Classic Corvette Suspension - A Great Bite Makes A Greater Vette

The threads on the QA1 shocks were coated with a little anti-seize compound. This will keep the spring adjustment nuts from locking up on the shock body.

The spring nuts were then threaded on the shock and set to the lowest thread. This positions the car at its lowest point. Setting the spring higher will make for a much more difficult time installing the spring.

The optional Torrington bearings really are a must for this kit. The center bearing rides on the pair of flat washers. This reduces the friction when adjusting the spring.

The spring slides over the shock, with the little end resting on the bearing assembly.

The welded-on shock nuts on the inside of the lower A-arm must be removed. A chisel with a hammer made quick work of the job.

Here's where things get interesting. Since we had no weight on the frame, we had to improvise on compressing the springs. Using a two-ton strap, the lower hook was attached to the floor jack, and the upper hook to the frame. This puts the tension on the frame we needed to compress the spring. This is about the only way to do it, short of bolting the frame to the floor. If you must do it this way, be careful.

Once compressed, the upper ball joint was bolted to the arm and torqued to 50 ft. lbs.

The cotter pin was installed to make sure everything stays where it needs to.

The A-arm needs to sit as far back as possible (without touching the mount) on the car. Using a brass hammer and a socket, it was tapped into place.

The shock stud was bolted down tight as well.

Job done. The chassis looks even better now that the polished arms are in place. The entire job took about four hours, not too bad for significantly improved handling.