Holden Colorado front strut installation - Dobinsons Adjustable Monotube

We purchased Dobinsons Adjustable Monotube 50mm lift kit from www.autopartsco.com.au and installed them in the garage at home. We briefly cover the rear springs and shocks, but spend most of the time on the front struts. Once you see the best way to do it, a front strut can be done in about 35mins with two people.
Overall lift ended up about 45mm in the rear, and only 35mm in the front. Plan is to adjust the front up higher to level the car out.

[@stevendouglas6593]

Unbolt the sway bar from the chassis and move it completely out of the way, it makes it much easier. Great video though. I watched it before I did mine but had trouble removing the old strut and so unbolted the sway bar.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Yeah thats a good idea. Would make life a lot easier.

[@stuartsmith4882]

Brilliant video. Took me all day yesterday to do the rear as I couldn’t find my spring compressors (couple of hours lost there) and it was Good Friday so everything was shut so I couldn’t buy another set. Ended up levering it in, only had to lift it about 10mm to get it onto the base but kept getting the rubber jammed. I was also putting in a set of airbag man HD bags too so that added a bit extra. I’d expected the front to be harder but only took 2 hours to do the front this morning, getting the steering turned to the right spot really helps too... and your video saved me a lot of thinking time. Definitely the worst bit of the whole job is the damn top shock nuts on the rear. Undoing is a pain with the recessed washer and the small flat on the rod, tried small shifter or vice grips with limited luck. Found leaving a ring spanner on the nut and rotating the shock body got it undone fastest, but got a bad case of arm pump doing it. Doing up is not such an issue as dobinsons have that nice Allen key socket, just takes a loooong time. Two people at certain times would make it easier but doable on your own.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Your missing compressors would make it hard. But yeah how horrid is the top nut on the rear shock, by far the most annoying part of the job!

[@reaperperformance_aus]

Aussie translations are the best . “Mate can you jimmy that up” : wedge upper control arm up as high as possible

[@OutdoorsCBR]

🤣 classic.

[@YLD16L]

Should be a solid improvement over the standard gear. I’ve put over 100,000km on my Dobinson Mono fronts and remote res rears and they’ve been great. Nice vid!

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Ah nice. Didn't know you had the same!

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Hopefully these last the same!

[@ShootingMOA]

Top video m8. Will save it so I can watch it when I get my 2" kit.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Nice! Yeah the little section about how to get the strut out from in between the arms is super helpful. Took us a long time to figure out.

[@dgarlo]

Good video mate, was very helpful I have a set of tuffdog waiting to go in, so it is a well timed watch for me

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Good to hear! Yeah I looked all over for something like this. There was nothing for Colorados. Everything i found said to separate either an upper or lower ball joint. Glad we didn't have to do that!

[@jayvine2787]

I did mine pretty much the same, only to get more room I actually took the upper arm out too big 19mm bolts off memory and allow you to drop everything into position from the top.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Yeah that would make life easy!

[@Gregnova82]

Great video mate. Did you happen to take a measurement from the top hat to the lower bush at all when you took it out to adjust it up? I've bought the same system and installing over the coming weeks. I'm really worried they wouldn't have adjusted to 2.5 inches as asked

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Hey Greg, nah i didn't grab that measurement and I didn't take it out to adjust. I just wound the adjustment rings up while in the car, in the end I just used a large flat head screwdriver and a hammer, the adjustment tool sucks. I wound the rings up 7mm on the thread, that translated to about 14mm lift between the guard and the top of the rim. To get full 2.5" i reckon you can get there, but the spring would be quite compressed.

[@Gregnova82]

@@OutdoorsCBR Thanks mate. Yeah I was talking to them about getting a bit more height, maybe 3". So they wound the adjuster down and fitted a Hylux spring for me. said it'll give the extra height and be a better drive. Fingers crossed the height is close 🤞

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Thats interesting. Let us know how it goes.

[@JarradDRS]

Thanks for the video mate. I’ve got this kit in my MQ Triton and rate it. Did you end up winding up the fronts? Any negatives from doing that? I’d like to wind another 15mm if possible into mine. The front has dropped a little with the addition of steel side rails and steps.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Yeah I did eventually. The tool that they supplied is very ordinary, and I ended up making a bit of a mess of the notches on the adjustment rings. Was easier to use a large screwdriver and hammer to turn the rings. You'll see what I mean when you do it. Doesnt seem to be any issues. I added about 15mm too. Just measure from the bottom of the thread to the lower ring, then for every 1mm you wind it up, you get 2mm lift. I wound up about 7mm on thread, and got 14-15mm extra lift.

