Fox 2.5 Extended travel coilover adjustment.

Hey there TW!

I just installed some fox 2.5s and got her all buttoned up. The coilovers came adjusted for 1" lift over factory. Obviously I want to go more, This is where my question comes from.

Fox recommends using a spring compressor before adjusting the preload ring. Problem is the coilovers are on the truck and it would be a pain to remove them from the truck over and over again to adjust. The body of the shock looks too close to the coil to even fit a spring compressor on them..

Can I get away with taking all the weight off the front end, and using a spanner wrench to adjust? or is the compressor necessary? whats everyone doing? any tips for me?

 

Adjusting the spring preload on your coil over shocks is no different than adjusting the spring preload on an adjustable spring preload coil over motorcycle shock, which should be done by lifting up and unloading the suspension, which you should do to take the load off of the threaded aluminum shock body and the preload adjuster nuts so you don't strip the threads on either of them

So IMHO, jacking up the front to take the weight off of the springs is all you need to do and you do not need to compress the springs with a spring compressor. A good tip is to always thoroughly clean off the dirt from the threads on the shock body and then apply some lube to the threads prior to adjusting the preload nuts, then clean off the lube when your done so as not to attract dirt.

 

I just jacked up the front, and sprayed a little bit of WD-40 on the perches. Spins freely with no issues.

 

Perfect. Thanks guys.... i was super scared when Fox recommended a spring compressor... there was no way that would work..

any tips on a good spanner wrench? the fox one is $50, pretty pricey.. I see some guys using 1/4 punches, i tried that and its making the holes oval shaped. i don't wanna keep cranking with that and ruin the collars.

 

fQUOTE="brendanwebster911, post: 13761152, member: 174548"]Perfect. Thanks guys.... i was super scared when Fox recommended a spring compressor... there was no way that would work..

any tips on a good spanner wrench? the fox one is $50, pretty pricey.. I see some guys using 1/4 punches, i tried that and its making the holes oval shaped. i don't wanna keep cranking with that and ruin the collars.[/QUOTE]

Measure the OD of the preload adjuster nuts and try and find either a fixed or adjustable spanner wrench to properly fit the notches on the adjuster nuts, and never ever adjust the reload nuts using a screwdriver or a punch and a hammer, as with one wrong slip, the tip of a screw driver or punch can easily damage the threads on the shock body, then your adjustment days are over, plus it just makes the aluminum preload adjuster nuts look like hell.

If you don't want to spend the $50 that Fox want's for their spanner wrench, McMaster Carr sells a large variety of sizes of fixed and adjustable hook style spanner wrenches, but you may find that its an odd ball size and you'll need to just but the wrench from Fox, and it's always best to have a fixed hook style spanner wrench as opposed to an adjustable hook style wrench which are more likely to slip out of the notches on the adjuster nuts than a fixed style wrench that is made to fit the adjuster nuts.

https://www.mcmaster.com/#spanner-wrenches/=158rbl4

 

Did you end up lifting the rear as well, if so, what setup did you go with? I'd like to know what you think about the Fox 2.5's compared to the stock Off-Road suspension. Are the coilovers stiffer, smoother.....etc. I'm trying to narrow down a suspension setup to go with.

 

Yes I lifted the rear with some OME Dakar leaf packs.

The whole set up is night and day better over the stock TRD off-road suspension. Much more plush and smooth. The rear leafs are a little stiff while unloaded. But still much better.

 

Looks nice. very similar to my setup except I used a headstrong add a leaf in the rear. little stiffer in the rear like you said.
By any chance are you getting any squeaks from your front suspension. I am and I think it's the total chaos uca's that are to blame. any tips on where it may be coming from? taking it to the shop today to get everything greased up.

 

My front had a small squeak that eventually turned loud when I went over bumps. It happened about 8,000 miles after the Total Chaos UCAs were installed. A quick shot of grease in the fittings fixed it right up. Those red bushings are squeaky when they go dry.

 

At the Firestone right now getting an alignment. Told them to grease up those bushings for an extra $15. not bad. we'lll see if those squeaks go away. thanks man.

 

Don't drive that truck away before you inspect those bushings!!!! If they don't loosen the UCA bolt before pumping grease into the fittings, it'll swell and blow out those bushings.

Look for the bulging bushings. 95% of the times shops won't loosen the bolt before they pump new grease

 

I'll be in for an alignment this weekend. Those fuckers put my caster at like 1.5 degrees when I asked for 3. and my truck drives like shit with some crazy bumpsteer.

 

I'll definitely check. thanks.

 

If they are swollen, which I bet they'll be, you have two options:

A: take a tipped object and press the ball in the zerk fitting to relive the pressure and the bushings will go back.

B: loosen the UCA bolt and re tighten.

 

Woohoo! no more squeaks. no bulging and a little grease coming out from the fittings but it's all good.

 

What I'd your front set at? I'm gonna be installing some soon and I would like to set them on a spring compressor before install

 

That's because they're trying to replicate OEM alignment specs, and don't understand that lifted trucks need different numbers. Typical clueless tire shop.

I just had my '16 (2" lift front, 4" lift rear) aligned by the local alignment experts the other week, and have these numbers:

Front:
- Caster (L/R): 3.65, 3.89
- Camber (L/R): 0.11, 0.12
- Toe (L/R): 1/32", 1/32"

Rear:
- Camber (L/R): -0.4, -0.23
- Toe (L/R): 1/8", 1/32"
- Thrust angle: -0.10

 

and is the ride good or bad?

 

sucks you can't grease them without loosening the bolt.

 

Great. No more of the rubbing I was previously experiencing when reversing.