QA1 Install
 

Ok, so this is about the easiest install you could do besides a K&N Filter!

First I got in and undid the top shock bolts... (Unless you have removed your carpets you will have to fold back the carpet on the "shelf" they rest behind the back seats...
http://www.rankmyride.com/data//0/a/...icture_037.jpg
You can see one of them there, right under the rear seat latch... the other one is exactly opposite that...
You will use a 15mm wrench and a crescent wrench, use the crescnt to keep the shock shaft in place and the 15mm to spin the nut off...

After I got both of the top nuts and bushings off... I lifted the car with a hydraulic jack, supporting by the rear diff... Jack it high enough for the axle to travel far enough down to release the shocks... the support it with jack stands where the LCA's mount...
Drop the jack just far enough to let the shocks come out of the mounting holes...
Then you will use a 21mm socket on a 1/2 inch drive ratchet and a crescent wrench to break loose and remove the shock mounting bolts...
Once the bolts are off... They should fall right out!
Removal Complete!!!

Before you install the QA1's you will need to buy a Shock bolt kit, made by HELP! Go to any Pep Boys, Advanced Auto, VIP, Napa, Autozone, etc... and ask them where thier Help section is, or ask them for Help! part# 31001 and it is called shock bolt kit... It is a bolt that has a stand off on it to make it fit onto our axles... 10 bolt or 12 bolt (Note: You will need two(2) bolt kits.)

You will not need the bushing in there only the bolt, washers(2), lock washer(1), and nuts (2)... Press the bolts into the shocks, one from the left and one from the right... So when you mount them you can make both adjustment knobs face center of the vehicle...

Now that the shock bolts are in the shocks, you are ready to install the shocks... Have a friend handy, makes things go alot easier!

The directions say to install the top first, you really can do it either way... I did the top first...

Extend the shock fully, compress it, then extend it again to verify full motion on the piston...

Place one of the supplied QA1 washers and bushing on the piston... have your friend hold the shock through the shock mounting hole, while you place the other bushing and washer on top and snug up the bolt on the piston... (QA1 was smart and designed the piston so you can just tighten them down without needing to hold the piston in place...)

Once the top is done, go down to the bottom and jack the rearend up high enough to allow the bolt to go into the mounting hole... and tighten down the nuts on both sides...

Repeat for the other shock and you are done!!! Lower the car, and enjoy the fact that on level one you can make your car bounce and on level twelve, going over a bump is like hitting a brick wall! (Slightly exagerated, but the difference is AMAZING!!!!) These shock are awesome....

Again an important note is to make sure when you intall the shock bolt into the hole make sure the adjustment knob is facing inwards...
http://www.rankmyride.com/data//0/a/...ge/qa1_005.jpg
Like that!! It makes adjusting the settings VERY easy!!!


A few installed pics
http://www.rankmyride.com/data//0/a/...ge/qa1_001.jpg
http://www.rankmyride.com/data//0/a/...ge/qa1_002.jpg
http://www.rankmyride.com/data//0/a/...ge/qa1_003.jpg
And just cause its cool!
http://www.rankmyride.com/data//0/a/...ge/qa1_007.jpg

Hope this helped... I will try to make it a little easier to follow in to future, but this works for now!

As usual, any and all comments welcome!!!

Are the QA1's adjustible shocks?

You asked that in the other QA1 thread... and I also made note to put the adjustment knobs facing the inside in the directions...

But yes, they are 12 way adjustable...

fun part is playing with adjustments

i like how you have the e-brake lines attached to the torque arm...i did the same with my brake lines.

You mean the panhard rod?