Wanting to do a 2inch Lift

[DJD120GXL Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DJD120GXL]

Spacers means that you will need to space down the bumpstops as well. The 6mm ones AJ120 does will be fine as that is a minor spacer more to correct a bit of sag.

Is AJ120 selling them, anyone have the link?

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

What is the go with spacers? is that something people are doing or is it just a bit of a waste?

In the long run you may as well just get yourself some bilsteins and kings or dobinsons springs to suit. I cant recall anyone ever being unhappy with the setup . (maybe there was one though very rare I think).

If you go with the Bilstein 5100's you get adjustable spring platforms so you can run adjust the height to suit your accessories.

You can import your on Billies from downsouthmotorsport.com in the states. Mine were around the $500 delivered when the aus was 1.06

[DJD120GXL Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DJD120GXL]

In the long run you may as well just get yourself some bilsteins and kings or dobinsons springs to suit. I cant recall anyone ever being unhappy with the setup . (maybe there was one though very rare I think).

If you go with the Bilstein 5100's you get adjustable spring platforms so you can run adjust the height to suit your accessories.

You can import your on Billies from downsouthmotorsport.com in the states. Mine were around the $500 delivered when the aus was 1.06

Thanks for the info, I was looking on ebays US at the 5100's nearly fell over when I saw the price difference.. Was that $500 for 4 or 2? I think I'll go for them (OS) and some dobinsons locally. cheers

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Send an email to the downsouth guys. 4 + delivery was around $500. Maybe $550 or $600 now.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Just be aware that the US shocks aren't valved to suit the tougher Australian conditions...

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Is AJ120 selling them, anyone have the link?

Yes I am selling them, Link is here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-Strut-spacers

Haven't sold any for months and months and then a bit of a rush on them the last 2 weeks, only one set left in stock at the moment.

Cheers Andrew

[Tonytbts Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tonytbts]

great thread! I'll be studying this for mine when I do it, when you mention: 10: Loosen the cam bolts on the LCA, they are not the ones pictured are they.. this point is where I get lost :?

You can do it without loosening the cam bolt - I replaced the passenger side Bilstein on my 120 series while sitting in the dirt of the Birdsville caravan park two weeks ago.

The shock failed in such a way that the shock body separated (totally!) at the circlip retention ring. It failed on the sand dune immediately prior to Big Red, but I was able to drive over Big Red and into Birdsville. I was not hammering over the dunes prior to the failure, so I do not know the cause of the shock dying.

I strongly recommend packing a hydraulic jack in addition to the standard Prado wind up item, because the two jacks made the job safer and much easier.

My absolute top tip is to pack one of the 12 volt rattle guns. A mate gave me one as a present - I never would have bothered with it otherwise - but having tried one I now say that they are one of the best tools you can pack, and are well worth the weight penalty.

If you have Bilsteins, then I also suggest getting a hex key that fits the top shaft of the shocky - to stop the shaft turning while you tighten the top retaining bolt - and cutting the short leg REALLY short - about 5 to 8 mm max. Without the hex key there is no easy way of holding the shaft while you tighten the top nut, and I could not have got an unmodified hex key into the space between the top of the shock and the underside of the wheel arch.

YMMV, Tony

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Just be aware that the US shocks aren't valved to suit the tougher Australian conditions...

Kind of. You can have them re-valved here if you like. They are the same part numbers as you buy here and I am 99% positive that Bilstein Australia dont revalve them when they get here though happy to be corrected if there is evidence they do.

What I can say is that the ones I imported from the states are simply superb on mine. Keep in mind though that coming from an off road racing background there is nothing on my 120 that doesn't need to be there so its probably one of the lightest getting around. Add bar work/rear shelves/rear carrier and they may well struggle.

I thought there were a couple of others who have imported them and would be interested in their observations.

cheers

[DJD120GXL Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DJD120GXL]

Interesting, Im glad you mentioned it. Im curious tho what would re-valving do for Aussie conditions? create a faster compression/recover rate? Im in the mountains so 90% of my driving will be steep accents/descents and rocky terrain..

Kind of. You can have them re-valved here if you like. They are the same part numbers as you buy here and I am 99% positive that Bilstein Australia dont revalve them when they get here though happy to be corrected if there is evidence they do.

What I can say is that the ones I imported from the states are simply superb on mine. Keep in mind though that coming from an off road racing background there is nothing on my 120 that doesn't need to be there so its probably one of the lightest getting around. Add bar work/rear shelves/rear carrier and they may well struggle.

I thought there were a couple of others who have imported them and would be interested in their observations.

cheers

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

I am sure Dave from Autocraft in Melbourne revalvs them. (or did)

Mine have done everything other than corrugations. At xmas we did McIntyres and the other place on the Goodradigbee when it was 44 degrees. Fully loaded with camping gear and they were superb.

Twas so hot the 1kz was getting hot!

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

amts is running the 5100 & 5160's which he is very happy with. I contacted Sonny at Downsouth last year as recommended by Andrew and queried Sonny re the valve rates. He mentioned for general touring and day to day driving they would be fine, however made no guarantees on how they would perform on a fully laden vehicle across harsh terrain (corrugations etc...)

[DJD120GXL Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DJD120GXL]

I am sure Dave from Autocraft in Melbourne revalvs them. (or did)

Mine have done everything other than corrugations. At xmas we did McIntyres and the other place on the Goodradigbee when it was 44 degrees. Fully loaded with camping gear and they were superb.

Twas so hot the 1kz was getting hot!

Great tracks! I know the feeling, going up or down gentle Annie can be tricky in the heat.

I think for the money I'd take the risk, It would be a while before I do any serious outback trips and there is a lot of NSW and VIC I want to do first.

[DJD120GXL Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DJD120GXL]

amts is running the 5100 & 5160's which he is very happy with. I contacted Sonny at Downsouth last year as recommended by Andrew and queried Sonny re the valve rates. He mentioned for general touring and day to day driving they would be fine, however made no guarantees on how they would perform on a fully laden vehicle across harsh terrain (corrugations etc...)

I have been chatting to Andrew about his, what are you running Craig B6's? how have they lasted for you?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Mine have done everything other than corrugations.

Corrugations really are the true test for a shock, Slow steep or rutted driving isn't going to stress a shock much, load it up and head over corrugations and you sort out the men from the boys as it were.

Cheers Andrew

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

I have been chatting to Andrew about his, what are you running Craig B6's? how have they lasted for you?

Still running on the BE5- A712's & BE5-A713's which apart from some blown out bushes on the front due to a mechanic tightening up the bolts whilst it was on the hoist, they've been good. Just after some longer travel like Andrew's 5160's etc. Caloffroad have got a pretty good solution I understand, so I may look to them next. I cant go any higher (Prado only just fits in the garage now), but am craving more articulation and a longer shock may assist...