Fox Life!!! Anything Related to Fox Suspension

I used a c-clamp and sockets as a make soft press to swap pretty effectively.

 

You'll need to swap them. Even after swapped installing the shock is a PITA, you might need to bend the lower show mounts to fit them in. I don't have a good press so I used this method to get the bushings in with a floor jack, was pretty straightforward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYueBjLnBms

 

I don't know enough to say it's "wrong" to bend the lower shock mounts, but I got mine in by using a rubber mallet and very slightly trimming that black bushing. I would be worried about bending the shock mount and fatiguing the metal.

 

Didn't bend mine, powered through to get it in and it was a giant pain in the ass. Think I read earlier in the thread where others did the bend. But yeah, I wouldn't suggest it unless all else fails. Trimming the bushing sounds like a better approach.

 

Finally made some time to install my Fox 2.5 extended res. with JBA high caster UCA’s. Install went well. Drove it about 100 miles then got it aligned.

A couple tricks:
1-Removing UCA Long Bolt. Bend the inner fender seam just enough that the UCA bolt head passes. Then use a 10” 3/8 socket extension to tap it out. This method I barely had to bend the metal.

2- Install the the front “wheel well apron” before the fox reservoir bracket. The bracket cover up the lowest snap.

3- If installing by yourself like I did. I slid a 3/8 socket extension in back hole to hold the UCA in line and also finger tightened the ball joint to the spindle to help hold the uca in place.

 

Did someone say Fox Shocks???

 

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the help. The video was a big help as well. This is why I love this forum! Probably would have cursed my life had I found out under the truck and unprepared.

Upgraded my front to Fox 2.5's last summer and they went on fine. Finally getting around to addressing the rear.

 

Those need to be pressed out and the correct size installed. You received bad advice.

 

Maybe Fox should start supplying the correct size lower bushing for the vehicle. I mean the extra bushing that was supplied fits the shock properly and the ID is the correct size for the bolt but the bushing is too wide and does not fit properly between the mounting tabs. It shouldn't have to be forced on brand new shocks. It's not a one size fits all kind of deal.

 

who makes that?

 

Try again.

 

RJ fabrication. @robrjfab on insta. That's their number 2 of 2 cantilever setup on my truck.

 

i pressed them out and installed the correct size, they are still 1mm too wide; good advice, works at Fox

 

It’s interesting seeing others have this same problem. Mine only gave me trouble on the drivers side, so I thought it might have just been a random thing.

 

Took the day off and finished installing my lift kit. Fox 2.5 coilovers up front, 2.0 RR and 3 leaf Headstrong AAL out back. Everything was pretty easy peasy but the rears. I'd done them first about two weeks ago but had to dismount the lowers for the AAL install.


What a bitch! Got tired of reliving the lower shock mount nightmare and broke our the dremel and shaved the bushing and sleeve down until it fit like it should. Then bolted it right up.

Fox needs to seriously reevaluate the rear lower mount situation...

 

The amount of preload for a given truck is unique to the weight of the truck and the owner's preference for ride hide (i.e., you have to install it and adjust it accordingly). Every truck will have a different amount of preload and will depend on 3 main factors: 1) coil spring rate 2) lift height 3) truck weight. As you add weight to the truck, the amount of preload will go up for a given lift height at a constant spring rate.

The 600 lb/in coils are a good spring rate for most STOCK Tacomas even with about 100-300 lbs of added armor/bumpers, etc. Also, you ALWAYS want a small amount of preload to a spring with a coilover and should aim to have about 3 inches of compression of a mounted spring AT RIDE HIDE (i.e. the spring is compressed about 1/2 of its entire compressible length). This will allow the spring to have an equal amount of up & down travel when driving down the road and allow your expensive aftermarket shocks to work fully to give a smooth ride. Many people opted for the heavier spring rates to get the most amount of lift but then therefore limit the amount of down travel to an inch or 2 and make for an extremely stiff ride (also because it is a stiffer spring, the spring less able to compress on the down travel).

