BEWARE!! dealing with CalOffroad

[Whitey]

Hi Mark,

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

...just found your rear ride height on p8, you said 820mm.

800mm front and 820mm rear seems ok to me?

Can you measure ground to underneath your sidesteps front and back to see how level your car is sitting?

Best

Mark

[Whitey]

Hi Mark,

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

Hey bushki,

I think the 24-21528 part number is used for the strut no matter what open length it is.

If you're using the Roadsafe strut cap and your strut is 555mm, then that explains how you've achieved 90mm of droop, as the Roadsafe cap sits around 20mm lower than OEM, which will push your open length to 555+20 = 575mm. Your setup should be fine with this.

The reason both you and zero have pimped out drag cars at the moment is likely due to the front coil springs being too tall.

The only fix is to change to a lower free height coil, eg, Dobinsons C59-314 is 405mm, and will get you plenty of lift on the front.

I didn't think your ride height at 800mm was an issue, but you've said your front end is too high compared to the back, so what is your rear ride height?

It sounds more like your front coils are ok, and you need taller rear coils?

Best

Mark

[Bushki]

Hi Mark,

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

I don't think Zero was being fussy. The parts supplied didn't suit the original intent.

[REN470]

It might pay to...

Ive read the entire thread and honestly I say beware the both of them, Caloffroad seem a bit "cow-boyish" for me but Zero sounds way too fussy to be buying something mail order - IMO

And I agree about we are getting way too quick to sue or go legal on someone

[Pog]

I haven't read the whole thread....

It might pay to...

[vxcruiser08]

Wow.. Interesting read with some good and bad points raised.

Im a little disheartened at how quick and the shear number of replies with people suggesting lawyers, suing, commissions, ACCC etc etc etc. I respect that someone handed over some hard earned cash for a product, but this is Australia, not the US where everybody sues each other at the drop of a hat. If it gets seriously hard for two people to talk to one another, then communication through a mediator will sort 99% of problems. Rant over.

I have Caloffroad 3 inch kit, including diff drop, UCA's, and sway bar extensions. My build thread can be found here and about page 3/4 the suspension starts.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-Altitude-quot

Personally I did my research and it can down to either Caloffroad or an Autocraft kit with Icon's or Kings. But the extra 2K for the kings put me off. Superior did some work on my old cruiser, but I just wasnt keen in Armarda's.

Ive found Cal to be very approachable, helpful and non biased when it came to advice. Im pretty sure Cal in one of two Bilstien importers into Australia, the rest are resellers.

Regarding my car, I couldnt be happier. Any questions please feel free to ask.


Happy to jam it onto a jack this afternoon and take a droop measurements from Rim to guard.

Cheers
Chris

+ 1

I have to agree with Chris.

My customer experience with Cal was fairly average but not bad (had to do a lot of chasing on the phone) however i was happy with the products supplied.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I wonder if this is just a case of a one off mistake. Hopefully an opportunity for cal to set it straight though.

You know, I actually had a very bad experience with a very well known reputable brand/company used on here, however will not post this due to a mutual agreement to do this and I respect that, as it was just a matter of bad luck on my product experience it seems.

In other words there will always be bad experiences out there and I don't think it's fair saying "BEWARE".

Anyways, hope it all works out for you mate!

Matt

[zerosecta]

[QUOTE=B
They advised me the top hats didn't change any measurements when i was searching for answers as to why my Prado looked like a drag car launching of the start line.
[/QUOTE]

Ha, exactly what I currently have to deal with, rear to low, front to high...

Anyone with CalOffroad kit should do a proper review of their setup and seek some "Professional" help to get it right.

[Bushki]

Hi Mark,

Haven't had a chance to measure strut yet (mmm big weekend) just had a look at the Amada vs Bilstein thread where all this started.

I will confirm but i definitely have the Roadsafe Top Hats supplied by Caloffroad and i am guessing the 555mm length struts.

They advised me the top hats didn't change any measurements when i was searching for answers as to why my Prado looked like a drag car launching of the start line.




Do you think this will cause any issues?

Adding the fact you were without a vehicle for months. I know what I'd be doing. But I have avenues in that profession so it's a bit easier.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zerosecta]

I am without a shadow of a doubt convinced at this point that CalOffroad are not to be trusted, have limited knowledge of the gear vs. vehicle combos of stuff they sell and certainly would not be recomending them to anyone...
If you got something from them that works then it was a matter of good luck

He told me he"d be inspecting my struts personally and calling me when they ship out - No phone call recieved... Amd after his last comment on here was sort of expecting that there was going to be at least a stubby holder (not that I wanted it) but not even so much as a couple of stickers that came originally in all the boxs...

And another thing has become quite clear out of all of this - He sent me the wrong length strut in the first place but instead of just admitting it and getting it sorted, they first tried to convince me that there was no issue, then told me I should go to germany and work for bilstien if I was that smart before dropping the phone in my ear. Not to mention coming on here and trying to tell everyone else the same thing.

BTW - My Rims are 17" and 0 offset.

Cheers

[Whitey]

Hey again,

Plot updated to include the measurements from Bushki;



Another thing to keep in mind is the thickness of the shroud spacer, which will add to the open length. On the older 712's, the shroud spacer was around 8mm thick, meaning open length = 553+8 = 561mm. I haven't had a chance to measure the new spacer that goes with the new convoluted boot on the newer Bilsteins.

So it's possible Bushki has another variant of the strut with a slightly shorter open length, say 565mm, which with the shroud spacer will give over 570mm.

Hard to say without exact strut measurements, but it seems CalOffroad are sending out different open lengths to everyone.

Best

Mark

[Whitey]

Hey Bushki,

So you have 90mm of droop at 2" lift, which suggests you have the 575mm open length strut.

Any chance you can measure your strut open length at full droop, bottom of washer to center ring eye.

Best

Mark

[Whitey]

Hey again,

If this is true and chris has a 575mm strut, then it begs the question why has CalOffroad sent chris a 575mm open length strut in the first place, and then sent zero a 555mm strut??

Chris, did you specifically ask for a 575mm strut?

Best

Mark

[Bushki]

Mmmm.....Thought I should go and check mine.

I have TJM Alloy Bar, second battery and Brown Brothers under body protection. Dobinson c59-296 springs supplied by Caloffroad.

Ride height with spring circlip third groove from the bottom of the strut 800mm.Ideally slightly longer length spring would be good giving a better scope of ride height either way. (Beggars cant be choosers)

Droop measurement the same as yours Zero 890mm.

I am also only running the stock upper control arms and I have positioned the coils on the strut in such a way at full droop the upper control arm doesn't hit the spring and fits nicely between the coils. Probably doesn't give me much more but I like the idea it will not hit the coil.

Rear springs Dobinsons c59-325 ride height 820mm.
Fuel gauge showing three quarters full and ARB Drawers fitted.

Hope this info helps somebody.
I thought I should put back where I could, as I have learnt a lot and are still learning from other members posts.