ive got the run around from several people at QA1. i finally spoke with Pat, design/engineer. he told me "we are awaiting a response from GM." whats GM got to do with it? he went on, " if you have ever seen the piston rod on these stuts, its way too long for (us) to make a quality shock that can handle the abuse." i asked him why he was relying on GM to give him information on why and how strut was designed. doesnt make sense to me at all. i replied, "AC Delco, Gabriel, Monroe, Bilstein, Koni, KYB, Lakewood, Comp Eng., Tokico, and MANY others have made struts for these cars since the early 90's, some of them since the car was in production in 1982. if QA1 is one of the baddest shock builders out there, why cant they build a strut like everyone else?" no answer came from Pat. i was polite and told him to have a nice day.

i think i got the runaround, and a very unhonest answer. something is fishy with them, and i dont think (they) are letting it out of the bag.

call QA1 and talk with pat, maybe if he gets harrassed enough, they will finally build a strut, or at least get a truthful answer. 1-800-721-7761.

they have lost my business for now. i just won a set of comp eng drag shocks, new in the box. that will suffice for my current needs.

 

why did you link to another forum for the question?

thats crappy dude.







Why not just the 4th gen ones? the bilstiens from teh 3rd gen work on the forth, so I assume there isnt much difference???

 

sent the link to a friend, forgot to copy and paste the information. taking care of it now.

3rd and 4th gen FRONT struts dont interchange.

 

oh duh, I thought you were talking about rears for some reason.

How come you just want the Qa1?

 

it can be set for any application. the only thing out now for the front is either a drag shock, or an adjustable shock from koni and KYB, both of which only adjust from stock to more firm. none loose as a goose for drag strip action. ive heard of some guys getting custom billet bilsteins, but they are like 1200.00 a set. if qa1 would get off their fannys, i couldnt see a set running much more than 400, IMO.

 

I dont know much about 3rd gens, but how different is the strut?

cutom valved should only be 450 or so for the front in bilstiens.


Is there Tokiko adjustables for the front for a 3rd gen?
I know for the stangs my buddy can make his real loose.

 

The 3rd Gen has a true "strut type" suspension in the front. The wheel spindle bolts to the strut, and the strut is an integral link in a 3-link (one sliding) configuration. The strut has to include the mount for the spindle, and has to carry the entire lateral forces of the upper 1/2 of the car, plus all the bending stresses induced by the spindle, over the full range of suspension movement:

This is a 3rd Gen suspension:

http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/t_animate_m.gif

The 4th Gen suspension is not a true "strut". It is an unequal length a-arm... in effect a 4-link suspension, not requiring the sliding link. The spring and shock, which happen to be in a "coil-over" configuration that makes many people think they are struts, only carry compressive loads, not the lateral loads, not the bending loads.... a much easier shock shaft to design.

This is a 4th Gen suspension:

http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/t_animate_a.gif

[copy and paste links]