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    1. #1
      Join Date
      Dec 2004
      Location
      NYC
      Posts
      553
      Country Flag: United States

      Varishock Coilover=JUNK

      Anyone recommend any other coilover for the front of a GM A-Body,i currently running varishock coilovers,my drivers side blew out a month ago,sent them back to get fixed got `em back about 2 weeks ago and yesterday i noticed the same one blew out again,i didnt go racing just local driving so its not like they were pounded or anything,it seems my drivers side keeps blowing out i dont know if its just defective or what?but i`m not gonna keep having to take apart my front end because of this stupid coilover,a buddy of mine has QA1s in his car for the last 5 years without any problems,i bought these because everyone was saying these were better but it really does not seem like it,i think its a ripp off for what we`re paying for them,does Koni or Bilstein make coilovers?

      George
      `67 Buick GS 400 Hdtp,494ci Stage 2 BBB,5-speed TKO-600,"The Black Widow"


    2. #2
      Join Date
      Sep 2002
      Location
      San Jose, CA
      Posts
      1,793
      I would frankly consider the Varishocks more durable than QA-1

      I don't much are for any conical coilover design
      1971 Camaro, 383 stroker ~500HP,M21 Trans with lightened flywheel. All Sorts of Auto-x Goodness in the Suspension. 12" Brakes ->SOLD

      But ask me about my 2004 STi Auto-x car...

      Just call me Brett

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Jul 2007
      Location
      Los Angeles, CA
      Posts
      1,303
      Usually people seem to complain about the QA1s more than the Varishocks. I wonder if something is off with the geometry on your suspension and that is causing problems with your shock on that one side.

    4. #4
      Join Date
      Dec 2004
      Location
      NYC
      Posts
      553
      Country Flag: United States
      What can possibly be off on the geometry? both sides upper and lower GW tubular a-arms i dont see how or what would be different??

      Thanks
      George
      `67 Buick GS 400 Hdtp,494ci Stage 2 BBB,5-speed TKO-600,"The Black Widow"

    5. #5
      Join Date
      May 2005
      Location
      Fontana, CA
      Posts
      4,960
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by staged67gspwr
      What can possibly be off on the geometry? both sides upper and lower GW tubular a-arms i dont see how or what would be different??

      Thanks
      Are all your bumpstops in place? How much bump travel is in the shock at the height setting you use? What is the spring rate? Are you a big guy?

      Sounds like something is causing the shock to bottom out or work too hard. Do you adjust your settings at all? Are they set at the highest or lowest settings?

      These are a few of the types of ways that the car and driver alone can cause a shock to fail. I am sure Tom and a few others can give a lot more examples.
      Nick R.
      69 Camaro - 383, 700R4, 12 bolt 3.55, Hotchkis, Bilstein, Global West, Morris Classic
      08 HHR SS - Still Stock for now
      Do you still believe in all the things that you stood by before? Are you out there on the front lines, or at home keeping score?
      Do you care to be the layer of the bricks that seal your fate? Would you rather be the architect of what we might create?

    6. #6
      Join Date
      Dec 2004
      Location
      NYC
      Posts
      553
      Country Flag: United States
      Dude it does not make sense to me either,both fronts are adjusted 6 clicks i dont see what or how the one would blow out and the other wont,i didnt exactly go off roading with the freakin thing,maybe a defective coilover?i dont know i really dont know??

      Thanks
      George
      `67 Buick GS 400 Hdtp,494ci Stage 2 BBB,5-speed TKO-600,"The Black Widow"

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Feb 2002
      Location
      Springfield, MO
      Posts
      4,470
      Country Flag: United States
      trade sides before you dump them and buy more. Or I guess just spend the money on different ones and hope that fixes it!!
      I haven't had any probs with my rears (me knocks on wood!!)
      Jimmy

      69 Camaro Twin Turbo'd
      58 Nomad 348 Baby Rat

      http://www.fquick.com/shmoov69


    8. #8
      Join Date
      Dec 2004
      Location
      NYC
      Posts
      553
      Country Flag: United States
      Dude it does not make sense to me i cant see how the drivers side gets screwed up,unless they didnt repair it right when i sent it back the first time?its my front i have no issue with the rear.

