Anyone try the new QA1 rear Pro Coil coilovers?

[1KWIKSIX]

I thought the bracketry would be powder coated black.
Seems to be some sort of plating on them though (maybe zinc or cadmium, not sure)........in their present state don't know how they'll hold up to exposure to the elements. Don't want any surface rust.....maybe I'll get em powder coated black before I install em?

Any thoughts?

 

[Pronto]

Powercoating will probably work since they sandblast it first. You might want to give QA1 a call to see what they treat the brackets with. I will probably use SEM's Rust Shield since I have used it on several areas on the chassis already.

 

[getdowngranny]

Pronto, I've got QA1 single adjustable coil overs , gonna leave on my 150# springs and try them out first before I go ahead and change em out to something stiffer...........here's some pics of the rear coil over mount kit.
Don't forget you'll also need to order the (2) 1/2" upper shock mount spacers/sleeves as they are not part of this kit. You'll need 2 of the QA1 part #9033-101 .
I got my stuff from Summit Racing.....it was shipped to me directly from QA1 though.

dave

I have the older set up. What are the benefits of going with this bracket set up over what I already have?


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[1KWIKSIX]

I have the older set up. What are the benefits of going with this bracket set up over what I already have?


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Looks to be aimed at the AutoCross / Road Racing crowd where a more solid mounting system is needed & now gives a mounting set up similar to that offered by RideTech, etc on their rear coil overs.
QA1 states that installation of this kit will lower the vehicle, so other than offering a much more robust / secure mounting system, not really sure. Guess I'll have to install it & compare before I will know for sure what differences (if at all). It's gonna be at least another month before I can get the car back home from winter storage and install em. Will let you know then.

 

[1KWIKSIX]

FYI........Just confirmed with QA1 that these brackets are Zinc plated and then clear coated....so looks like there's no need to strip & re-coat them as they should be pretty much weather / corrosion resistant as they are.

 

[Pronto]

Sounds good. Thanks for looking into that.

 

[1KWIKSIX]

Sounds good. Thanks for looking into that.

No problem....happy to help out.
Just for the record....the QA1 Technical Rep also stated that their Pro Series Rear coil overs will adjust ride height from stock ride height to 2" lower than stock.

dave

 

[Pronto]

That's about what I'm shooting for. I went to a 275 from a 255 tire and that extra inch puts the ass up too high in my opinion. I have looked into springs but they seem to be a crap shoot so with this system I'll get both the ability to lower the car the amount I want and had adjustable shocks for the track. Win-win in my book.

 

[Pronto]

Question, did you use loctite on the mounting bolts?

 

[getdowngranny]

Looks to be aimed at the AutoCross / Road Racing crowd where a more solid mounting system is needed & now gives a mounting set up similar to that offered by RideTech, etc on their rear coil overs.
QA1 states that installation of this kit will lower the vehicle, so other than offering a much more robust / secure mounting system, not really sure. Guess I'll have to install it & compare before I will know for sure what differences (if at all). It's gonna be at least another month before I can get the car back home from winter storage and install em. Will let you know then.

Did you ever install the newer brackets? If so what difference did it make?


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[1KWIKSIX]

Sorry guys...still haven't installed them yet.
Car is still away in storage since last fall. Hope to have it out next month when I am finished my garage project.
Will post back in a few weeks with the information requested.

 

[1KWIKSIX]

Well, finally finished my garage project (actually about 95% complete....still a little trim work to do), but found some time to install these new QA1 rear coil over brackets installed this week. Installed a UMI rear shock tower brace at the same time. Haven't driven the car yet, but this rear mounting set up is way more robust and secure than the original rear coil over set up on the QA1 rears using the T bar mount at top and single mounting point on lower trailing arm. All bolts use Nylock nuts, so no loctite was used.

Have to drill upper shock mount holes out using 3/8" drill due to larger upper coil over mounting hardware supplied by QA1. Otherwise a pretty starightforward bolt on installation.

Initial observations are that the rear of the car seems to sit about 1" higher on the back end vs original QA1 rear coil over mounting set up. Will give it a few days and drive a bit to see if it settles? No problems as I can easily lower the rear height (lots of adjustment available).

Still gotta install my GNS rear frame brace brackets. Should firm things up quite a bit on the back end!
http://www.gnsperformance.com/#!bodyframe-g-body/c15ae

Here's a few pictures.

