Fox Life!!! Anything Related to Fox Suspension

A lot of people throw on heavier springs to try and compensate for valving, but springs and valving work differently. Fox (and other brands) front coilovers are valved very soft from the factory, and we stiffen them up with the valving. The result is better handling and better bottoming control while still letting them eat washboard. On a Tacoma we want the lightest spring possible to achieve the desired lift height without taking the spring coil bind, then we fix all the other issues with correct shock valving.

 

With that being said, i'll have to come check you guys out when I go back down next summer. you guys can rebuild my foxes for me!

 

Just to tease this out a little further...

2.0-2.5" lift = 600# springs
3.0" lift = 650# springs

Correct?

 

Sounds like a plan

 

I have been impressed by @*TRD*'s tuning of my shocks, and the cost of what I bought. Great customer service too. They'll be rebuilding my old Fox suspension (hint hint @*TRD*).

The only issue I have, and this is not with AccuTune, is what I believe to be poor engineering on Fox's part to require the coilover to be removed from the vehicle and the coil spring compressed before adjusting the adjustment collar.

Neither Icon nor King require this, making adjustments and fine tuning easy and straight forward.

 

its a PITA. i learned the hard way trying to adjust my coils... it's not like working on TEIN or Skunk2 coils where i could just muscle it on my little Integra back in the day... One day i'll go Kings. but that too is only complaint about Fox shocks..

 

As a disclaimer I don't recommend going above 2.5" of lift, you won't have enough down travel and the suspension will clunk and feel harsh.

We figure it out separately for each customer because we see so many variations, but in general the next step up is to run a 14x3.0x600 lb/in spring, it allows for an extra ~5/8" of preload without going coil bind.

 

Outstanding. Thank you, sir.

Hopefully this rule of thumb will help some people in this thread.

 

Thank you!

If you plan ahead the Fox's can be adjusted on the vehicle. Make sure the screw on the collar is facing out, and use a punch or screwdriver to turn the spring collar. Just note that method can lead to damaging the shocks if the punch doesn't fit well, which is why we always adjust height off the vehicle.

 

These SOBs will not adjust on the vehicle, even using the spanner wrench. I've bathed them in lubricating oil, prayed to dieties, and sacrified small barnyard animals to no avail.

 

Damn! Also be careful not to loosen the screw too far or they can jump a thread.

 

I’ve been successful to adjust them on the vehicle but I’m not gonna lie, it’s super hard and I used 2 punches that fit perfectly on the holes. No lube but I did raise the vehicle in the front so it took some tension of the springs.

 

That's another concern I have.

Long story short, and likely due to my error, I'm taking the coilovers to a local shop to have them do the final adjustments. I'm paying them more than I'd like considering the labor involved, but so be it.

Unless of course I pony up for a wall or floor mounted hydraulic spring compressor.

 

I did this too. No such luck. Ah well.

 

To tell you the truth, it was hard to make those turns but it wasn’t impossible and if I had some wd40 I think it would of been that much easier.

 

The only way I can adjust the 6” lift full length coilovers on my truck is to hit them with the spring compressor which requires removing the sway bar from the spindle. Tight fit but relieves enough tension to turn them with a punch and light taps from a deadblow.

This spring compressor

 

they are tough, but will go. I didn't use the spanner, cause rr, but a center punch from harbor freight did the job. once it budges a little bit, it'll go much easier from there.

 

I can attest that the preload can be adjusted while installed. I soaked the threads in penetrating lube, lifted the front of the vehicle off the ground, and used the harbor freight punch as the tool to rotate the ring. Make sure the threads are as clean as possible. I will only have to adjust it one more time after I get a winch installed.

 

What compressor kit is this? Have not seen one like it before.

 

Bought this one from Amazon, but they are available in many places.
Most places refer to this as the external Klann compressor.