QA1 shocks
- Thread starter TrentNell
- Start date
Yes! One day service! Gotta love Summit.
I have them in the garage right now...just have to go buy two 1/2"x2-1/2" bolts so I can install them tomorrow night.
These dang things are rock-solid stiff on the top setting! Set it on 12 and tried to compress the shock.....wouldnt move, even with my whole weight on it.
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Did you end up welding your shock mounts and redrilling them is that why you need the 1/2'' x 2 1/2'' bolts? I'm still debating on whether to keep the double adjustables or exchange them for single, I only live about an hour from Summit so I'm going to sleep on it.
Try pulling up on them. You want a stiff rebound, not necessarily a stiff compression.
I dont think that'll be necessary, would it? Grade 8 bolts should work fine, shouldnt they? I tried to find a 12mm(?) sleeve yesterday, with no luck. Maybe my fab shop will have something.
Tried that too. No go.
Im so used to gas-charged shocks resting at full-extension and me having to force them back that it took a bit to get used to these.
yes grade 8 is good
you need to either do it one way or the other
Trents way or my way both are just as good but you need to do one of themyou have a 12 mm sleeve in the old shocks dont you?
yes grade 8 is good
you need to either do it one way or the other
you have a 12 mm sleeve in the old shocks dont you?
I'll have to go back and see what your way was....I dont remember it.
Found out today the bolts are 14mm. Nobody makes thin sleeves in that size. I couldnt even find 9/16" sleeves...they go from 1/2 to 5/8! I'm just going to install them like this for a few days, then fix it when I get time (and can think of a decent solution) this weekend.
--Because --
No way am I destroying my old Bilsteins just to get a couple sleeves. I threw my old stock shocks away years ago so I dont have them to fall back on. .....and my wife wonders why Im a friggin packrat about autoparts....see what happens the one time I do need a weird part?:rofl:
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they dont have to be the thin ones , you just thin out the bushing with a drill bit . or do simons method , page 1 has some really good pics
:rofl:
If no one makes them, why do you get them with stock GM shock?
No way i would risk running the shock with out the correct bushing though
maybe that is just me:baby:
Cant you find a oil pair of stockers that are garbage?
they dont have to be the thin ones , you just thin out the bushing with a drill bit . or do simons method , page 1 has some really good pics
Trent your way is by far easier and cheaper
If I had stock buhings on my truck I would of done that also
Ah well..doesnt matter...top nuts on Bilsteins are rusted on and being stubborn. I'll do this another time...after I can make new bushings.
For the bottom I used a 1/2" x? bolt grade 8 was considering a grade 5 untill I seen what GM uses.
It was long enough to put 2 flat washers on each side and then loctited the nut on.
For the lower shock mount i just welded the holes closed and redrilled them,I did replace the bolts that hold the mount on with a grade 12 metric bolts and loctited them also.
The top is just like Trent did and all seems good,Ill get some pics up tommorow if you still need them
Ive got an email into QA1 asking them if they have 14mm bushings/sleeves available. I was randomly searching Google and think that MAYBE Tuff Country may have something...as they referred to 14mm shock bushings in one of their lift install manuals.
QA1 replied that they dont have 14mm sleeves, but do have 9/16" ones..that come in a kit with 3 other sizes for $20. http://www.jegs.com/i/QA1/122/SLV750/10002/-1 Nope...too expensive.
I replied to them that for the 1538 shocks they might want to use a larger bushing and include the 9/16" sleeves in the install kit for the future, since these shocks can be used on trucks too.
Energy Suspension makes a general bushing/sleeve in 9/16", and they come two-to-a-pack for around $10.http://www.aplusperformance.com/ene..._universal_link_bushings/99106g/i-103916.aspx Sleeve would need minor trimming, and bushing hole opened to 3/4".
Prothane makes something, too. http://www.jegs.com/i/Prothane/311/19-604-BL/10002/-1 The sleeve would have to be trimmed 1/2" and hole opened as stated above.
Just some ideas.
Nope...too expensive.I replied to them that for the 1538 shocks they might want to use a larger bushing and include the 9/16" sleeves in the install kit for the future, since these shocks can be used on trucks too.
Energy Suspension makes a general bushing/sleeve in 9/16", and they come two-to-a-pack for around $10.http://www.aplusperformance.com/ene..._universal_link_bushings/99106g/i-103916.aspx Sleeve would need minor trimming, and bushing hole opened to 3/4".
Prothane makes something, too. http://www.jegs.com/i/Prothane/311/19-604-BL/10002/-1 The sleeve would have to be trimmed 1/2" and hole opened as stated above.
Just some ideas.
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