First post - first question: No love for Fox 2.0 IFP coilovers?

[robe]

Hello everyone, first post here. I'll start by stating how awesome this forum and it's subscribers are. I've been a 2010 LC200 owner for over 5 years now and have been in and out of this forum over this time reading about all the great installs and seeing all the pictures of your wonderful LCs.

And so, I've been waiting for the day that my first mod would come...and finally it looks likely to happen. I've sent a couple of messages to a few of you in this forum and have already received excellent feedback. Thank you guys for your time and willingness to share.

As most of you likely do, I like to read, learn and contemplate as much as possible before making a move. I believe its a big part of the fun. Which brings me to ask my first question(s). What is the general perception on the Fox 2.0 performance series IFP coilovers? For those who have experience with them, what are your general thoughts?

I have not been able to find very much info on them, so my guess is there may not be a lot to share and that's okay. By the way, I'm also looking at OME but I like the price on the Fox 2.0s given the adjustability.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Snobum72]

Robe - I upgraded to the OME 2" during my build and have been quite pleased. The stock shocks seemed squishy especially when turning.
This is gone since the upgrade - ride is a bit more stiff, but feels solid.
Are you going to be performing other upgrades (bumper/winch)? If so, take that into consideration when setting up your suspension - I have been very pleased with the OME - I have no experience with FOX shocks (they make great mountain bike forks), but I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". Troll here and see what others have done and.. undone.

 

[Chocolate]

Here's the product page. I haven't seen much mention of these on this forum.

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series 2016-2008 Rear Shock - 2.0 Performance Series IFP Smooth Body Shock | FOX

What kind of pricing have you seen on these versus the OME?

 

[NLScooby]

I am running these on the rear only because Bilstein doesn't make a shock that compliments their 6112 fronts that I am running. (I have done the Tundra IFS front conversion). The Fox shocks seem fine - but there is no adjustability to them.

 

[lrowe_csp]

not directly applicable to your question but I am running Fox adjustable 2" reservoirs on the front of my 100 series and they have been great.

 

[Mogwai]

I have them in the rear, the folks I talked to prior had run both OME and Fox 2.0 but on an 80 and 100 and preferred the Fox so I went with them. Spring wise I stuck with the OME 2721s. That said, I think the Fox compared to the Bilstein 6112s that I have in front are not as comfortable and poised over bumps so I'm not sure if it's a spring miss match or just that I'm trying to compare setups in different leagues. Once I get some weight in the back though the setup is awesome. Never rode in an OME setup though I could fairly easily (@RET2) and give you a better comparator. And as Scooby mentioned, they are not adjustable.

What is your intended use for the truck?

 

[linuxgod]

I looked at Fox, King, Icon, OME BP51, OME Nitro, Ironman FCP, and Tough Dog 45mm adjustables. Of the bypass shock options, Fox was the cheapest, though IIRC the 2.0s are not bypass shocks. However Fox, King, and Icon were more expensive than Nitros, Ironman, and TDs and seemed to require more maintenance (i.e. rebuilds every 40-50k miles). I only have one vehicle so I didn't want to deal with having the truck out of commission for a few weeks every few years while I send them off to get rebuilt. FWIW Fox also didn't have a matched rear spring to offer with their rear shocks for the 200 - they basically said go find a spring that suits you.

I had read mixed reviews of Fox on various forums. Seemed to have more complaints about rusting, leaking, etc than King which gave me pause. Fox and King are progressive designs, meaning they start off plush and get firmer the harder you run them, whereas Icons are digressive - stiffer initially but softer as you run them harder. Since the majority of my driving is city with tons of potholes and road imperfections I would have leaned towards a progressive shock.

I considered the BP51s but at the time there were issues with lots of noises in cold temps and since Chicago is cold 6 months of the year I didn't want to deal with that. I believe OME has worked out the issues but between that plus they were double the cost of the TDs plus OME won't say how long they expect them to last before a rebuild (so they could be 40-50k as well) I passed.

Lots of chatter here around OME Nitro being stiffer than they used to be. Some good success with Ironman FCPs, some issues with shocks contacting the front coils, but I had read complaints about the FCPs being jarring depending on the speeds offroad. Tough Dog has 45mm foam cell shocks with adjustable rebound (at least I think that's what the single adjustment knob controls).

