KLA Ind.-Rear Coil-over Shock-Here's the deal.....
07-02-2003, 02:56 PM
#17
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John,
Sorry for not getting your questions answered. Well here goes.
1) Would you use these shocks on cars without the Torsion Bars? Looking at the picture, it appears that you are using a long bolt for the lower shock mounting point. Other shocks use an adapter bolt "Racers Edge" or the shock itself improvises for this "Bilsteins"
Well I'm not sure I would run them without torsion bars. My only concern is can the lower banana arm mounting point take the stresses of holding the entire car. Many people do without any problem though.
On the bolt issue, we are running a combination of a steel bushing/spacer and a longer grade 8.8 bolt. We decided to run it that way because we would have fewer threaded points. Some spacers screw into the banana arm and then use either a nut or a bolt to attach the shock. We just decided on a different mount method that (to me) made the instillation easier.
2) Obviously, the shock's valving will have to be different to accomodate ranges of spring rates. Can these shocks be revalved to handle 600-1000# springs? If so, can they be ordered as such?
These shocks can be revalved for about any spring rate. They were designed for racing so many combination can be used. I will have to check on the availability and cost. Keep in mind though the valving is important for not only the spring rate but how the entire car is set up i.e sway bar, ride height, torsion bar and so on.
3) I assume they are oil filled vs gas filled?
Yes they are oil filled.
4) Do you plan on offering, from the same manufacturer, front struts. On race cars, it might better to use the same type of shock with similar characteristics.
We are looking at it but at this point I think the cost might be higher than Koni's so we are not sure how fast we will get them out. I want to make sure we are going to provide value in the strut.
I hope this helps
Ken
Sorry for not getting your questions answered. Well here goes.
1) Would you use these shocks on cars without the Torsion Bars? Looking at the picture, it appears that you are using a long bolt for the lower shock mounting point. Other shocks use an adapter bolt "Racers Edge" or the shock itself improvises for this "Bilsteins"
Well I'm not sure I would run them without torsion bars. My only concern is can the lower banana arm mounting point take the stresses of holding the entire car. Many people do without any problem though.
On the bolt issue, we are running a combination of a steel bushing/spacer and a longer grade 8.8 bolt. We decided to run it that way because we would have fewer threaded points. Some spacers screw into the banana arm and then use either a nut or a bolt to attach the shock. We just decided on a different mount method that (to me) made the instillation easier.
2) Obviously, the shock's valving will have to be different to accomodate ranges of spring rates. Can these shocks be revalved to handle 600-1000# springs? If so, can they be ordered as such?
These shocks can be revalved for about any spring rate. They were designed for racing so many combination can be used. I will have to check on the availability and cost. Keep in mind though the valving is important for not only the spring rate but how the entire car is set up i.e sway bar, ride height, torsion bar and so on.
3) I assume they are oil filled vs gas filled?
Yes they are oil filled.
4) Do you plan on offering, from the same manufacturer, front struts. On race cars, it might better to use the same type of shock with similar characteristics.
We are looking at it but at this point I think the cost might be higher than Koni's so we are not sure how fast we will get them out. I want to make sure we are going to provide value in the strut.
I hope this helps
Ken
07-02-2003, 03:41 PM
#21
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I posted these comments/questions on the last KLA shock thread.. but it seems to have gotten lost...
I've also got the QA1 coil-overs shocks on my turboS.
I'm also using the poly bushings, with Carrea extenders(3/4") with custom sleeves (to get the required 12/14mm) sizes.
I'm using simple washers(3) to make up the width difference between the poly upper bushing vs stock upper bushing. I've also made my mount 'smaller' because I guess I didn't use enough washers
I'm sure it's smaller, because I had to grind 1mm off the Koni's to reinstall them.
