the rear QA1 has a matching single adjustable shock set up that is a direct replacement which I can get you for around 300 for the pair.. So you are looking at around $800 for a full QA1 kit with front coil overs.. not $2000 The only other thing you would have to get is rear springs. I have had very good luck with Hypercoils or even stockers with the isolater removed depending on your height preference.

That's a good price, I'm going to have to give you a call in the spring..... You can also get the rear coil over conversion from QA1 for about $500.00, I don't know what coil overs you were looking at but even at retail the QA1's come out to about $1100.00.

JSPERFORMANCE · 11-07-2007, 07:46 AM

I am not crazy about the rear coilover idea.. The body just isnt strong enough in that area to support the car without cracking in time.

NightRydaSS · 11-07-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

I am not crazy about the rear coilover idea.. The body just isnt strong enough in that area to support the car without cracking in time.

what; the body cracks?? really???

I have seen coil-over's on websites for these cars before. Matter of fact the website i used for an "how to" on how to swap out my rear shocks had them on the donor car.

fauk that, i sure as hell dont want my body to crack

NightRydaSS · 11-07-2007, 08:39 AM

another question while we are on the topic of lowering...TQ Arm, adjustable or non-adjustable, do i even need one right away???

I kno i need an adj panhard bar, panhard bar relocation bracket (to clear my current exhaust and future 4"'er!), lca, and lca relocation brackets, and springs (of course). Now it would only make sense that i would need an adj tq arm also to be able to fall into the line of the new suspension angles, right? I'm def going to replace the stocker one anyways, but i want to stick with a full size one. Someone on this thread was kind enough to send me a link and it explained that for street driving a short TQ Arm causes rear wheel-hop. Like i have stated before; im looking for street performance handeling, not all out 1/4 mile action. So i'll make this easy:

#1 - Do i need an Adj TQ Arm or will a aftermarket non-adj one work just fine with a lowered car?

#2 - Do i need one right away at the same time i lower? I ask b/c a non-adj UMI TQ Arm and Trans cross member relocation bractet is about $500.

bottom line is i want this done right and right the first time. I also want everything at once so Josh can tune my suspension correctly and not have to re-tune as parts come in.

*Josh - If you have time; can you PM me on a ballpark price for parts and labor for this? i just want to have an idea of what i need. Thanks in advance!*

JSPERFORMANCE · 11-08-2007, 07:10 AM

ryda..
There is no way I can qoute you a price because the list can be infinite..

My checklist..

sub frame connectors

any torque arm that gets the mount off of the trans. If you arent making serious power the stock arm with the relocation kit should work fine...

If you have to lower the car then an adjustable panhard bar will be handy

Also relocation brackets

there is already around $700 in parts right there..

wanna keep going ?

lower arms

panhard relocation kit

the best bet would to be to bring the car here and let me look at it then I can make suggestions before you spend all your $$...

NightRydaSS · 11-08-2007, 08:03 AM

yea i kno it ain't gonna be cheap, but i want it done right. I want an improvement on the stock handleing, i don't wnat it to be worse which i know can happen easily if you don't plan the parts right. I was already planning to buy new rear LCA w/ LCA reloation brackets, also an adj panhard bar, and springs...those i knew i needed. I was thinking about buying a panhard bar relocation bracket b/c my magnaflow exhaust hit the stock one somtimes. Now; i ASSUMED i would NEED an adj TQ arm b/c i thought by lower the car and changing the angles ( i want a 1"-1/2" drop)i would have to compinsate for that (According to my performance accelometer, I'm making a ballpark est. 370HP (+/- 5%) at the crank w/ street tires). Now if i can get away w/ (i hate that term) just a TQ arm relocation bracket w/ stock TQ arm (for now), then i might just do that. hmmm...

Tru2Chevy · 11-10-2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

I am not crazy about the rear coilover idea.. The body just isnt strong enough in that area to support the car without cracking in time.

The QA1 kit that Spohn sells (for 3rd gens) comes with this to help distribute the load:

That should make a significant difference, don't you think?

- Justin

//<86TA>\\ · 11-10-2007, 07:20 PM

i would hope the plate strengthens things up a lot, im looking to get the front and rear setup shortly, and "cracking" and "bending" is not "progress" in my book.

after all the coil spring sits up in there, so long as the shock isnt mounted on a tiny little area i see no issue at all.
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JSPERFORMANCE · 11-11-2007, 05:50 AM

I have seen the design, I still don't like it. Probably be better off with a set of short springs with weight jackers with a set of QA1 ajdustable shocks if you have to have the adjustability in the rear.

//<86TA>\\ · 11-24-2007, 06:47 PM

i just finished putting the spohn kit on my car, i will say the rears are a tight fit between the control arms and the swaybars, i thought i was in trouble for a bit there. I will say that welding the plates up in the rear spring pockets it a royal PITFA, i wonder if you could just epoxy the things in

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