FOX 2.0 IFP Coilover and Shock install DIY and review 2015 DCSB 4x4

ok TW. this will be my walkthrough on my experience purchasing, installing and 3 week review of said setup.

This is my daily driver so I had some concerns about this.
My criteria for the lift were as followed:
needed to be around 1k.
would not degrade road characteristics as it is my DD.
provide tangible offroad performance benefit.
lift/level the truck to improve the look of the vehicle without making people think I am compensating for something...which I am not..compensating that is. for anything...really...
reputable brand with support/backing from vendor.

I lurked for quite a while and read a lot of reviews. There are some great guys here with good info. A few are mouthbreathers who offer no value at all. you know who you are. Or maybe you don't, so ask yourself if you are the guy at the party who thinks he is funny but really is just the annoying guy that eats all the nachos? Really dude save some nachos for the rest of us! I mean, I show up 20min late and there isn't a single nacho left, man? really? Anyway, back to the diy.
I decided on the FOX IFP 2.0 coilovers and shocks. now the problem was where to purchase? I consulted with Chas @ TAP since he is a forum vendor. He walked me through and answered my questions. he sent me links to the products and it was a simple process. He called me a few days later just to make sure I didn't need a spanner wrench. Good service and the price was fair. Few days later the boxes show up.

I installed the rear shocks first. for god sake, lube your rear before pounding in the bottom shock mount. you heard me! lube that sucker up as the new mount is a tight fit. torque the bottom mount and finger tighten the upper mount. I lowered the vehicle before torquing the upper mount. Is that a word... torquing? Is that where you bounce your ass to the beat while squinting and making duck lips? looks sexy right? the shock not the dance. Anyway...

So, after the install I inspected the OEM shock. This is a 2015 with less than 1000 miles. I already see rust. Sigh.

On to the front! I'm not gonna lie, this one was tough. I removed the sway bar ends, dropped the tie rods and busted one using a ball joint separator. Thank god Autozone had a moog replacement. Use a pitman arm puller not the demon spawn that looks like a big fork. you know that thing that doesn't help you do anything at all but tears up ball joints like your minds eye when you google blue waffle. Don't google it!
remove the bottom mount and the top 3 mounts keeping the center intact but that sucker was stuck in there. Using a prybar braced against the frame and pushing on the lower control arm got the OEM sucker out but I knew the new one wasn't going in the same way. I removed the UCA ball joint but in hindsight I think I would drop the LCA ball joint instead. After some grunting with a rope to pull the UCA back down to secure it and my neighbor checking on me because he thought satan had opened his hell's chasm in my garage and I got it pieced together. Shiny!

After piecing it all together I went back to torquing..hehe...the rear shocks and back to the front upper and lower mounts just to make sure.
aftershot:

After the string alignment check I only adjusted the passenger toe from the busted tie rod end and I was out.
I hopped a curb, ran through some gravel, scared folks and wildlife at the local lake and overall I really liked the ride. I could tell a difference in the offroad capability vs OEM.
The commute is about the same as OEM. the truck rides higher obviously but the road characteristics didn't take a nose dive which was a big concern. I didn't want to bounce all over the place in the cab driving to work but I want the ability to cut over past traffic, through the grass, up the dunes and torquing into the sunset. Pretty happy with the setup. A+. Bring the love/hate/indifference!

 

looks nice! thinking of something like this for my set up

 

Nice write up, not quite sure if you're Miley Cyrus or a Tacoma owner torquing all over town though.
Truck looks good, and appreciate the write up and review! I'm interested in seeing some long term feedback. I'm hoping to jump into some fox shocks and coilovers in a few months here.
What did you set the front lift at?

 

Im thinking about the same set up but I will be adding the icon progressive 3 leaf aal to my 2+1

Looks good A++

 

Thanks for the write-up, I'm looking to put these shocks on my truck in the spring.

 

Did you put they sway bar back on? I'm not seeing it in the picture

 

Thanks all. I'll keep everyone posted on the feedback as time goes on. So far im really happy with it. I have them set at 2 which is how they come out of the box. I did put the sway bar back on and it cleared the coilovers fine. No relo brackets needed.

Hopefully chas will jump in and answer questions for those looking for this setup.

I havent towed or carried a heavy load yet but when i do ill provide feedback on how it handles. I may need aal.

 

Let me know if I can be of any help. This fox setup is really growing in popularity here on TW, its a great quality kit at a sweet price.

The rear shocks are good to 1-1.5" lifts, we also carry longer length shocks for those who want to go higher in the rear.

 

OEM UCA's and leafs right? Looks pretty darn level from that one picture.

I'm glad I saw this thread, might just be the route I go in the summer. Only concern is what leaf packs to go with if I want to maintain the level appearance......

 

Yes stock uca and leafs. Just throw on the kit and you are done if you want to keep it level.

 

hows the ride on gravel/washboard roads? im debating this vs. icon stage 1. thanks for the pics and review...your truck looks great.

 

Thx! Ride is great but the back end does jump a bit. I already talked to chas @ TAP about it and think the icon leaf pack will get me to the perfect ride. Its 10 times better than stock though on gravel, washboard, dirt roads etc. Love this setup.

 

Do you feel its stiffer then OEM or just more controlled? I have been researching lifts for awhile, all i want to accomplish is to level the truck out like you have done with the fox kit. I was going to go with 5100's but preloading my off-road springs will make the truck ride worse and I cant have that since i travel with my truck and its the baby hauler. Kit looks good, nice work.

 

You cant think of it as stiffer or more controlled. Think of it as having different driving charactersics altogether. Road performance is about the same but offroad is where you tell the difference. This isnt our primary kid coaster but it is used for commute and kids are in it quite a bit. Its a sleeper on the street and a beast on the dirt. Hope that makes sense.

 

I ordered,this setup befor it was out. Steped up to the piggy back Resi rear shock and went with LR arms. Over 12000k on this with no problems. Been to Moab, Pismo and Mojave.

 

Set at 3"

 

Rear shocks.

 

Tows my Heep!

 

How do you crank em up?

I sent you a pm, but for future readers who have the same question.

 

They do not come with a spanner wrench, it can be purchased from ORW for $25 bucks, lift truck, adjust and test. I set mine at 3" and love the way it rides.