QA1's single-adjustable shocks...
QA1's single-adjustable shocks adjust both compression and rebound valving in equal measure at the same time. They're intended for cars that see occasional competition duty, but spend most of their time on the street. By simply twisting the knob, users can choose between 12 different settings. We currently use QA1 Stocker Star single-adjustable shocks on Project Street Sweeper, PHR's '68 Chevelle project car.
Trade show season in the automotive aftermarket always packs a few pleasant surprises. Just when you think things can't get any better, savvy manufacturers figure out a way to up the technological and performance ante. We were reminded of this once again at last winter's Performance Racing Industry show, while spending a few minutes chatting with engineers in the QA1 booth. The company's comprehensive catalog of top-notch adjustable shocks and coilover kits have made them a favorite with hot rodders, but it's raising the bar even higher. In addition to its wildly popular single- and double-adjustable dampeners, QA1 is rolling out a line of budget-priced, non-adjustable performance shocks as well as new adjustable struts.
The new QA1 non-adjustable Stocker Stars are premium small-body shocks that retail for about $90, and bolt right up to the factory mounting points. They feature the same twin-tube design and durable machined aluminum bodies as QA1's premium shocks, but at an extremely affordable price. "Our new non-adjustable shocks are perfect for people who want an aluminum high-performance replacement shock for $90, but are probably more interested in cruising than going to the road course," says Corey Flynn of QA1. Unlike most replacement shocks, the new Stocker Star NA shocks can be serviced, revalved, and rebuilt. These obviously aren't your typical throwaway shocks. They look great, and are the last set of shocks you'll ever have to buy.
Unlike the Stocker Stars that...
Unlike the Stocker Stars that retain the factory spring and shock mounting locations, the Proma Stars are full coilover conversions. This double-adjustable variant enables compression and rebound settings to be changed independently from each other. With 24 different settings for compression and rebound, this equates to a total of 576 valving combinations. QA1 recommends installing its double-adjustable shocks on hard-core street/track cars that will see plenty of time on the road course, dragstrip, and autocross.
For street/strip enthusiasts, QA1's new Gen 3 Camaro and '79-present Mustang struts should prove equally exciting. With an all-aluminum design, deflective-disc valving, and the capability to be rebuilt and revalved, these struts offer the same capabilities as QA1's most popular shocks. Flynn says, "These struts are a great addition to the marketplace. They're available in single-, double-, and R-series valving, so no matter what style of driving you're going to do, we have you covered."
While QA1's newly expanded lineup offers more choices than ever, selecting the right set for your car doesn't have to be confusing. "The foundation of QA1's product line is our Proma Star and Stocker Star shocks, and they're both available as single- and double-adjustable units. The main difference between them is that the Stocker Stars bolt to the factory shock mounts, while the Proma Stars are for coilover conversions," Flynn says. "Furthermore, our Stocker Star, Stocker Star NA, Proma Star, and R-series shocks are available for most muscle car and domestic late-model applications."
By springtime, QA1 will also have a cool wireless remote adjust kit for all QA1 adjustable shocks. Stay tuned!
Ideally, when a shock absorbs...
Ideally, when a shock absorbs a bump, it shouldn't exert loads back into the suspension on the rebound stroke. This leads to a stiff ride, and adds unwanted spring rate. To prevent this from happening, QA1 shocks use a twin-tube, non-gas design. Oil travels through the shock body to control the movement of the rod, and a deflective disc valve attached to the bottom of the rod manages how much oil flows between the bottom and top halves of the shock. Precisely controlling this valve is what gives QA1 shocks such a wide range of adjustability. It's literally NASCAR technology for the street.
There's no set industry standard...
There's no set industry standard on how to test shocks, so QA1 has created its own by dyno testing every shock it makes. The dyno is essentially a load cell that measure how quickly the shock rod accelerates in inches per second on both compression and rebound for a given amount of force. During the testing process, QA1 simulates suspension loads and bumps of varying degrees to make sure the shocks perform as expected. Each click of the adjustment knob is also tested to ensure that it changes the valving as it should.
QA1 recommends its double-adjustable...
QA1 recommends its double-adjustable Stocker Star shocks for vehicles that require a direct bolt-on shock, and that also require a greater degree of adjustability for more serious performance applications. Our '75 Laguna will see some autocross, road course, and dragstrip work, so our suspension supplier, Global West, likes the QA1's independent adjustment for compression and rebound.
These graphs extrapolated...
These graphs extrapolated from the shock dyno illustrate the acceleration rate of a shock, with the Y-axis representing the force (pounds) exerted on the shock rod, and the X-axis representing the acceleration of the rod in inches per second. The top half of the graph is for the compression stroke of the shock, while the bottom half is for rebound. As the shock valving is stiffened up, the lines on the graph separate farther from zero. To put it succinctly, the flatter and more linear the slope of the lines, the more predictably a shock will respond to varying loads. The goal is to design a shock that exhibits minimal changes in acceleration regardless of the size of the loads. With double-adjustable shocks, this data also ensures that changing the compression valving doesn't affect the rebound valving and vice versa.
For our '68 Chevelle, which...
For our '68 Chevelle, which sees mostly street duty and some drag race action, the single-adjustable Stocker Star provided the necessary adjustability for our occasional trips to the dragstrip. The single adjustment knob allows the shock damping to be brought in line with the spring stiffness and vehicle weight. While OEMs have the luxury of matching the spring rate, shock valving, vehicle weight, and ride quality in a non-adjustable shock, the hot rod builder is on the hook for matching the shock to the rest of the car. The single adjustment knob allows just that.