Burgerman wrote:At least over here the Jive was a similar looking chair but totally different design. The Jive and the Salsa are the same chairs basically but the jive was a higher spec. Although if you tick the same options on the order form there wasnt any real differences. I actually still have a salsa/jive chair. Albeit the rear drive option. I have a Q700R and a Salsa. So can compare the two directly. The Salsa/Jive is a etter chair wth more rigid seating etc. Both have the same basic motors/control systems, lift, tilt, recline, power centre footrest etc. In mid drive variants I suppose the same applies. But I dont see many mid drives here where I live. Mostly rear drive. Which isnt available in the US. Never had any isues with the suspension on either chair. But it doesent do much...
The suspension failing has been a similar problem on the mid drive Q chair over here according to Rover on here who is one of those rare things, a tech guy that actually knows what he is doing!
Maybe he can enligten you as to if they finally fixed this issue. As for fixing it its just a matter of swapping out a suspension strut. A couple of bolts. And these shocks are not very expensive. So any keen teen that works on a bike can easily swap a pair. They are £112.30 uk pounds for a set of 2 at full retail price. (About 130 dollars a set?) Thats for the "performance" spring as they call it. Its an upgrade over the pre 2022 ones too. So if the new ones fail its not that expensive to repair it. And still have a spare one on the shelf... The other various ones are slightly cheaper.
£112.30 uk pounds for a set of 2 at full retail price
Manufacturer Narrative
....this wheelchair includes a suspension spring which is used to allow the user to navigate variable terrain while maintaining steering and drive control and consists of a cylinder with an internal fluid-pressure system.The spring can experience loss of pressure by failure of one or more internal seals that control pressurized fluid (leak) or through the failure of the spring pin in the unlocked position.Such a loss of pressure can result in the user experiencing forward pitching of the chair and/or veering to the side when decelerating.Although not reported here, the potentially severity of the matter could include the user being thrown from the chair which could lead to an injury.
The potential failure mode and subsequent effect would be detected in time for adequate intervention if the user followed the proper maintenance checks outlined in the owner's manual.This risk has been mitigated to its lowest possible level, and removal of the spring may reduce drive control and lessen steering capabilities, which could create a greater risk to the user's safety.Quickie qm710 owner's manual, page 8: "although equipped with suspension, the performance can be substantially reduced on uneven surfaces and rough terrain." discussion: although the wheelchair has not been evaluated in person, a probable root cause for the chair pitching forward and backwards more than normal could be due to a malfunction with the suspension spring activation pin.The quickie qm710 owner's manual notes that the suspension performance can be reduced on uneven surfaces, which could also be the cause of the pitching forward and backwards the patient has allegedly felt when going up and down ramps as mentioned.While the risk level is low, it has been determined through a failure analysis that should this be a malfunction with the spring and should the malfunction recur, it could possibly result in serious injury.T
SP3_NYC wrote:I've owned a Q720m & a Q710, both with tilt, lift, recline, power legs and 8 mph package (I'm 120 pounds; it's worth it for me.)
It appears to be identical to the chair marketed as the Jive M. There are other *similar* versions, that have junkier parts, and the Pulse 6, which is a simpler, lower-end version.
These do climb curbs like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxqvTBHknzA
And it can do all this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtbSipBS900
My body and nervous system can't tolerate the jolts of a typical powerchair. I had to refuse an Invacare TDX-SP a decade ago after going into shock and spasm from a brief spin outside in one.
The Quickie 710m was a infinitely smoother; it was a literal dream. The problem: faulty suspension. In 10 years, I can't count the number of times the gas/oil struts responsible for the smooth ride have failed, often during installation or under light use.
The original struts would just pop and there'd be a small splotch of oil on the ground (happened on day two with the first chair.) Then the chair would behave in a variety of subtle of wild ways.
The manufacturer, Sunrise has 'upgraded' the strut/dampener several times over the years, even switching companies-- each time the ride quality got bumpier and harsher while only slightly improving durability. Failure rates at installation never improved. The system was very, very expensive, and time consuming to replace (especially after being driven for months collapsed or leaning to one side!) and required the installer be skilled, practised on the particular suspension AND LUCKY. I was recently quoted $3,700 to do just the suspension job, much of this for parts!
My dilemma: I have no mobility currently for quite some time (a long story), and insurance and vendor are offering me the direct successor and nearly identical appearing Q700M –they’ve said it’s that or nothing. I wasn’t going to take it as the chair has had me sidelined, almost no-one wants to repair them.
Worse, the chair almost got me killed by going from partial failure that I’ve had to drive hundreds of miles and many months in on numerous occasions. This time the DME ‘lost’ my service request several times. I started my normal commute (I live on the top of a small hill) when the chair suddenly became %100 unsteerable, uncontrollable, and there was no way to stop or slow down. The front and rear casters were spinning madly, the swing arms up in the air or bouncing on and off the ground; the chair was pitching in every direction. I chose to dive out before getting thrown, though the chair bucked me before I could clear, once my hand left the joystick.
I’m considering taking the chair after seeing that they’re advertising a “completely redesigned” suspension (marketing it as Sure Grip Pro). All I can learn is that they’re using a new manufacturer for the coil spring/ dampening strut. I can see from the schematic on Sunparts.com that they’ve simplified some of the very poorly designed rear swing arm.
How can I figure out if they’ve finally done a good enough job? Or if they’ve just found a way to keep selling a fatally flawed product? There were several revisions in 2022, but the Sure Grip happened Spring or June of 2023.
Totally Normal demonstrated on his Youtube channel that the Quantum Fore front shipped with the suspension struts in full extension in the resting position-- I don't think that's the issue here, but have no intact chair to test. I do have a lot of photos of both my chairs jacked up, can check if the casters descended.
Any ideas on how I can suss this out, and fast?
This has been the greatest stress of my life for the past year plus; I can't believe I'm posting this ...
Thank you to anyone who read through this.
Best Regards,
~S
Those supposed to help and serve

Red Dragon wrote:There is also a small spring behind the motor, connected directly to the engine assembly. Many technicians lack the specialized knowledge to diagnose and repair
The TDX SP is engineered for superior balance on challenging terrain. Its integrated G-Trac gyroscopic system ensures straight-line tracking on ramps, while the Stability Lock mechanism prevents forward tipping, keeping the chair remarkably stable during steep descents.
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