You can not determine the amount of preload measured from the visible threads (the amount of threads showing will be a different preload setting for each coilover).

PRELOAD = (spring free length) - (spring length when shock fully extended)

The "(spring free length)" in Fox coilovers for Tacoma are 13" (King's are 14"). Once your coilover is installed jack up the truck so the tire is off the ground and the coil over is fully extended. Measure from the top of the coil spring (NOT the spring adjustable collar) to the bottom of coil spring. This is your "(spring length when shock fully extended)". If it measures 11", your PRELOAD would be 2".

Again, every truck will have a different lift height for a given coil over and specific preload so you just have to install them to see where your ride height is adjust accordingly. For most Fox 2.5 coilovers, the max preload is around 2 1/4"-2.5"

 

Here is a good general guideline for the spring rates that I copied from ACCUTUNE's article (see below).

The coil spring length found in the Fox 2.5 coilovers are usually 13" (King's are 14") but you can purchase 14" 600 lb/in, 650 lb/in, or 700 lb/in coils and exchange them in your coilover if your current set up is too soft due to increased weight on the truck.

They can be purchased on speedwaymotors.com or wheelersoffroad.com:

Eibach 1400.300.0650S Offroad Coilover Spring, 650 lbs/in, 3.0 ID
Eibach 1400.300.0600S Offroad Coilover Spring, 600 lbs/in, 3.0 ID



Spring Rate Recommendations for 2-2.5” lift:


13” x 600 lb/in Spring:
Standard on:

-Fox Tacoma Coilovers

-Mods: sliders, skid plates

-Min installed length: 11-3/8” 1


14” x 600 lb/in Spring:
Standard on:

-Fox 4Runner

-King Tacoma & 4Runner

-Mods: sliders, skid plates, light bumper, & light winch

-Min installed length: 11-3/8” 1


14” x 650 lb/in Spring:
Optional on:

-All Fox (pay for spring)

-All King (free, sometimes longer lead time)

-Mods: sliders, skid plates, steel bumper, winch, dual batteries

-Min installed length: 11-3/4” 1


14” x 700 lb/in Spring:
Optional on:

-All Fox (pay for spring)

-All King (free, sometimes longer lead time)

-Mods: sliders, skid plates, steel bumper, winch, dual batteries, bed rack, roof top tent, additional armor (weight?)

-Min installed length: 11-3/4” 1

 

Perfect!! Ya know i never saw this on their site!! Thanks!!!
Looks like i can still get away with the 14” 600 with an aluminum bumper and winch & sliders.. up to 400lbs if additional weight..

 

For those running Icon RXT rear leaf springs, which shocks and bump stops are you using? Right now I have RXT leaves config 2 with Archive garage ubolt flip (older version, 1" spacer built in, measures 1 5/8" from top of leaf pack to bottom of super bump) Fox 2.0 LSC 9.1" travel and I am looking to get more bump travel and use the last 1 1/2" travel of my shocks. Anyone have a better bump stop setup or running other leaf packs with more lift but still a similar spring rate? Ideally I want something that will ride okay when empty (sliders, recovery gear, hilift) but that I can put 300-400 lbs and still be able to handle logging roads with potholes and washboard.

where it sits loaded with 200-300 lbs:


and unloaded:

Photos taken after definitely hitting bump stops multiple times.

 

I just installed wheelers flip kit & bump stops today on option 2.. previously i was on option 1 with factory bumps.. i had about 4.5” of shock shaft travel (unloaded) and 4.5” (fox 2.0 and i think it’s 9.3” of travel) to the bump stop. Which wasn’t good I bottomed the shock out before i hit the bump stop. That’s why i installed bigger bumps. i haven’t taken any measurements with new bumps.. but a rule of thumb (from my understanding) is you’d want to hit your bumps before bottoming out on your shock. So an inch or so on the bump is fine