Rear Shocks

[cudabob496]

Summit gave bad info. QA1 does sell an adjustable rear shock
for E bodies.

[cudabob496]

gave QA1 the part number on the shocks I have, to
see if Summit sold me the right one. Waiting to hear back
from them.

[Archialfa]

Single-adjustable vs double-adjustable? Pros/cons?

Are double adjustables an overkill for a driver car?


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[cudabob496]

Well, son of a gun, QA1 verified that the shock Summit sold me,
for $110 each, is the correct non adjustable shock for my 72 Cuda.
The problem is that their adjustable shock has 16 settings, each setting
controlling compression and rebound the same (two way adjustables let you
controll compression and rebound separately).

But, the non adjustable shock I bought has only one setting. It is close to the #4 setting for
an adjustable with 16 settings.

So, for $110, you get a shock that is designed for many cars, and has only one setting.
And in my case, the one setting does not work. I thought spending $110 would get me a nice ride anyway, since
I have a stock rear suspension.  So, I'm discussing with Summit now about a return.

I got a feeling a $14 Monroe shock in the back may do just as well. But I don't know.

QA1 said their valving in my shock is very similar to a Bilstein shock.  So my recommendation, is never
buy an expensive shock that is not adjustable. Better to experiment with cheapy shocks, or buy adjustable
shocks.

will let you know what Summit decides. they are talking with QA1 now.

[EMCD]

The bilsteins I put on F&R on my Cuda made a huge difference verses the KYBs. I'm expecting a van better performance when I mate the HD S &T 440 springs later this winter.

[cudabob496]

The QA1s I put on the front made a big improvement.

Its the rear ones I'm struggling with now.

[EMCD]

Are your springs pooched?

[HP2]

  So my recommendation, is never buy an expensive shock that is not adjustable.

I'd suggest having detailed discussion with the manufacturers technical reps, not the retailers customer service guys, before purchasing so that you can align your needs with the correct part numbers in their catalogs and make a single purchase that fits well right out of the gate.

There are many great non adjustable shocks out there. It is a common fallacy that a performance vehicle needs adjustable shocks. However, for a non adjustable unit to perform well, it cannot be a one size fits all. Similarly, if you don't understand the intricacies of the adjustment process and do not follow the manufacturers recommended procedures for set up, you can end up with adjustments that are way out of alignment with the intended application and actually perform worse than a properly match non adjustable .

Shocks are like cams. If you simply grab the biggest cam or most adjustable shock out there and don't match it to the system, they  never will play well together.

[cudabob496]

I'd suggest having detailed discussion with the manufacturers technical reps, not the retailers customer service guys, before purchasing so that you can align your needs with the correct part numbers in their catalogs and make a single purchase that fits well right out of the gate.

There are many great non adjustable shocks out there. It is a common fallacy that a performance vehicle needs adjustable shocks. However, for a non adjustable unit to perform well, it cannot be a one size fits all. Similarly, if you don't understand the intricacies of the adjustment process and do not follow the manufacturers recommended procedures for set up, you can end up with adjustments that are way out of alignment with the intended application and actually perform worse than a properly match non adjustable .

Shocks are like cams. If you simply grab the biggest cam or most adjustable shock out there and don't match it to the system, they  never will play well together.

Well, QA1 has a very good reputation, so when they only sell one non adjustable shock for an E-body, for $110 through Summit, it should work. QA1 needs to put their shock on an E-body and go for a ride. My rear springs are ESPO stock height.
 

[cudabob496]

OK, been working things out with Summit and QA1.

Summit said because it is not a manufacturing defect, they cannot accept my return.
But they were gonna give me $30 Summit bucks, and sell me the adjustable QA1 shocks for their cost,
of $110 a piece (normally $150 a piece)

But still, I'd be stuck with $220 worth of shocks I cannot use.

I argued that it is a manufacturing defect, if the shock is not valved properly to give an adequate ride.
Finally, Summit agreed to take my shocks back, and credit them towards QA1 adjustable shocks, which they are sending
me for an additional $92, due to me being a good long term customer.

So, I think QA1 needs to re-evaluate their valving on the E-body rear shock, and E-body folks should not
buy them, until they do. I recall one other person in this link having the same problem I have.

[cudabob496]

OK, the QA1 adjustable rear shocks are giving me a great ride, with
a setting of 2.  I would avoid the non adjustable shocks.

[Archialfa]

OK, the QA1 adjustable rear shocks are giving me a great ride, with
a setting of 2.  I would avoid the non adjustable shocks.

Setting at 2 is on the soft or hard side?

[HP2]

 2 would be on the soft side.

Shocks are built to perform within specific parameters of spring control. Load rate, spring rate, check rate, vehicle weight, vehicle application are all factors to consider to get optimized performance form a pair of shocks. They can be built as a one size fits most, but there is always the possibility that your specific car is outside that range if you have been making modifications to it.

You would not install a set of valve springs designed for .700 lift roller cam into an engine with a .400 lift hydraulic lifter. Why do the same for shocks?

[ChallengerHK]

These were $110 a piece. Should I buy the adjustable ones that are about
$160 a piece, to make a stiffer ride, or is there a stiffer better rear shock out there.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but won't a stiffer shock make the ride bouncier? If I'm not mistaken, and assuming that a shock will correct this issue, you need a two way adjustable that you can set to a softer setting on the compression stroke. Maybe HP2 can jump in here and correct me.

[Chryco Psycho]

with a stiffer shock the spring will deflect less & stop spring movement faster
 a softer shock will allow the suspension to deflect more allowing the susension to work but ould take longer to stop the spring up & down cycles