Naake Spring Adapter

[cougar9150]

Well due to my Jam nut on one of the front QA1 shocks working itself loose and jamming itself in my control arms I cannot wait for the 6-10 weeks for the custom springs to be made.

Instead I am revisiting my spring adapter idea to mount the stock springs onto the QA1 shocks. I need my MM back on the road sooner than I can get the springs made so I'm taking this route and will revisit the custom springs if this doesn't work to my liking.

Here is a preview of the pieces I am getting quoted by the machine shop today. I am going to get pricing for 1-4 sets (set = 2 pieces). Let me know if anyone is interested as I am going to get my set made and have them powder coated in the next week. It will just be plain black powder coat so that the adapter will match the springs, along with the QA1 adjustment and jam nuts.

Once I have pricing I will update this thread.

[cougar9150]

Here's the first piece done. Going to test fit the QA1 spring perch and bearings on Monday.

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[LANDY]

Those pieces look real nice Phil. Let me know how they work out.

[cougar9150]

The finished product. Cost me $260 for the pair anodized but was because I only ran 2 pieces. Had a couple other shops quote me and one was $700 and the other was a little over $1k.

http://tapatalk.com/mu/42577bf7-9d6e-42cd.jpg
http://tapatalk.com/mu/42577bf7-9d8a-d7ef.jpg
http://tapatalk.com/mu/42577bf7-9dc7-2bf0.jpg
http://tapatalk.com/mu/42577bf7-9ddb-5f71.jpg
Will hopefully get them and the stock springs installed this weekend.

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[MOTOWN]

Finished product looks very nice!, cant wait to see if this is the fix for the fronts

[cougar9150]

Finished product looks very nice!, cant wait to see if this is the fix for the fronts

Thanks, I'm hoping this is the cure for the spring issues I've been having. If these don't work out or I have any other issues with the QA1s I may just throw in the towel on this setup. After spending the cash on these adapters I'm not sure if I'll want to drop $400+ on custom springs.

I kept the height of the part down to 1.25" to allow as much height adjustment as possible with the stock springs. I may end up cutting a coil if I can't adjust the height as much as I want.

Figured hard anodized was the most durable coating and got a deal on it because I added it to a load of parts getting done for my company. The shop told me $60 per load for clear anodized on 6061. It comes out the dark grey because of the chemical reaction with the aluminum.

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[cougar9150]

No go on this version of the adapters. Cut the helix a little too short and will have contact on the bottom coil if I use them without modding the springs. If it was an 1/8-3/16" taller it would be fine.

I would need to file down about a inch long section on the top of the bottom coil about 3/16-1/4". Would rather do this on a set of Eibach's or Eaton 1.25" lowering springs. Getting the shock in the car will be much easier with a shorter spring.

This project is going on the shelf for now. I can't afford to keep playing at the moment so a set of KYBs are going on till we have a more reliable second car than my truck. That needs a new fuel pump real soon so the Merc has got to be running again quickly.

Ordered the KYBs today on Amazon with my American Express points. Wife is not happy about dropping over 2 bills on the adapters and they don't even work right. Told her it happens sometimes when you design your own crap. If everything at my work was designed right the first time I wouldn't have a job.


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[burt ragio]

Quote. "No go on this version of the adapters. Cut the helix a little too short and will have contact on the bottom coil". Post up a photo of the challange your up against.

[cougar9150]

Quote. "No go on this version of the adapters. Cut the helix a little too short and will have contact on the bottom coil". Post up a photo of the challange your up against.

Its basically already all apart and not going back together anytime soon.

The issue is the spiral portion (helix) of the adapter is to short. When the spring is compressed and sitting on the helix the nub end of the bottom coil on the spring is making contact with the bottom of the next coil up. Only way to fix it is to grind/file a small area on the top of the nub end on the bottom coil to prevent the next coil up from making contact or to increase the height of the helix on a new set of the adapters.

Since the adapters cost me $260 I'll try grinding a set of used lowering springs before making another set of adapters. This just won't be happening for awhile as I need the merc running now and need to do some repairs on the B4000.

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[justbob]

Having a hard time envisioning what your up against, but shelfing it for just awile gives you time to think a little more clearly, does for me atleast. Tell your wife about my $615 gamble on headers that didn't fit and how I rendered them unsellable by scratching the coating all up trying. I took a week long break and hacked away. They fit now.. With 100% clearance around all parts. No shims, no grinding steering shafts, none of the usuall problems of headers that supposably fit. I only did this to examine other choices for us and really have no intension of even keeping them because they are mild steel! I was just bored LOL You are taking one for the team like I did, trial and error, and I'm sure you will get it nailed down.

This was posted live, in real time.

[burt ragio]

The issue is the spiral portion (helix) of the adapter is to short. When the spring is compressed and sitting on the helix the nub end of the bottom coil on the spring is making contact with the bottom of the next coil up. Only way to fix it is to grind/file a small area on the top of the nub end on the bottom coil to prevent the next coil up from making contact or to increase the height of the helix on a new set of the adapters.

If I understand you the spring coil is compressed by two coil turns due to adaptor design. Why would that be a problem ? It will increase spring rate by maybe 10lbs.

[cougar9150]

See the pictures, these were on the work bench not with the shock installed. You can see where the 2 lowest coils of the spring will come into contact and bind up. This also prevents the whole lower coil from seating fully on teh perch as the diameter of the coil spring wire is taller than end of the spiral.

[cougar9150]

One thing I did learn was that the hourglass bushings on the QA1's don't hold up.

Already bought new bushings but will probably be installing them on the rear QA1s since I'll be putting this pair up for now. It a 2 piece bushing but made of a harder durometer rubber. I'll use the Steel inserts I made and some urethane pieces I had milled down at work.

[burt ragio]

Doesn't look like much of a challenge. Take a grinder to the nub end of the coil spring. Good to see your useing the oem springs. I feel the rate & length of the qa1s were to high by 25lbs & to short. The longer oem springs will prevent botton out with hard hits & offer a better ride.

[cougar9150]

Doesn't look like much of a challenge. Take a grinder to the nub end of the coil spring. Good to see your useing the oem springs. I feel the rate & length of the qa1s were to high by 25lbs & to short. The longer oem springs will prevent botton out with hard hits & offer a better ride.

Not going to use my factory springs as I want to keep them unmolested. Am planning on trying to buy a used set of Eibach or factory springs I can cut in the near future. Another option is the lowering springs made by Eaton springs. Getting the assembly into the car with the stock springs was a bear because of the additional height of the adapter and the longer stroke of the QA 1 shocks. Had to compress the hell out of the spring and almost completely remove the lower control arm to get it in.

I figure a 1.25" lowering spring or another set of stock springs with a cut coil will make the install much easier. If I recall correctly the Eibachs and Detriot springs are only 10-20lbs higher on the spring rate over the stock springs. Want to keep the unmolested stock springs in case I need/want to go back to factory style shocks again so I can maintain the stock ride height.

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[ShadyLurker]

Let me know if you need an extra set of hands over there.

[cougar9150]

Let me know if you need an extra set of hands over there.

I'll let you know, I'm thinking Sunday but am waiting to see what my weekend schedule is like. I have to work one of the days and am going to shoot for Saturday morning but have a kids Birthday party to go to at noon.