4th Gen Tacoma (2024+)

Fox shocks are custom designed by them and you’re not getting somebody else’s product with a Fox name on it. I have no idea where they are made, I know they have a factory in Georgia.

I’m more familiar with their bike stuff which is made in Taiwan

 

I doubt the FOX and OME shocks are built by the same manufacturer, nevermind the same factory.

Previous TRD Pro FOX shocks were made in the USA. Other Tacoma shocks are made in Mexico or the USA. I know OME used to manufacture their shocks in Australia, but may have outsourced that recently.

Long story short, both OME and FOX manufacture their own shocks in house. I am not sure if it it exclusively done in-house, but they do have that capability.

In standard applications, Toyota typically uses shocks manufactured by Hitachi (previously Tokico) and KYB. For higher performance applications they will also supplement with Bilstein and ZF (Sachs). For more specialty applications, they have also been bringing in folks like FOX and now ARB (OME).

Each of these companies has their own manufacturing facilities. There isn't one big shock factory that's just building them all and throwing different stickers on them.

Jeff

 

That's the thread where I bought mine as well lol. Crazy good deal on them. Mine are still in my garage and I may use them again, but I would probably prefer some discount 3rd gen pro stuff if the same opportunity ever arises as the 2nd gen setup did.

If you see blow out Fox's, tag me lol.

 

Will do and same to you

 

That's what I would think.

I was just wondering if another shock manufacture that does produce OE shocks lets use bilstein as the example could manufacture the ARB under license for Toyota as an OE supplier. AFAIK the upgraded Fox have been marketed as "under license". I would think if FOX was building Pro shocks in house that would get expensive real quick.

I'm sure these are quality parts that come on these trucks. I'm just interested in where they are actually manufactured and sourced. If not by the name brand manufacturer.

 

You'd likely need an insider in the procurement/supply chain departments of both Toyota and/or ARB/FOX to know for sure.

Jeff

 

I've wondered about the previous Fox Pro stuff, but I guess I forgot to ask. With more manufactures going with aftermarket branded products as original equiment Toyota, Ford, Jeep all of whom I believe offer FOX components, and GM offering AEV from the factory on Chevy trucks, and now GMC on the ATx 1500. Where do these components come from? OEM are always looking to cut costs, and are obtaining more of these products to sell direct to the consumer.

 

Ohh. I thought he meant annoying.

 

Some manufacturers like Ford did it correctly and actually had Fox work with them and make a custom suspension system for the Raptor.

Toyota at first just bought off the shelf components and half assed them for the 4Runner and 3rd generation Tacoma before getting more specialized components for subsequent PRO versions.

And, no, this isn’t about cost cutting because the manufacturers are getting these components for pennies on the dollar and then turning them around and selling them at a massive markup as part of Unobtanium model trims.

 

Guys, guys, I got an idea for a sticker.

 

Are we being literal in the cost of suspension components from name brand companies?

If you ask fox, they make the shocks for Toyota under contract. Perhaps it’s at a bulk rate discount but I don’t know what half assed means. You’re not going to find 2.5 internal bypass’s….with tune… for anything less than Toyota sells it for. Let alone with a reservoir.

Someone is still welding the tubes, pouring oil, stacking shims, compressing springs, pressing bushings etc, and if it’s a American doing it, you’re hard pressed to make a convincing argument that it’s pennys on the dollar.

 

First edition Bro Pros had Bilsteins then off the shelf Fox shocks. And you can buy better shocks and coils for less.

 

Seen someone posted some new toyota models only coming with 1 smart key

 

So your whole gripe of pennys on the dollar was based on a TRD pro design lasting a wapping year (last year of the second gens) that used some bilstein 5100s but also msrp’d at like 40k?

Ok, what shocks are a minimum of a 2.5 diameter with the rears having some type of reservoir, minimum of a 1/4 inch extended travel, internal bypass, and tune.


Really? Which shocks?
Closest is OME 51. Pretty sure they can’t be rebuilt, last I checked.
Also pretty sure a version of this will be on the new trail hunter.

That leaves bilstein 9200s? Lol they even make that for a taco? Or 8100s for just bypass?

 

Yea I wouldn’t call the internal bypass 2.5 trd pro shocks “off the shelf” lol, they also have been very carefully tuned for the platform and are a major step up from the 6112. The 6112 was also actually developed specifically for the 2nd gen trd pro before bilstein sold them by themselves. The 8100 series is in a different league. I upgraded to the 8112 and 8100s in the rear and they are a substantial upgrade over the fox trd pro shocks and the price reflects it, easy 2k for front and 2k for rears. The the 8100 are triple external bypass and the front 8112’s are a triple piston design with an internal bump stop zone, reservoirs and adjusters. I guess you could make the argument that the price difference between a pro and off-road is still more than the cost of upgrading to a nicer setup, but suspension is largely personal and based on an individuals needs and wants.

 

Not sure where I read it, but there are some who think an OR with the TRD lift kit is better in many off-road situations (I’m thinking going slow-ish on bush roads in the mountains, not high-speed shenanigans in Baja) than the Pro.

You can get some pretty nice tires with the 5-8 K$ savings too.

 

You can stick a lowly SR anywhere you can get a Pro or OR into…might have to go a little slower, but you’ll all end up at the same place. And when you get there, you’ll see some old hippy in a roached out Subie or old VW Bus…

 

Depends on your definition of better. The smaller diameter trd off-road bilsteins offer more compliance over small undulations but less controllable rebound and far worse heat dissipation than a 2.5 setup or even 2.0 with reservoirs.

 

Until you fuck around and find out you need a locker. Or even a poor man’s locker (MTS).
Or that inch of extra clearance.

Or until you puncture your oil pan
…but sure.
It’s all the same.

 

My old truck was built, can put the new one in the exact same places the old one went. An extra inch of clearance and a locker, baaaah you don’t need that shit. Just tools for poor skills.

All that suspension nonsense is just a pissing contest. Unless it is a full blown race truck, it is a waste of money. Been there done that… ripped off most of the goodies I had on the old truck and returned it mostly to stock.