In terms of valving, I got some valved for a mustang coupe (~3300lbs) with ~300lbs springs. Seems fine to me, at least as good valving as the double-adjustable (Truechoice Rebuilt) M030 rears I had on before. I aggree that the range is somewhat limited; you wouldn't want to use the lower settings (in my case, anything under 4 clicks)
Tony - I don't have any rubbing problems on the upper mount. Maybe this is a production tolerances thing. Because of the spacer on the bottom mount (to clear the banana arm), I use all three washers on top to push the shock father 'in'; trying to keep the shock as verticle as possible.
Ken - The only other problems I've found is with some rubbing on both the rear banana arm and on the transaxle oil-cooler loop. Seems to be a catch22. Either I rub on the arm, or I use a bigger spacer and rub on the oil-cooler loop.
Are you using 2.5" coils and the QA1 uppper(we'll actually lower) hat? How do you solve the rubbing issues?
Here's a pic of what I mean: (courtesy of DanD's great rightup... Thanks again Dan!)
<img src="http://members.rennlist.org/dan10101/Images/lower_shock_mount.jpg" alt=" - " />
I've also got the QA1 coil-overs shocks on my turboS.
I'm also using the poly bushings, with Carrea extenders(3/4") with custom sleeves (to get the required 12/14mm) sizes.
I'm using simple washers(3) to make up the width difference between the poly upper bushing vs stock upper bushing. I've also made my mount 'smaller' because I guess I didn't use enough washers
I'm sure it's smaller, because I had to grind 1mm off the Koni's to reinstall them.In terms of valving, I got some valved for a mustang coupe (~3300lbs) with ~300lbs springs. Seems fine to me, at least as good valving as the double-adjustable (Truechoice Rebuilt) M030 rears I had on before. I aggree that the range is somewhat limited; you wouldn't want to use the lower settings (in my case, anything under 4 clicks)
Tony - I don't have any rubbing problems on the upper mount. Maybe this is a production tolerances thing. Because of the spacer on the bottom mount (to clear the banana arm), I use all three washers on top to push the shock father 'in'; trying to keep the shock as verticle as possible.
Ken - The only other problems I've found is with some rubbing on both the rear banana arm and on the transaxle oil-cooler loop. Seems to be a catch22. Either I rub on the arm, or I use a bigger spacer and rub on the oil-cooler loop.
Are you using 2.5" coils and the QA1 uppper(we'll actually lower) hat? How do you solve the rubbing issues?
Here's a pic of what I mean: (courtesy of DanD's great rightup... Thanks again Dan!)
<img src="http://members.rennlist.org/dan10101/Images/lower_shock_mount.jpg" alt=" - " />
07-02-2003, 05:11 PM
#22
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Boy,you guys are asking the tough questions. Well to answer the rubbing question, we did get a set to fit a 951 with an oil cooler. How we did it was to move the bottom out far enough to clear the banana arm, we bushed the top so the loop would be centered and we seperated the center coils of the cooler by about 1/2 inch each way. That has allowed the spring to clear both and has not hit.
It is a tight fit.
Ken
It is a tight fit.
Ken
07-03-2003, 12:21 AM
#23
Rennlist Member
The Motons I put on required spacers as well. Here's a shot before I added the Kokeln sway bars.
<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/MotonRear.jpg" alt=" - " />
The spacers allowed the use of the stock bolt. I first went with 500 lb. springs in the back and only used 3" of travel in the rear on a 6" x 2.25"
setup. I'm up to 850/700's now.
And yes the top took some grinding to clear. But I know I saved at least 30 grams in the back
Sounds like the time to tweak was about the same as the KLA product. However, KLA has the price point well in their court. Looks like a nice product for a lot of people. Congrats to KLA.
Alan C.
<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/MotonRear.jpg" alt=" - " />
The spacers allowed the use of the stock bolt. I first went with 500 lb. springs in the back and only used 3" of travel in the rear on a 6" x 2.25"
setup. I'm up to 850/700's now.
And yes the top took some grinding to clear. But I know I saved at least 30 grams in the back
Sounds like the time to tweak was about the same as the KLA product. However, KLA has the price point well in their court. Looks like a nice product for a lot of people. Congrats to KLA.
Alan C.