 

[toofastforyou]

I look at the pictures of the lower bracket you guys have and the ones on my car are different. They do not connect to the long lower control arm bolt…Funny 'cause I just had them installed a few weeks ago...

Claude.

 

[Pronto]

Well, finally finished my garage project (actually about 95% complete....still a little trim work to do), but found some time to install these new QA1 rear coil over brackets installed this week. Installed a UMI rear shock tower brace at the same time. Haven't driven the car yet, but this rear mounting set up is way more robust and secure than the original rear coil over set up on the QA1 rears using the T bar mount at top and single mounting point on lower trailing arm. All bolts use Nylock nuts, so no loctite was used.

Have to drill upper shock mount holes out using 3/8" drill due to larger upper coil over mounting hardware supplied by QA1. Otherwise a pretty starightforward bolt on installation.

Initial observations are that the rear of the car seems to sit about 1" higher on the back end vs original QA1 rear coil over mounting set up. Will give it a few days and drive a bit to see if it settles? No problems as I can easily lower the rear height (lots of adjustment available).

Still gotta install my GNS rear frame brace brackets. Should firm things up quite a bit on the back end!
http://www.gnsperformance.com/#!bodyframe-g-body/c15ae

Here's a few pictures.

Were the supplied bolts for the upper mounting bracket long enough to go through three UMI brace? Mikehaywire just installed that brace and was impressed withat it. He doesn't have coilovers. I have the new style coilovers like you and wanted to add the UMI brace as well. I'll be installing them and the brace soon.

I look at the pictures of the lower bracket you guys have and the ones on my car are different. They do not connect to the long lower control arm bolt…Funny 'cause I just had them installed a few weeks ago...

Claude.
View attachment 263756

Claude, that is the old style QA1 rear coilovers. They redesigned them with better mounting brackets, etc. They are a different part number too.

 

[1KWIKSIX]

Claude, the new set up from QA1 for their rear coil overs utilizes the new mounting bracket system. The new lower mounting bracket attaches in two locations......first mounting point uses the same location as yours does, plus a 2nd location which uses the lower trailing arm bolt . The beefy lower bracket which is attached at both spots now and appears to offer much more strength by a beefier mounting system. Think they were aiming for the Auto-Cross and Road Racing crowd with this change.
By the way, this is now similar to how RideTech etc mount their coil overs for our cars too.
Not sure, but the new bracket / mounting system may change the rear coil over angle somewhat as well?

http://www.qa1.net/suspension/stree...nt-coil-over-shocks/78-88-gm-gbody-rear-shock

 

[1KWIKSIX]

Were the supplied bolts for the upper mounting bracket long enough to go through three UMI brace? Mikehaywire just installed that brace and was impressed withat it. He doesn't have coilovers. I have the new style coilovers like you and wanted to add the UMI brace as well. I'll be installing them and the brace soon.



Pronto, I used the bolts / nuts that were originally supplied with the new QA1 upper mounts (not the bolts / nuts that came with the UMI brace). The UMI hardware was noticeably longer than QA1's, but used a convention nut and lock washer. The QA1 hardware features nylock nuts, which I prefer. I also added two thin washers (5/16" on the 3/8" bolts) to provide extra piece of mind on these (one on each end of the bolt). Lots of room and enough thread to go thru the UMI shock tower brace as well. You will have to install the bolts in from the bottom and the nut has to go on top of the frame , otherwise you don't have the necessary clearance to be able to install the upper shock mounting bolt thru the eye of the top bracket.

 

[Pronto]

Thanks for the tips!

 

[1KWIKSIX]

Oh, one other thing.....I ended up re-using my original factory bolts / nuts for the rear trailing arms (these go thru the new lower mounting bracket), as the ones supplied by QA1 did not fit. They seemed to be just a tiny bit too large on the diameter to be able to go completely thru the trailing arm .

 

[Pronto]

I have HR control arms with their bolts. I imagine those should be good.

 

[TR Custom Parts]

FYI, just got done installing QA1 rear coil overs on a customer car. I ended up using UMI lower and upper brackets that are powder coated black and also move the lower end of the shock inboard a bit and that helps clear the Baer rear disc brakes on this car. Used the UMI upper brace as well and everything fit great. Only exception was they have and extra hole in the bracket to help with any anti rotation and you have to drill a hole in the stock lower mount but the hole the drilled is in the wrong position. If you drill where they have the hole you will hit the lower control arm bushing!