I've installed on my '02 L the Hotchkis lowering kit w/sway bars.

Changed by factory shocks to QA1's. After 5 months I still cannot find a good setting for daily driving (I prefer a softer ride, but without sacrificing handling too much). Too much "jolting" for my taste. Unfortunately, finding the correct combination of front and back is sooo frustrating.

Do the new Bilstein/Hotchkis shocks ride any better? Is there a setting I can put the QA1's that would simulate what the Bilsteins would offer?

OR can anyone provide a setting they have been happy with using QA1's?

 

try 6-7 front and 5 rear

I count the softest setting as 1

 

I use 8 for the front and 5 for the rears.

The Hotchkis are stiffer springs, so you're not going to get a factory ride. The bilsteins won't help in that regard.

The best setup I can think of for a nice ride and good looks would be:

Hotchkis sway bars
WC dropped A-arms
Ruslow rear hangers
panhard bar
QA1s
STOCK springs

This won't have the race ability of the higher rate springs, but should allow you to dial in rebound and have a nice comfortable ride (will have all the spring travel of a stock truck)

Coldie

 

I'm not sure if I qualify as a "guru," but I agree with Coldie 100%.

I have driven for weeks without any shocks at all. The rough ride is inherent in the stiffer spring rates.

Going much lower than 5 or 6 in the front just lets the springs overpower the shocks -- it doesn't improve ride quality (at least to my butt). The QA1s don't have much of a progressive rate/variable valving (if at all), so they will not provide a tame ride under any circumstances.

Compression feel is primarily determined by the spring rate (and weight over the wheel, which you can't change). Shocks play more of a role in rebound. The primary role of the shock is to control wheel oscillation. Once you find the point that the rebound is controlled, you will have maximum overall ride quality. For me, with the Hotchkis, 7-8 was best. With 1,100 lb springs, I expect to increase them a click or two.

While the QA1s are off the front for rebuild/reshafting, I am using the stock Bilsteins. I have worn them out in just a few thousand miles. So -- other than the much more expensive Penskes -- QA1s are the only adjustable shock game in town that I know of.

 

Tim:

When you say you put your QA'1s at 7-8, is that 7/front, 8/ back, or you have just your backs at 7-8?

Thanks to everyone's input, I'll try to the 8/Front, 5/back setup and report back.

 

I run 9/7 street.

 

Sorry. I meant 7 or 8 in the front.

The rears are almost always best 2-3 clicks down from the front setting.

 

Thanks for the input. Ran the QA's at 7/F and 4/R and is definitely more liveable......

Love this forum and its members!

 

Couple more general tips...

jump in the truck bed. It shouldn't bouce up and down more than twice.

try and find some highway with large expansion joints. Drive over them until you find a resonant frequency (truck just bounces more and more) then crank the shocks to comfort...

Biggest tip: Get someone who knows suspension to ride with you. It's amazing what some of these gurus can do that you would never think of.

Coldie