BEWARE!! dealing with CalOffroad

As d4d said. Enough stuffing around. Vcat and go for compensation for loss of vehicle usage.
Consumer affairs would also be a good avenue first. They will stand behind you.




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[D4D]

I still don't understand why you're continuing on this saga. Take pics, send it all back as not fit for purpose, no refund forthcoming, VCAT or lawyer letter of demand.

Personally if it was me I'd be making a road trip or cheap flight and having a man to man conversation.

[BiLLz0r]

Yes. The fact he came on here tooting his horn and then buggered off again tells us he's dodgy and has no come back on zero's claims/feedback.
So Cal, you gonna man up or are you as small as ya shocks ?

[clarkie383]

It does not matter whose side you believe but the absence of response from Caloffroad bothers me.

Certainly buyer beware!!!!!

[zerosecta]

OH YES!! Something else to add for all those who suggested I should have sent stuff back and, to back up my fears that I would not have seen my money again or some\most of it anyway...

I sent back a set of airbag spacers to them that they sent me that were'nt for the right airbags i had...

They were sent back into the 4th week now - I have sent countless emails, reminded them atleast once on the phone each week and even sent Cal Goodman a PM through this forum and Facebook about it.

But Still Nothing... I my memory serves me correctly than I'd say this is $44 I will never see again unless I go to Vcat...

[zerosecta]

UPDATE: After a little more research I have found on another forum that the rear shocks (Bilstien) come in two variants.

1. a variant that is more suited and tested for Aus conditions
2. a less suited to Aus conditions variant supplied\sourced from the USA

The tell tale between the two is that the better version (1) has a press fit lower bush that lasts longer etc. - the less desireable version (2) has a split hour glass type lower bush. Also version (1) apparently is also suppied with a stone gaurd.

Guess what version came with my kit from CalOffroad ?
Answer: (2)
Does anyone know if the stone guards for the rear shocks can be bought seperatly?

[wholesalesuspension]

Hi Mark,

Hard to get accurate open length but struts have part number 24-21528 can anybody help with open closed measurements?

Hi Bushki, these shocks will be limited or de-limited accordingly to give a desired open length, then have extra circlip grooves added to reset the spring seat location.

Regards, Jason.

[Whitey]

A couple of threads over at FJCC where there is not enough droop with the supplied kit or incorrectly supplied springs.
http://www.fjcc.com.au/f36/bilstein-rattles-5037/
http://www.fjcc.com.au/f36/noise-after-lift-3301/
http://www.fjcc.com.au/f36/front-end...roup-buy-5193/

Figures of 30mm droop in these threads also, not good!

[Jkspinner]

I got a 2" lift from Cal last June, found him great to deal with, good service, fast turn around, good after sale service as well with some follow up questions. I also got his custom Bilsteins for the front, I am not sure of their exact length, but they were about 15mm longer than stock and included the new hats. I have the part number written somewhere. My car sits at about 795-800mm (have not measured for a while) and I had about 60mm of droop.
APart from that, the car drives great.

[Rusty62]

I used these guys out of Toowoomba and delivered to Brisbane following morning. Received what i ordered. Better price than Brisbane shops.

http://www.steeringandsuspensionwarehouse.com.au/

Rusty.

[photoprado]

1 - Poor Customer Service, not only after sales but suprisingly during as well.

There's your mistake. If you don't get the service you're looking for before and during the sale, you definitely won't get it after. Run away.

That's not always true, but it's also not worth testing.

[zerosecta]

A couple of threads over at FJCC where there is not enough droop with the supplied kit or incorrectly supplied springs.
http://www.fjcc.com.au/f36/bilstein-rattles-5037/
http://www.fjcc.com.au/f36/noise-after-lift-3301/
http://www.fjcc.com.au/f36/front-end...roup-buy-5193/

Good - Thanks for posting Andrew. One of the key reasons I started this thread was to create awareness to other people and also give those that already have this kit who have been unsure if something wasnt right with thier car and just living without some info and assurance that they arent alone and if they feel something isnt right then it probably isnt...

So I think we can summaries so far fom my own experiance and many others with CalOffroad as follows:

1 - Poor Customer Service, not only after sales but suprisingly during as well.

2 - 3 out of 5 times, the short strut length is sent to customer (my guess is it is default length from Bilstien so the extra effort to rebuild to a more suitable length is made based on on much other work they have on rather than whether it will fit the customers needs or not)

3 - Springs... Not sure I need to say to much here - Clearly there is 0 consistancy in this space from CalOffroad and you dipping your hand into a lucky dip bag over and over till you get the right ones.

Call me fussy if you like but I simply want what I paid for and I was certainly expecting a very different experiance with all the Blurb on the website suggesting Hours of R&D specifically for Prado's, FJ's, Hi-Lux's etc. etc. etc. clearly just sales pitch...

This isnt the first 4x4 I have modified and\or bought a comprehensive lift kit mail order for and I have never had an experiance like this.

I am sorry for those that may think this "BEWARE" is to harsh but my view\point is that we always hear Aus retailers moaning that we are just buying all our stuff from internet\overseas and not supporting them... And what happens when we do???? They take our money, treat us like crap and then when things arent going quite right they make like we are the ones that have created the problem.
I am generalising here of course and its clear from this site that this isnt the case for all retailers and its great to see that there have even been some on here trying to help out when they have nothing to gain.

A couple of threads over at FJCC where there is not enough droop with the supplied kit or incorrectly supplied springs.
http://www.fjcc.com.au/f36/bilstein-rattles-5037/
http://www.fjcc.com.au/f36/noise-after-lift-3301/
http://www.fjcc.com.au/f36/front-end...roup-buy-5193/

[Whitey]

Hey Geoff,

Good stuff, glad to hear you finally got it sorted out!

Best

Mark

[Bushki]

Hi Mark,

Sorry for the confusion I am happy with the ride height now, I too had the same issue at first as Zero with a way to hard and long spring.

This has since been rectified (27 emails and a few phone calls) with the Dobinsons springs I have now part no :c59-296.

Glad u cant see any probs many thanks.

Geoff.