FOX Lift Problems

Yes a 1/4” spacer will make the whole assembly 1/4 longer. That’s why they call it a taco lean spacer. It sits between the coil over and the stock strut mount.

 

I think changing to a longer spring is the best bet. The 13" spring is too short for a 3" lift in my opinion. The amount of preload required to get that lift will make the spring feel firmer. The longer spring will achieve the same preload at 1" longer length, which translates into 2" of lift. If you liked the ride at 1.5" of lift with the 600# spring, then going to a 14" 600# spring should give you what you want. If you add a bumper, winch or other things later, you will need 650# springs, so think about that when you choose. Understand that the ride will be rougher until the weight is added.

The steering issues you are having are most likely because your mechanic has set the alignment to stock specs. Lifted Tacomas need at least a degree more caster (3 degrees minimum). Otherwise the steering will feel light and twitchy, and the truck won't track well. I think this is probably what you are describing as "play". Unless your mechanic knows Tacomas, he would not know this.

 

And see what you said?

 

And the point is??? I said a 1/4” lean spacer makes the assembly slightly longer just like if someone wanted to lift there truck using the stock strut with a spacer bolted to the top of it. Sorry maybe I’m missing something.

 

O.P,this part about the steering issue is what your problem is ,go back too your alignment guy and have him change your caster.

 

I think the simplest way to describe the spring rate / length / preload relationship is like this. A 14" spring will give 2 additional inches of lift for the same preload as a 13" spring**. That means same ride qualities with 2" more lift. This is why comparing spring rates (600/650/700) is meaningless unless you know the spring length and the preload setting. A 14" 700# spring can ride softer than a 13" 650# spring with the same weight truck, depending on how they are preloaded.

It would be far better if the ride height, and the preload were completely separate adjustments. Fox does not support the proper tuning of our trucks because they do not offer length/rate options for the spring. It's one size fits no one. The 600# 13 spring is good for stock trucks with little to no lift.

** it is 2" because 1" of strut length is doubled at the wheel.

 

Did you read the part about spring length that I underlined and bolded? You said a longer spring of the same rate would have less preload, that is absolutely wrong.

 

The longer spring will not give the same lift at less preload unless it’s longer AND A HIGHER SPRING RATE.

 

You are right, I misspoke. What I said would be true in a conventional coil spring front end, but the difference with the coilover is that the top spring seat moves, and the coilover movement range is fixed. Good catch!

 

I’ve been corrected on this as well. It didn’t make sense for the longest time, I always thought of preload as threads showing but I’ve learned I was wrong. I just don’t want someone buying a longer spring and not being happy when it does nothing for them.

 

absolutely!

 

Ok sorry missed that part. Do they not offer different length springs with the same spring rate and if they did why bother? I was on the same page as badger in post #26. If this is wrong I stand corrected.

 

I've seen:
600lb 13"(Fox only)
650lb 13" (ICON uses this, maybe others)
600lb 14"
650lb 14"
700lb 14"
The 13" 600lb is a waste. I think ideal would be 14" 650lb, for the majority of our rigs.

 

There are 14” 600lb springs available but not from Fox. The longer spring will do nothing but have less threads showing on the coilover, but you need the same preload to achieve the same amount of lift. If you can’t get your lift and are running the coil down too far then you need a heavier spring, like a 650 or 700lb depending on weight.

 

Totally understand what you’re saying. I guess my point was if a guy is trying to get 3” Of lift and he’s got the collar adjusted down beyond what the mfg recommends he could install the longer spring, get his 3” and not have it cranked down as much? I guess I was wrong in thinking this. I know the same can be achieved by running same length coil with a higher rate. I guess where I screwed up is in my use of the term “preload”.

 

You’re right that they won’t be “cranked down” as much but to get to the same lift the preload will be the same. So ride quality wouldn’t change. The longer spring does give you more room to crank them down before spring bind though.

 

They should really change the description and say 2.5” lift is more realistic with ZERO added weight. A 625/630lb spring would probably be perfect for 3” on a stock weight tacoma.

 

Thank you for pointing out the inaccuracy in what I was trying to describe. Now I stand corrected and need to consider the terminology that I use when offering free advise or my opinion. Ultimately what you said above is all I was getting at originally.

 

badger, I printed out the SPC Instruction Sheet and I compared the diagram to my UCA's. It appears that my caster is set at +2.0 degrees. Do you think adding that extra +1 degree will solve the twitchy feeling?

 

A thought: Too much camber will add to "twitchy" feedback in the steering wheel.