Adjusting Fox 2.5 Coilovers

They should have came with what I posted above, as I was told by Fox.

 

I forgot to measure before hand...
I believe I am measuring correctly. I don’t have any added weight. Here’s a picture. Stock rear suspension for now, 285/75/16s
Edit: I have 27 threads exposed

 

27 threads (1.925") should equal to a 2" over stock lift for a 3rd gen. That's the max that Fox recommends.

 

Why do they not recommend more threads showing? Too much preload for the shock?

 

Yes. Ride would be stiffer, you could bottom out shock and you'd lose down travel.

 

I ended up with 2 different sets (that's another story) and both came with 16 threads showing. I have also read others have said theirs came with 16 threads showing. Weird how there is such a discrepancy. I have also read about others getting less than stellar service and answers from Fox. Bottom line is measurements tell all. But I will say that I had mine up to 26 threads and it rode like shit.

 

I know the non extended version come set at 16 threads (2").

 

Both of mine were extended. I can't explain it.

 

Fox recommends to adjust ride height with the individual truck since weight plays a big role with Fox's 600 lbs springs (lightest of the aftermarket springs). Supposedly the extended version were set to 2" which is 1" net for 3rd gens. If you got the non extended version then you can only net 1" lift over stock which I believe is 22" from center of hub to bottom of fender flare. I personally have extended 3" lift (2" net) and withing 24 hours the shocks were back to stock height. I run 200 lbs of skids and 140 lbs sliders so I have significant amount of preload to keep the truck lifted to 3" (2" net) and couple of days of trial and error. If you play with the adjustments the ride changes significantly even with a 1/2" of lift which moves the CG to the rear causing the front end to get stiffer. Also you want to absolutely make sure you adjust the coil overs on level grade because even the slightest grade my truck's front end will raise another 1/4" to 1/2". Over all my Fox 2.5 3" w/ RR are amazing and yet to find another ride with better suspension (Obvi custom tuned to my truck exact weight would be better). I've run 70 mph on beaches and fire roads and the faster you drive the smoother it gets... CLOUD 9!

EDIT: I run OEM Dakar leaf pack for 2.75" of rear lift and Fox 2.0 RR 3-5" lift shocks in the rear.

 

After lots of time communicating w/Fox, this isn't true (per Fox).
Extended version is set @ 3", not 2". This nets 2" of lift, not 1", on 3rd gens.
I went round & round w/Fox about these numbers )as my ext. came w/1.925" of exposed threads & I felt it was too much) & this is what they insisted they're sent as. There may be a few that make it thru set @ the non-ext. version length, but this is what they said their standard is.

 

Since it only nets 2" of lift, do you still need uca's? I've read that Fox recommends uca’s to be used with their extended length coilovers regardless of preload/lift height.

 

That I do not know as I have a 2nd gen & SPC UCA's.

 

Yeah mine was back to stock height within 24 hours also with 300 lbs of steel. Didn't count pre threads or measure since all I cared was the final height for 23" hub to fender. But who really knowsss

 

After mine settled more it’s down to about 21” center hub to bottom of fender

 

These Fox's seem to settle a ton. I'm letting mine settle a little more (have about 500 miles on them now) then will adjust back up as long as I don't lose droop. Supposedly these have ~5" of travel (so weak coming from my solid axle FZJ80 w/10" of travel) so as long as I can keep 2.5" of down travel I'll be good (I'm @ 3" down travel/droop now).

 

Here's something that may help. Originally posted by Dylan from Toytec:
"The most accurate way to check the ride height is to measure from the center of the wheel straight up to the fender opening lip. This method removes the variable of tire size and pressure and only gives you the amount of suspension and/or body lift.
The 05-15 Tacoma on average, measures 20 inches in the front and 21.5 inches in the rear. The 16 Tacoma measures 21 inches in the front and 22 inches in the rear.
So being that the control arm/shock/spindle configuration is nearly identical to the 05-15, this means that the front of the 3rd gen actually sits 1 inch higher in the shock travel range. We were able to confirm this by doing a hub-to-fender measurement at full droop (24.5 inches for both the 2nd gen and the 3rd gen) and doing a measurement while sitting on the ground (20 inches for the 2nd gen, 21 inches for the 3rd gen), we can see that the 2nd gen factory suspension compressed 4.5 inches to get to ride height and the 3rd gen compressed 3.5 inches to get to ride height. Full droop stayed the same. The 3rd gens just did not compress as much."

Making sure you have enough droop & drive axle boots aren't rubbing ribs on each other is paramount in how high you adjust.

 

Perhaps a longer and or stiffer spring would work well with these coilovers. Maybe 650 lb or 700 lb 14"

 

I have the same set up as you and fully agree, the faster you go the smoother they get. Absolutely butter 70mph on washboard and bumpy terrain. Plus droop out the back is pretty good too with the 118's and the dakar pack.

 

I agree a stiffer OR a longer spring but can't figure out which. A longer spring @ the same poundage will be preloaded the same as 1 shorter spring for the same lift, I think. But a stiffer spring will be pre-loaded the same but will be lifted slightly higher due to it not being sagged by the weight. Does that make sense?

 

You're saying if the spring rate is the same, and it was preloaded the same as the shorter coil then you'd see no difference other than the longer coil taking up more of the threads showing... correct? and if it was a stiffer rate thats preloaded the same you'd see more lift.