shock advice needed....

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:01 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

JamesFeinberg wrote:

Donnie Barnes wrote:

Struts and high performance? Usually a bad combo.

I was going to mention that above and it makes me wonder if their design isn't really suited to the (relatively) high-lateral loads that struts see. Of the nearly dozen sets of Konis I've had over the years, they have all been on double wishbone-type cars.

I know I'll catch some crap for posting this from the KONI followers, but the "tech" guy at KONI, confirmed what you state above. Even though their website claims the KONI yellows are for autocrossers, "they are not designed for use with R-comps on strut cars." (Those are not my words, so don't shoot the messenger)

With that said, the rear of the mustang is a shock, not a strut. I believe Art's failure was in the rear?

Yes, Art blew his rear out, oh, that didn't sound good.... Anyway, I was thinking since the rear is what needs to be controlled on the mustang, I was contemplating going the opposite of what Pastorius suggested. Thinking of Bilsteins up front and some adjustable shock in the rear. I was going to send a note back to Sam this evening and ask. I'll let you know the response when and if I get a reply.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:12 pm

JamesFeinberg wrote:

I thought I remembered you guys having issues with the shocks on the Miata but I was thinking that was after having them opened for revalving? Weren't those 30-series Koni double adjustables? The set that was on the Frank's car when I bought it never gave me any trouble but I never really ran the car very hard.

Well, I forgot about that, but that was mostly just a result of wear and tear, I think. You gotta remember that by the time THOSE first failed they might have had more autocross runs on them than any other shock in the stinkin country.

And everything is gonna wear out eventually. I don't think they ever had a second problem after being fixed, though.

The timing of when they all seem to let go is gonna be bad for me, that's for sure. It's just the way of things, apparently. *sigh*

--Donnie

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:57 pm

JamesFeinberg wrote:

.... but I never really ran the car very hard.

LOL, that's the funnest thing I've heard in this thread!!

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 6:20 pm

so, anyone know anything about these?

http://www.cjponyparts.com/qa1-rear-sho ... 0/p/QA113/

These are the QA1 adjustable rear shocks for the mustang. 24 settings each for rebound and compression. Who is QA1?

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 6:28 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

These are the QA1 adjustable rear shocks for the mustang. 24 settings each for rebound and compression. Who is QA1?

They've made shocks for American iron for a while. They are fairly well known in the Corvette community. Les's current yellow C4 is running QA1 adjustables.

They're twin-tube designs like the lower end Koni stuff. Their reputation is iffy. I've talked to people that love them, and I've talked to people who think they are poorly made and don't last. I've also heard the exact same thing about Koni, FWIW.

I know Les likes the QA1s on his car.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 6:39 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

so, anyone know anything about these?

http://www.cjponyparts.com/qa1-rear-sho ... 0/p/QA113/

These are the QA1 adjustable rear shocks for the mustang. 24 settings each for rebound and compression. Who is QA1?

That description is of a Double adjustable shock. But the title and price indicates a single adjustable shock.

Before buying these, I would find out how much a rebuild/revalve cost and who can do it. From what I can tell, if you're stuck with getting an adjustable shock realize that it's going to come with the potential of a required rebuild. Find out how much that downtime is going to cost you and let that help you make your decision.

For a reference point. Non-adjustable bilsteins costs $60 and take about 2-3 wks to have the work done.

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 6:40 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

JamesFeinberg wrote:

.... but I never really ran the car very hard.

LOL, that's the funnest thing I've heard in this thread!!

It may seem funny but it's true. I never auto-x'd it and don't think I ever took that car near redline on the street. Besides a test drive at Nationals last year after we discovered why the car kept blowing ECU fuses, I honestly can't remember the last time I've driven *any* car hard on the street. I guess I'm boring. Or old. :whoknows:

Jim

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:36 pm

Rodney,

When you talk with Sam (if I'm not too late) you might ask if some of the reason for stiff rear rebound is helping the car rotate on corner entry. I suspect that part of Sam's speed is being able (talent and car setup) to smoothly rotate the car so that it never pushes and turns in quickly but also doesn't lose corner exit traction.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:43 pm

DickRasmussen wrote:

Rodney,

When you talk with Sam (if I'm not too late) you might ask if some of the reason for stiff rear rebound is helping the car rotate on corner entry. I suspect that part of Sam's speed is being able (talent and car setup) to smoothly rotate the car so that it never pushes and turns in quickly but also doesn't lose corner exit traction.

That's it exactly, to help to get the car to rotate and not push in the turns.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:48 pm

TomFreeman wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

These are the QA1 adjustable rear shocks for the mustang. 24 settings each for rebound and compression. Who is QA1?

They've made shocks for American iron for a while. They are fairly well known in the Corvette community. Les's current yellow C4 is running QA1 adjustables.

They're twin-tube designs like the lower end Koni stuff. Their reputation is iffy. I've talked to people that love them, and I've talked to people who think they are poorly made and don't last. I've also heard the exact same thing about Koni, FWIW.

I know Les likes the QA1s on his car.

Sam was less than a fan of the QA1's and still recommends the D-specs since the Koni's are not available. Right now I'm leaning towards ordering them next week along w/ some adjustable sway bar end links once I sift through some more info and get my money right.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:47 pm

Watching Sam Strano drive an FS Mustang is really something to see.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

RodneyWright wrote:

Jason Mauldin wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

He did recommend the Koni's as expected and now I can see why Art blew the rear shock based on his setting suggestions.

Could you clarify this? Is there a setting on the Koni's that make it prone to blowing?

Sam's advice is to run the adjustable shocks at full stiff on the rears and mid on the front, so my assumption is that when Art ran at full still, he subsequently blew the shock. A possible example of the rumor mill where drivers are saying not to run the Koni's at full stiff or soft or suffer a blow out.

When I talked to Sam last spring, he did not recommend running the rears full stiff. He said to run the fronts at 3/4 turns above full soft, and start the rears at 1 turn above full soft, going to 1 1/4 turns (or adding rear tire pressure) if I needed to loosen up the back of the car.

My right-rear started leaking from the adjuster after a few events. Didn't seem to lose any damping (as the Koni warranty rep said, you have to lose a lot of oil for that to happen). Anyway, they sent me a replacement last month and it's on the car now.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 3:16 pm

well, the D-spces have been ordered. I'll report back once they are installed and how they feel based on Sam's suggestions.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:07 pm

Well, I have to say I'm very disappointed in stranoparts right now. I ordered the D-specs last Wednesday and of this writing, my CC has not been charged and no responses to my emails asking for delivery information. Is Sam usually like this in delaying orders? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt if he was at the Dixie tour this weekend, but this has been 4 business days, and going on 5. I expected better customer service.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:38 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Well, I have to say I'm very disappointed in stranoparts right now. I ordered the D-specs last Wednesday and of this writing, my CC has not been charged and no responses to my emails asking for delivery information. Is Sam usually like this in delaying orders? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt if he was at the Dixie tour this weekend, but this has been 4 business days, and going on 5. I expected better customer service.

He was definitely at the Dixie Tour this weekend, I saw him.

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