[@JarradDRS]

Outdoors CBR thanks very much for getting back to me straight away mate! Ah that’s great to hear. Thanks for the tip too. I was happy with the height before the rails and steps were added so just getting back to that height would be great.

[@zackbaronoff1980]

@@OutdoorsCBR did you take the struts out to do that or nah ?

[@lewiscressy8903]

@@zackbaronoff1980 nah you can do it when they are in the car.

[@danielhiscox7714]

Looks mint man. Just ordered same kit for my c7 ltz How is it going after a few months. Did u manage to level the front a bit?

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Nice! You will love it. Yeah I did. I wound it up to level. One thing we found out with adjusting up. For every 1mm you wind the ring up the thread, you will roughly get 2mm lift. So I wound the rings 6mm up the thread and got an additional 12mm lift.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

In terms of performance. It is great. It is def firmer on the highway and around town than the factory suspension. With some weight in the car it's nice and smooth. Offroad with some camping gear in the car, mine has taken some punishment.

[@danielhiscox7714]

Nice. I got the comfort springs with a set of air bags. Gets fitted next week. Sweet vids too. Keep it up

[@danielhiscox7714]

We just got upgraded to the mrr shock in the rear...for freeeeeeee.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Oh that's rad!!! How good. Now to figure out where u will put the remote res.

[@cereal8891]

that is the hard way just take out the upper control arm slide it on in

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Yeah I reckon that would make it a lot easier.

[@kanevivalakane3699]

Hi. I am going to install IMS suspension with 2" lift and 30mm spacers. My tire size is 265/65/R17 I hope this is sufficient to prevent any rollovers.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

30mm spacers will lift it a heap mate. Keep an eye on the front CVs. Roll overs? Just drive sensibly and you'll be sweet.

[@kanevivalakane3699]

@@OutdoorsCBR spacers for widening the wheels. Not for lifting Prado. For lifting will have IMS Suspension

[@OutdoorsCBR]

ahhhhh got you. haha that makes more sense. Yeah wide stance incoming!!! 👌

[@pierogillio]

What about the performance? Is softer or harder ride???

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Ride was much the same, but could feel compression was slower/more controlled when offroad. Have since upgraded to the heavy duty constant load springs. It handles the weight of all the accessories much better now. The 2inch springs started to sag once bullbar, winch, roofrack, rear drawers, rear battery etc etc were added.

[@zyyzo1]

Hello, great video What is the tyres size and brand name please? How is the car handling after the lift kit ? Did you need to go bigger tyres after the lift kit

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Hey mate, I have Toyo Open Country ATs. Size is 285/60/18. The suspension feels a little bit stiffer on the road when there is no weight in it. Otherwise it's awesome. You can run standard size tyres with a lift kit.

[@zyyzo1]

@@OutdoorsCBR thank you so much my friend you have been so helpful .. One last thing I'd like to know is the rear suspension number .. If there is any serial numbers because the suppliers in my country they didn't know what would fit on my car.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

@@zyyzo1 Hmm sorry I can't help you with a part number. The 'official' name of the lift kit that I purchased is Dobinsons Monotube IFP Lift Kit - Holden Colorado 7 RG7 / Trailblazer (11/2012-On). I bought it online at autopartsco . com . au. Your best option would be to ask your supplier for a complete lift kit (of any well known brand) that suits the colorado7. And make sure you pay the extra to have the front strut pre-assembled.

[@zyyzo1]

@@OutdoorsCBR you are real decent Man .. Thank you so much .. I subscribed your channel🌹

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Nice, thanks mate. What car are you driving? I am working on a short video showing the work I did in the back of the wagon, and another one showing how I did the custom mounts for my flat roof rack. If you have a wagon you might be interested.

[@millerpacers]

What part numbr did you use for the rear shock? I did not find it on Dobinsons catalog.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Sorry mate, not sure. I bought them from autopartsco.com.au get in touch with them and ask they are top blokes and will help you out.

[@MyGTisxHUNTER07x]

Are the rear coils for Trailblazer 2016 same as MUX'S?

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Not sure mate. Sorry. I think a lot of things are the same or similar. But could't tell you for sure. Never looked at an MUX up close.

[@MADDOG.]

Break line tight is because you did it wrong not allowed to hang beginner

[@OutdoorsCBR]

Yeah probs not the best idea to hang the calliper.

[@MADDOG.]

No not at all you can get the strut out without doing everything they did.

[@OutdoorsCBR]

This was the first time we ever did it. Have done it many times since. Gets easier each time.

[@MADDOG.]

@@OutdoorsCBR lol