Swapping to fox

Right now I have a set of icon 2.0 RR shocks in the rear with a 1.5” block. And the ride is somewhat rough/ jarring. My plan is to get fox 2.0 RR for the rear along with a AAL. Will I see much of a difference with that plan? Im hoping the digressive valving on the icons are the issue and the progressive fox shocks will be better for my driving style.

Also, if I were to get the shocks for a 2-3” lift would they be ok with a 1.5” AAL or should I go on up to the 2”? I’m kinda stuck between going with 1.5 or 2” for the rear so I’m thinking a 2-3” shock would be a good idea to cover my future plans.

 

IMO, the V6 third gens benefit greatly from a proper 2.5” rear shock. The 2” setup you’re discussing would be great for a 4cyl 5lug, though!

Leaf springs are a compromise between load capacity and ride quality, and will usually be the limiting factor in a truck’s rear end suspension performance. Since your goal is a smoother ride, I would also encourage you to skip the AAL and get a full deaver or Icon RXT leaf pack. AALs almost always stiffen/roughen the ride too much for my liking.

If those suggestions aren’t financially feasible for you I would recommend swapping your existing block for an AAL, and wait to replace the rear shocks you have until they reach the recommended service interval.

 

You will definitely see a big ride quality improvement btw a Fox vs Icon, especially if they are custom valved. @Walkdog has some great advice for the rear, we actually really like the Deaver J66 pack, if you want a 1" lift and a super smooth ride. Pair those leafs with a properly tuned Fox 2.0 or 2.5, you will be golden.

What do you plan on doing for the front coilovers? If you have Icons up front also, you really should consider a matching pair of tuned shocks to work with the rear.
How do you plan on using the truck mostly? Street only, some off-road, trails, desert?