Anyone dealt with Autocraft (Geelong) recently?

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

Have to agree the 713 is way too short & the 712 just a little short but can be easily spaced to the correct length of 575mm

Bilsteins from Quadrant are longer than the 712/713
I have used these German Bilsteins on numerous occasions with no problems
Cheers

[harryg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close harryg]

Zordo - does this mean that the shocks you sell in your 2 inch lift aren't the most efficient for lifting the prado 2 inches?

Or is everyone who runs a lift wit bilstein shocks using a different spec shock to that of Autocraft?

Sorry if this is a stupid question - just wanted the above clarified as i was previously set on throwing in the dobinson/bilstein combo offered by Zordo...

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

Regardless of the Bilstein length, i am yet to replace one on a genuine 2" lift for being topped out.
They don't give any problems at this length. there would be 10,000+ Prado's running around with this combo, with many of my family members included with zero problems ever.
Having said that, the Prado 150 Shocks on the rear of the 120's with a custom bush pack to suit do offer a longer travel solution if wanted.

Regards, Jason.

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

Zordo - does this mean that the shocks you sell in your 2 inch lift aren't the most efficient for lifting the prado 2 inches?

Or is everyone who runs a lift wit bilstein shocks using a different spec shock to that of Autocraft?

Sorry if this is a stupid question - just wanted the above clarified as i was previously set on throwing in the dobinson/bilstein combo offered by Zordo...

The Bilsteins I use are good for a 2" lift as I space the shock/strut length to suit.
I will not use the A713 under any circumstances as it is shorter than a factory shock.

Cheers

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Regardless of the Bilstein length, i am yet to replace one on a genuine 2" lift for being topped out.
They don't give any problems at this length. there would be 10,000+ Prado's running around with this combo, with many of my family members included with zero problems ever.

Well, I'm not expecting you to replace them, but mine have gone soft. I get a lot more diving under brakes (they used to be really good). They do top out, especially going through the creek crossings in the Flinders, and they fade pretty easily now. I just haven't had the motivation to get under there and see what's going on, but I will get to it. These are the Autocraft setup with the medium ridepro springs. 2009 fitting. They have done only 42,000km. Trip car only.

I've had a long history with Bilsteins on road cars, mostly from Quadrant. They even replaced some strut inserts I managed to get to fade in a Datsun many years ago with a much larger diameter insert.

Unfortunately, this is probably the last set of Billies for me. Probably should have put my hand up for amts recent group buy.

[Guest Close Guest]

Well, I'm not expecting you to replace them, but mine have gone soft. I get a lot more diving under brakes (they used to be really good). They do top out, especially going through the creek crossings in the Flinders, and they fade pretty easily now. I just haven't had the motivation to get under there and see what's going on, but I will get to it. These are the Autocraft setup with the medium ridepro springs. 2009 fitting. They have done only 70,000km. Trip car only.

Unfortunately, this is probably the last set of Billies for me. Probably should have put my hand up for amts recent group buy.

Interesting. I just organised a replacement King/Bilstein kit for a VIC PP'er who had the same Autocraft setup.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Are you saying no love lost between Darren and PP? It takes two parties to love so why do i have to say it that way? If just one party loves and the other doesn't its not love, it stalking, at least that's what the lady judge told me......

As I understand it, Matt was the one to remove his posts, as he felt they could have been used to track him down. This was done in response to issues he had with Darren. All over a bunch of sliders if I remember rightly...

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Regardless of the Bilstein length, i am yet to replace one on a genuine 2" lift for being topped out.
They don't give any problems at this length. there would be 10,000+ Prado's running around with this combo, with many of my family members included with zero problems ever.

I drove for 45000 km on 712/713/Ridepro, and from day 1 the 712's topped out, until the last day when I pulled them out. The lift sagged from 2" back to 1" over this period.

Saying Bilsteins don't give any problems at this length is nonsense. While my struts didn't leak, they were as soft as a chiko roll by the end, and wouldn't cycle out pitch in a go-kart.

I now run a front strut with open length 570mm, and hey presto, no more top outs.

Running short open length struts with minimal droop (less than 50mm) = top outs.

Best

Mark

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Mark, would those Durashocks 420-570mm, 365-618mm, be a direct swap in for the 712/713 billies, keeping the ridepro springs, or should I swap the lot?

Are these the shocks you have:

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Mark, would those Durashocks 420-570mm, 365-618mm, be a direct swap in for the 712/713 billies, keeping the ridepro springs, or should I swap the lot?

Hey,

You could just do a straight swap if you wanted to save a few bucks. My Ridepro coils had sagged too much for my liking, so I replaced them with Dobinsons. The Durashock/Dobinson combo is a really decent ride at the budget end of the suspension market, with great flex.

The rear shock is an 80 series shock, and is an off the shelf item.

The front strut is a modified Hilux strut (with identical valving to a Prado), which has been increased to an open length of 570mm by reducing the top out spacer thickness. You also need to run a 5mm coil seat spacer to get the Hilux strut to the same coil seat position as a normal Prado strut (either use a 5mm spacer or run a taller coil).

Driveline Services in Brisbane did the modifications to the Hilux strut for me in less than 24 hours. They are very efficient people!

Durashocks are just Gen I Lovells. Lovells used to buy direct from Driveline Services and re-badge them with a Lovells sticker. Lovells now do their own R&D, and are on to Gen III, and they don't sell good open lengths/travel anymore.

With extended swaybar links and running a 2" lift, my 120 now articulates much better than a 712/713/Ridepro setup.

I personally will never use Bilsteins again, and would prefer to go straight to the top next time, and save up for some Kings!

Best

Mark

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey again,

Just noticed you modified your post while I was typing my reply.

My front strut is a 24.T4041, which is the Hilux strut. The Prado strut is 24.T4039, and it can't be modified in open length.

The standard 24.T4041 is 420-550mm, which gets modified to 420-570mm.

My rear shock is T5.001, which is an unmodified standard 80 series shock, 365-618mm.

I've extended my rear swaybar links by 30mm to get maximum flex out of the rear.

Best

Mark

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Hey,

You could just do a straight swap if you wanted to save a few bucks. My Ridepro coils had sagged too much for my liking, so I replaced them with Dobinsons. The Durashock/Dobinson combo is a really decent ride at the budget end of the suspension market, with great flex.

Ok, I'll check the ride height and see if it has sagged. I think it's still up, but haven't checked with a tape.

The rear shock is an 80 series shock, and is an off the shelf item.

Yep, I see, the numbers are the same!

The front strut is a modified Hilux strut (with identical valving to a Prado), which has been increased to an open length of 570mm by reducing the top out spacer thickness. You also need to run a 5mm coil seat spacer to get the Hilux strut to the same coil seat position as a normal Prado strut (either use a 5mm spacer or run a taller coil).

Driveline Services in Brisbane did the modifications to the Hilux strut for me in less than 24 hours. They are very efficient people!

Hmm. So the front strut is not the Prado 24.T4039? what is the difference between what you have and the standard Prado Durashock? It sounds like the valving is the same, but the lengths are different?

Unfortunately, if I go with this, I will have to order remotely. I'm 2000km away from Brisbane

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

I think we're zigging and zagging here, thanks for the responses!

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Here is the model number of the Autocraft front shock in case anyone needs to check: