Amada vs Cal off-road/Bilsten

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

I am in the process of getting the final bits I need to install my 3" kit from CalOffroad...

I will caution you on this though - I have had nothing but headaches trying to deal with them up to and including today.

Granted you might have a very different experiance if you are able to actually get to their shop but for me being in Melbourne dealing with them remotely has been a nightmare.
They are super quick to take $$ out of my CC on the 27th of Jan and 3 weeks on I am still trying to get everything I need to start the install. I have now even resorted to sourcing the last bits I need myself (airbag spacers for the rear) in the fear of yet another week going by waiting for them to get on with it.
This is the short of a long story but anyway... This is what I have from them so far and if all go's to plan I will start the build on Friday Arvo.

[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

Wow Mark you seem to know allot about these shocks.
The CalOffroad struts actually have models suited for 120 and 150 series and the lengths can be ordered in specific sizes if needed. The actual valving is very different than the yellow Bilstein A712. The CalOffroad valving is deleloped in Germany with the Toyota TRD engineers and is a much higher rate than the A712. This helps handle larger tyres as well as heavier loads e.g bull bar winch dual battery etc etc. all are fully rebuildable. If you need any acurate information drop CalOffroad an email [email protected] and they will be happy to help

The Cal Offroad Struts aren't developed with Bilstein Germany.
They are Hilux KUN26R Struts revalved by Bilstein Sydney down from the extremely stiff Hilux valving to a valving setting somewhere in between that of the Hilux and the Prado so it will work ok in either, but not specifically for either.

Regards, Jason.

[Guest Close Guest]

zerosecta,
Where are the front struts?

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

As I've mentioned a few times, you get awesome products from Cal, but customer service was lacking so I feel your pain. Some days i'd ring up and leave multiple messages, send emails and had to constantly chase but in the end it was worth it for the product and performance over other stuff on the market.

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

zerosecta,
Where are the front struts?

Thats the thing I have been waiting for the longest - apparently I have the last pair in the country blah blah blah :-)

anyway - I will be picking them up from StartTrack Depot at Melbourne Airport tomorrow hopefully

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

As I've mentioned a few times, you get awesome products from Cal, but customer service was lacking so I feel your pain. Some days i'd ring up and leave multiple messages, send emails and had to constantly chase but in the end it was worth it for the product and performance over other stuff on the market.

Spot On :-)
Customer Service absolute rubbish - A few times the guy on the phone even tried to spin me some rubbish thinking that I wouldn't call him up on it assuming I knew absolutely nothing about anything.

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

BTW - Everything they sell can be relatively easily sourced through through other channels at lower cost as I have now learned through my experience with them - The UCA arms for instance are in fact SPC UCA's and can be sourced from the states quite easily

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

UPDATE: Got front struts today and started install with real done...

Thing is I am a little skepticle about the struts they sent me.... See pic - They are pretty much the same size as the OEM ones give or take about 10mm if that...
Surely that cant be right for a 3" Lift...

[ko7624 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ko7624]

Cal off road is great. I had ultimate suspension originally and the cal off road kit was an amazing difference. If you want good handling and comfortable ride i can't speak highly enough of their kit!

Hey,

What was wrong about the ultimate suspension? I am considering their kit(or at least shocks) for my 150 but am curious what you didnt like about them?

Cheers,

Ken

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

UPDATE: Got front struts today and started install with real done...

Thing is I am a little skepticle about the struts they sent me.... See pic - They are pretty much the same size as the OEM ones give or take about 10mm if that...
Surely that cant be right for a 3" Lift...

The free length won't be too much longer, the front suspension doesn't allow much more travel than factory due to control arm dimensions and the like. The colour of your front springs is interesting, mine are black from cal

[Guest Close Guest]

UPDATE: Got front struts today and started install with real done...

Thing is I am a little skepticle about the struts they sent me.... See pic - They are pretty much the same size as the OEM ones give or take about 10mm if that...
Surely that cant be right for a 3" Lift...

Yes, the concern is whether there will be enough droop. However, for an extra inch lift, you would only need 1/2" extra in the open length of the strut. Check the suspension database to see how the new struts compare.

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

So its all in and just getting an allignment and a set of 285\70\17 BFG MT's

The blue front spring is new (not on sale yet I dont think) bit of an involuntary tester if you like... they are a prossive rate spring apparently.

Obviously need to leave a bit of time to settle but at this point I got about 2.5" in the back and 4" in the front...

Front is fairly Stiff while rear is Medium so having chatted to Cal I think we'll give it a few more days to settle and chances are the front will be good but rear will need a harder or taller spring.

I re-ignite my build thread this evening and post pics.

[Guest Close Guest]

Not sure if it will settle 1" at the front. Time to add more accessories!
Got a diff drop going in too?

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

Yip Diff Drop done last night as well. All up took me from about 17:30 till 01:30 last night\this morning :-)

[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

BTW - Everything they sell can be relatively easily sourced through through other channels at lower cost as I have now learned through my experience with them - The UCA arms for instance are in fact SPC UCA's and can be sourced from the states quite easily

They are als the same arms that Superpro use, but superpro buy them unbushed and put their own bushes in them.
the SPC bushes aren't much chop for longevity.

Regards, Jason.