      Thanks
      George
      `67 Buick GS 400 Hdtp,494ci Stage 2 BBB,5-speed TKO-600,"The Black Widow"

    9. #9
      Join Date
      May 2005
      Location
      Fontana, CA
      Posts
      4,960
      Country Flag: United States
      You don't have to off road to blow it out if the bump stops aren't there or working properly. Also, working independently or in conjunction with the previos sentence, if the ride is set low enough that it only takes <1" of bump travel (EASY on the street, going up a driveway, etc) to bottom out the shock then that will blow it out as well. The fact that it affects the drivers side more than the pass is that you are in the car and adding more weight to the drivers side. The drivers side already has more weight anyway with the steering box so adding even more weight (driver) makes it much more likely to go than a pass side.

      find out what the overall min and max lengths are suposed to be and measure yours @ ride height. That will tell you how much remaining bump travel you have until the shock bottoms out.
      Nick R.
      69 Camaro - 383, 700R4, 12 bolt 3.55, Hotchkis, Bilstein, Global West, Morris Classic
      08 HHR SS - Still Stock for now
      Do you still believe in all the things that you stood by before? Are you out there on the front lines, or at home keeping score?
      Do you care to be the layer of the bricks that seal your fate? Would you rather be the architect of what we might create?

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Jan 2006
      Posts
      464
      Swap the coilovers side to side and see if the problem changes location. That will tell you if it is the shock or the suspension.

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Location
      IL/TN
      Posts
      908
      Country Flag: United States
      you have to stop saying it does not make sense or I don't know, you posted a question and others are trying to help, 6'9"witha69 gave you great info as to where to start looking.
      https://www.protouringf-body.com "doing what they say can't be done"

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Dec 2004
      Location
      NYC
      Posts
      553
      Country Flag: United States
      it seems like it over extends and it pulled the top cap off the coilover,it cant bottom out cause my bump stops are almost right up against the frame.
      George
      `67 Buick GS 400 Hdtp,494ci Stage 2 BBB,5-speed TKO-600,"The Black Widow"

    13. #13
      Join Date
      Aug 2003
      Location
      Orlando, FL
      Posts
      8,745
      Hotchkis coils and shocks of your choice! We are a QA1 and Varishock distributor and I am not a big fan of any coil over conversion. There is hardly any stored energy, the car can only be lowered 1 1/2" MAX. You need a real spring, especially on a big heavy car like that. I never blow QA1 or Varishock in regular shok application, only in the coil over design.

    14. #14
      Join Date
      Dec 2004
      Location
      NYC
      Posts
      553
      Country Flag: United States
      I think you are right Frank,those coilovers looked too short to me from the getgo,the thing with that now is that i`d have to buy another set of lower GW a-arms for a coil spring.

      Thanks
      George
      `67 Buick GS 400 Hdtp,494ci Stage 2 BBB,5-speed TKO-600,"The Black Widow"

    15. #15
      Join Date
      Dec 2004
      Location
      NYC
      Posts
      553
      Country Flag: United States
      Well i spoke to Marcus from SC&C and we came to the conclusion that maybe when they repaired it they didnt do it right so i gotta take it off and send it back again but this time it will be replaced with a new shock body hopefully it will never happen again,i tell you Marcus has great customer service thanks Marcus.
      Thanks
      George
      `67 Buick GS 400 Hdtp,494ci Stage 2 BBB,5-speed TKO-600,"The Black Widow"

    16. #16
      Join Date
      Jan 2007
      Location
      Temecula, California
      Posts
      22
      Afco and Koni's have never given me an problems even when going to a front coilover conversion.

    17. #17
      Join Date
      Sep 2005
      Location
      League City, TX
      Posts
      707
      Country Flag: United States
      Is it possible that it's getting over extended?
      John Brown
      1971 Nova - Project Car
      1990 Silverado - Ridetech StreetGRIP
      Instagram @wilwaxu
      Facebook @wilwaxu

    18. #18
      Join Date
      Jan 2007
      Location
      Temecula, California
      Posts
      22
      Quote Originally Posted by WILWAXU
      Is it possible that it's getting over extended?
      unlikely unless he's jumping it, lol

    19. #19
      Join Date
      Jul 2005
      Location
      Mountain View, CA
      Posts
      9,583
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by juiced
      unlikely unless he's jumping it, lol
      True T.

      Whats new with Project 1/2-Trak?


      Follow my wisecracks on Sports, Food, Politics and other BS on Twitter.

      My blog

      When they kick out your front door, How you gonna come?
      With your hands on your head, Or on the trigger of your gun?

    20. #20
      Join Date
      Aug 2005
      Location
      Hamilton, NJ
      Posts
      4,319
      Country Flag: United States
      Lol
      Scott from NJ.

      Vent Windows Forever! ...

      Feather-light suspension, Konis just couldn't hold
      I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors

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