QA1 Settings

[Axiom]

My set of QA1's should be here tomorrow and I'm hoping it will be warm enough this weekend to get them on. Just to save myself some time, what's a good setting to start at for both the front and rear. The truck is daily driven and I prefer handling over comfort so long as it's not back breaking.

Now, can someone help me understand what I want the truck to do off the line at the drag strip. I know that I want the nose to rise quickly but what about the rear? How should I set the shocks up for the strip. I'll be using M&H's and I will also have CalTracs.

[BTLFED R/T]

Run them at 6 front-5 rear on the street. At the track, just turn the fronts down to 0. Leave rears alone. That's how I did. You on a stock suspension might want to go a little stiffer, but start there.

[mtlcafan79]

I don't know how you guys can stand it. I have the rears turned all the way back to 1. 3 was bothering my back on longer trips.

[White Turbo]

Well,, 10 people will give 10 different answers as to what they prefer. But that's the geat thing about these shocks. Everybody is happy with their own settings.

I run a CC with Double adjust. fronts and single adjust. on the rear. For street handling I prefer 6-7 on the front and 4-7 on the rear (4 if the bed is empty,, and up to 7 with a load).

On the track,, I set the fronts @ 0 rebound and 10 compression. But with singles on the front, just set 'em @ 0-1...
The singles out back I run as stiff as possible without losing traction. 11-12.
I have 1" lowering shackles and 2 leaf spring clamps,, otherwise stock rear suspension.
Since you already have CalTrac's,, you don't have to worry about spring wrap (wheel hop),,, I would go as high as possible to try and transfer as much inertia to the tires without breaking loose..
But hell,,, I only have a 1.54 best 60' so I could be wrong:jester:

[White Turbo]

I don't know how you guys can stand it. I have the rears turned all the way back to 1. 3 was bothering my back on longer trips.

Yeah 1 on the rears is like ridin in a Caddy.... Smooooth :)

[Typer00_0371]

front 6-8
rear 2-4

[Axiom]

Excellent info guys, thanks. Any issues I may encounter during installation I should know about?

[White Turbo]

Excellent info guys, thanks. Any issues I may encounter during installation I should know about?

Pretty straight forward on the install. I didn't have any issues. I have a difficult time adjusting the front shocks since they are inside the springs. I usually jack the truck up to adjust the fronts.

I over looked the fact that you are running on drag radials.... My bad.:o
You probly will break loose at high settings on the rear with those tires. On a drag radial I would start at 6 and work up if possible.

[BTLFED R/T]

Excellent info guys, thanks. Any issues I may encounter during installation I should know about?

You will need some thick washers on the rear, top and bottom. The eyelets on the QA1s are narrower than the stock ones. And you DON'T want to crush the mounting brackets. Trust me, I didn't use enough washer, and the were hell putting a different shock on when I sold it.

[BTLFED R/T]

I don't know how you guys can stand it. I have the rears turned all the way back to 1. 3 was bothering my back on longer trips.

WTF, you got a VAG for a spine? :jester: I thought you were a little fem!

[mtlcafan79]

Beats me. My lower back will bother me for days if I tweak it wrong at the gym.

[Axiom]

You will need some thick washers on the rear, top and bottom. The eyelets on the QA1s are narrower than the stock ones. And you DON'T want to crush the mounting brackets. Trust me, I didn't use enough washer, and the were hell putting a different shock on when I sold it.
Thanks for the heads up.

Can these be adjusted with the truck sitting on the ground or do I have to get the weight off of them before I'm able to change the settings?

[Sick 660r]

I run 8 in the front and 3 in the rear, and thats with hotchkis suspension and a 1" DJM block. I havent gone to the track yet.

[grapejuice1998]

You will need some thick washers on the rear, top and bottom. The eyelets on the QA1s are narrower than the stock ones. And you DON'T want to crush the mounting brackets. Trust me, I didn't use enough washer, and the were hell putting a different shock on when I sold it.


I used some sway bar end link bushings and cut them in half, then put one on each side of the lower shock, where it mounts. It's super tight! ;)

[BTLFED R/T]

Thanks for the heads up.

Can these be adjusted with the truck sitting on the ground or do I have to get the weight off of them before I'm able to change the settings?

You can do it on the ground. The fronts may be easier getting the wheels in the air with the suspension hanging, spreads the spring out to get your fingers between the coils.

[BTLFED R/T]

It's super tight! ;)

Just like I like it! :jester:

[SinCity R/T]

Where's the best place to get QA1's these days?

[Axiom]

Where's the best place to get QA1's these days?
Everyone is right around the same price. I ordered mine from JEGS because Summit didn't have any in stock.

You can do it on the ground. The fronts may be easier getting the wheels in the air with the suspension hanging, spreads the spring out to get your fingers between the coils.
Good to know, thanks.

[Axiom]

The two nuts on the lower control arm that help hold the shock in place, are they welded to the control arm or do them come off?

[BTLFED R/T]

The two nuts on the lower control arm that help hold the shock in place, are they welded to the control arm or do them come off?

They're welded. Just back the bolts out from the bottom.