Fox Life!!! Anything Related to Fox Suspension

Being Fox and anything Fox-related;

does anyone know if the damping characteristics hugely different between one set of 2.0's vs another set of 2.0's?

For instance - Tacoma replacements vs Universal replacements with the only difference being 1" of travel.

 

I read all 78 pages to expand my knowledge. My brain hurts but I learned a lot. I've got 2.0 RR and Icon RXTs for the rear (plus wheeler's bump stops and u-bolt flip), have SPC UCAs and will be ordering 2.5s with DSCs in a few weeks. I'm looking to get around 2" with factory rake preserved. I'll be adding undercarriage armor, a second battery, and a camper shell down the road.

Based on this thread I'd like to use 14" 600lb springs (anyone have any for sale?). Besides tools, beer, and jacks, what do I need for a self-install, such as specific tools, tips, or methods, both for install and preparation?

The experiences I've seen here got me spooked about contigencies: not enough travel so I bottom out the shocks, not enough preload, too much preload, squeaking, shims, ECGS bushing...all that said I'm excited to tackle this myself.

Can I install the shocks for now, then the leaves later when the fronts arrive?

 

I just did mine a couple weeks ago. I didn't do UCAs so my install process may be a little different than yours but no special tools were needed, it was pretty straight forward. Straight out of the box I netted two inches with zero vibes. Its settled about an inch and I'm adjusting them this morning to regain some of that.

 

I have ALL the same stuff your about to install.. no shims, no vibes, no squeaky springs (yet). Just make sure you have a reputable alignment shop. Most shops are too lazy to figure SPCs out.. i had to take it to 3 shops to get it right (i was rubbing everywhere).. it’s not rocket science. They just have more adjustability that most techs don’t want to mess with. Oh, and i did the 14” 600lb springs too..

Good luck

 

Thanks! Do you have extended travel as well? Forgot to specify that above.

 

Yup

 

Did you swap the springs yourself? If you did, what compressor did you use? The ones below in the Product Discussion look fine but they're more expensive on Amazon now.

 

Oh and a good place to look for the 14” is on the king thread. 14” 600s come standard w kings so when guys upgrade u can get em pretty cheap or even free.. ask around

 

I had a shop do the install and swap. It was easier for me since i work 7 days. In hindsight I really should of done it all myself.. nightmare of an experience with complete idiots and shoddy workmanship. Basically had to redo everything they did anyway.

EDIT: List of everything i had to redo:

Alignment 2x (one shop didn’t even touch it since it was ‘within factory specs’ but it rubbed everywhere)

They somehow set off the VSC and precollision sensors and had to go to dealer to get a Zero Point Calibration done.

Rebalance all 4 tires

Redo CMC and trimming

Had to lower preload on front since they had me at 3.75” down to 2.5ish

Rear shock towers were reground to accommodate reservoir hose (didn’t need to be ground in the first place just rotate the hose outward)

So yea everything they touched was shit.

So if you have the tools and know how.. just do it yourself unless you trust the shop:

 

I have most of the tools. Just think I need a compressor. I picked up some used (10k miles) Kings from someone on here for $80 shipped. Sounds like a good deal to me but I have no comparison. The know-how is something else. I'll scour this forum, this thread, and the almighty Google. I'm sure I can figure out the installation part. It's the things that come after: alignment, rebalancing, noise and rub combat, etc. But I should be safe with rubbing since I'm still on the stock OR wheels and tires. I don't know of a shop near me I trust, having never been to any of them. There aren't many options where I live anyway.

When you say "reground the rear shock towers", are you referring to how they sit/are rotated in the bucket? So that the reservoir hose can point out a pit and any rubbing/pinching can be avoided?

 

Yea the resi hose on the 2.0 is close to the bucket if it’s facing back it may contact the bucket under full compression. but if you rotate the shock so the hose faces out and still mount to reservoir on the back it’ll clear the bucket with no issue.

Before:



After: i told the shop they could either rotate the shock or grind a small notch to accommodate hose. Here’s what the fuckwads did:



Ya know this is about 4 months ago and I’m getting pissed all over again.

Anyway you can see that there is plenty of room in the center of the tower for the hose to clear. Or even if the hose faces forward

 

Thanks for the clarification!

 

Keep an eye out where your reservoir is on the rear shock. When you articulate, the axle is going to come in contact with it. I would recommend flipping it around so the reservoir is on the other side of the shock.

 

Swapped out my 13"/600's for 14"/650's and couldn't be happier.

Driver side preload:
*Preload = 1-5/16" or 17 full threads VS 3-1/4" with 13"/600's
*Full droop = 12" spring at full droop VS 10-1/4" with 13"/600's
*0" preload = 13-1/4" installed w/ ring completely backed off VS 3/4" full threads at 12-1/2" with 13"/600's

Passenger side:
*Preload = 1-1/16" or 14 full threads VS 2-5/8" with 13"/600's
*Full droop = 12" spring at full droop VS 10-3/4" with 13"/600's
*0" preload = 13-1/4" installed w/ ring completely backed off VS 5/8" full threads at 12-5/8" with 13"/600's

Guestimating ~2" of rake, but I still need to take more measurements at some point and get another alignment. Night and day difference in the trucks mannerisms and handling now.

 

What springs did you use?

 

I don't know if you're question was aimed at me or not, but I used Eibach springs (1400.300.0650S)

 

Nice!! Can you clarify what you mean about ‘night and day difference’ ?

 

Curious on the specs of the 13 inch 600 lb springs that come on the 2.5s. Specifically when they go to coil bind? Found specs online for 14 / 600 springs are stacked at 6.26 inches. 12/ 600 springs are stacked at 5.24 inches. So I would say it's somewhere in between. For reference I did find a 13/ 600 spring with a 5 inch diameter (vice 3) that is stacked at 5.57 inches.

@*TRD* any ideas?

 

The 13"/600's were a give and take scenario. To achieve some semblance of drive-ability and not chew through my tires, I had that asinine amount of preload. On the flip-side, doing so really screws with the springs functionality and throws the up/down travel out of wack. The end result is a "pins and needles" driving experience avoiding all things pothole and the like.

With the 14"/650's now installed, it's an entirely different scenario regarding the preload, travel, CO's overall function and performance, etc. Also, the overall driving experience is no longer a harrowing ordeal.

I hope that provides a little more clarity and insight on my particular situation.

 

Accutune provides some insight regarding this via their tech articles listed on their website. However, they specify that the information featured in said article was extrapolated per Eibach / Fox information on 12" and 14" springs and to use this at your own discretion. I too, was curious what the specifications were and from what I can only guess is that the specs from both 12"/600 and 14"/600 have been averaged together in order to achieve the 13"/600 specs. This is the closest means that I have found to do so, but then again I could be wrong.