Like these:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/1205,366_QA1-Adjustable-Shock.html
They are single adjustable for rebound, the compression damping has to be changed by revalving. The price is pretty darn good, though.
Good, bad indifferent?
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Aug. 22, 2008 9:19 a.m. Jensenman SuperDork
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Aug. 22, 2008 9:41 a.m. Gimp Dork
I was always told they were a great drag shock, but not for handling. I have no direct experience with them.
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Aug. 22, 2008 10:25 a.m. Jensenman SuperDork
Yeah, I was always told the same thing. Then, IIRC, Carrerra bought QA1 (or maybe it was the other way around?) and i was wondering if any Carrerra DNA found its way into QA1 shocks.
They have a double adjustable as well, it's just not in Speedway's catalog. QA1 says they can be revalved for just about any application and they are a damn sight less expensive than KONIs or etc.
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Aug. 22, 2008 10:38 a.m. Monkeywrench New Reader
QA1 bught Carrera. From what I have seen, they are a suitable replacement/upgrade to older Carrera's. They can be built with any valving you desire (from MANY different shock "tuners") and from what I've seen they hold up great. They work great in road racing, but they're most popular with the circle track folk.
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Aug. 22, 2008 10:57 a.m. Keith SuperDork
I've been working with AFCO a lot - a direct QA1 competitor, I believe - and I'm a big fan of their stuff. Never tried QA1.
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Aug. 22, 2008 2:56 p.m. Winston New Reader
Several of the Locost guys have chosen the QA1's for their cars -- Keith being a notable exception. You might search at locostusa.com and read opinions. I don't recall anything abnormally negative about them off the top of my head.
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Aug. 22, 2008 3:10 p.m. Travis_K New Reader
Im not sure if it was correct, but I remember reading somewhere that the way the adjustment worked was not really on the same level as other better quality shocks. Im sure they arent too bad though.
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Aug. 22, 2008 4:02 p.m. Keith SuperDork
At the time I built my Locost, it was still possible to get GAZ shocks easily so that's what I did :) If I was building now, I'd definitely investigate QA1 as well as AFCO. I think QA1 is better represented at the Locost end of the market.
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Aug. 23, 2008 7:46 a.m. 7pilot New Reader
Travis_K wrote:
Im not sure if it was correct, but I remember reading somewhere that the way the adjustment worked was not really on the same level as other better quality shocks. Im sure they arent too bad though.
You may be correct although I believe The QA brand acquired Carrera shocks. The latter were well respected in their day.
m
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Aug. 23, 2008 8:53 a.m. Monkeywrench New Reader
Like I said, I don't know about the adjustable shocks, but their 60 series monotubes are VERY good.
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Aug. 23, 2008 2:08 p.m. Brust New Reader
Keith, I don't want to hijack too much here, but which afco shocks did you use for the miata suspension? I'm interested in case my motorcycle shocks don't work out to my liking on the Mg suspension. The afco site only shows circle track, "high performance" and drag racing.
Thanks, and sorry for the jack.
Brust
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Aug. 23, 2008 6:58 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork
I saw that a bunch of guys on locostusa were using QA1's.
I looked at the Afco site, they look like good stuff but I was not having much luck finding anything which could be readily adapted to a production based suspension and still be reasonably affordable. For that reason, I'm interested in what Afcos the locost guys are using as well.
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Aug. 24, 2008 6:09 a.m. Varkwso Reader
We will likely be using them on my son's 1983 Supra since shock options are limited (most likely coil over conversion to get some decent spring rates also)
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Aug. 24, 2008 2:31 p.m. Keith SuperDork
Our Miata shocks are the T2 line. We specified the upper mount, lower mount, shaft length, body length, adjuster location, spring length, spring rate, check ball material and valving. You won't find them in the catalog although you will find almost all of the individual components :) I believe road racing is considered to be "high performance". Not a great choice on the part of the marketing department, but it doesn't make the products any less viable. Their print catalogs are a lot more useful than the website.
AFCO is far more approachable than any other shock manufacturer I've dealt with. Really helpful guys. Instead of looking in the catalog for an off-the-shelf solution, call them up and ask for suggestions.