Wish I could find it right now but I had an excel file with a price comparison of them. IIRC pricing from least to most expensive was OME Nitro, Ironman FCP, TD 45mm, Fox 2.0s, King, BP51, and Icon. I know many of the manufacturers have multiple options (i.e. TD has 41mm, 45mm, and 51mm options, Ironman has Foam Cell and Foam Cell Pro, Fox has 2.0s and 2.5s, etc)

Ultimately I settled on the TDs. Other than TD providing incorrect rear spring install instructions for the US (they say to put the taller spring on the driver's side in the US, which is wrong) I'm pleased with their performance for the $.

 

[NLScooby]

BTW, I should note that I learned about the Fox option from @Mogwai and that I originally was using OME rear 2722 springs. Immediately I was unhappy and blamed the shocks....but after switching to the 2721's (I am running a "light-weight" cruiser - i.e. stock bumpers and an empty cargo bay most of the time).....the ride is much better.
I will likely plan to upgrade to the complimentary Bilstein rear shock when they become available.....I have heard they are working on it....but for now I'm good.

The Fox shocks ran me about $250 for the pair - which I think is comparable to the OME's if I'm not mistaken.....

 

[robe]

Robe - I upgraded to the OME 2" during my build and have been quite pleased. The stock shocks seemed squishy especially when turning.
This is gone since the upgrade - ride is a bit more stiff, but feels solid.
Are you going to be performing other upgrades (bumper/winch)? If so, take that into consideration when setting up your suspension - I have been very pleased with the OME - I have no experience with FOX shocks (they make great mountain bike forks), but I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". Troll here and see what others have done and.. undone.

Thanks for the feedback. I too believe in you get what you pay for. I've read great things about OME and it certainly sounds like it's excellent value/quality for your dollar. Regarding other upgrades, the next most likely install would be a Kobi rack. Now, that would be further down the road - maybe a year. Haven't fully decided on a front bumper yet, but I can say it's fairly unlikely that I'd get a winch. I really do appreciate your response.

 

[robe]

Here's the product page. I haven't seen much mention of these on this forum.

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series 2016-2008 Rear Shock - 2.0 Performance Series IFP Smooth Body Shock | FOX

What kind of pricing have you seen on these versus the OME?

I really appreciate the link and response. I had already made a visit to their site and have seen videos on their shocks, athough not specifically for an LC200 application. I really like what I see, but it baffles me that there aren't more folks out there with them. That's what prompted me to start this post.

As far as price, OME for roughly $1,000 and Fox for roughly $1300. This includes front and rear. However, since Fox does not offer rear springs, I'd be using OME for that. Thanks again.

 

[robe]

I am running these on the rear only because Bilstein doesn't make a shock that compliments their 6112 fronts that I am running. (I have done the Tundra IFS front conversion). The Fox shocks seem fine - but there is no adjustability to them.

Thanks for the feedback "Scoob". With regards to the adjustability, I was referencing the front coilovers. Fox's information indicates they are adjustable from 0-2". I like that option in case the 2" is too much. By the way, the "Tundra IFS" conversion is quite intriguing. With time and once my first installs materialize, I may have to look into that. Again, I appreciate your time.

 

[robe]

not directly applicable to your question but I am running Fox adjustable 2" reservoirs on the front of my 100 series and they have been great.

Thanks for your note. Although your response is not directly applicable, it does say something for your choice on Fox. I assume that OME makes suspension systems for the 100 series too. Now, when you say adjustable reservoirs, what exactly are you referring to? How long have you had these, and more importantly how do you like them? I really appreciate your time btw.

 

[robe]

I have them in the rear, the folks I talked to prior had run both OME and Fox 2.0 but on an 80 and 100 and preferred the Fox so I went with them. Spring wise I stuck with the OME 2721s. That said, I think the Fox compared to the Bilstein 6112s that I have in front are not as comfortable and poised over bumps so I'm not sure if it's a spring miss match or just that I'm trying to compare setups in different leagues. Once I get some weight in the back though the setup is awesome. Never rode in an OME setup though I could fairly easily (@RET2) and give you a better comparator. And as Scooby mentioned, they are not adjustable.

What is your intended use for the truck?

Well, what I'm currently considering is the Fox 2.0 IFP coilovers up front and the 2.0 shocks in the rear. After reading a lot of posts and talking to the Slee folks (great folks by the way) and the Fox folks, I'm also leaning on OME 2721s. My LC is my daily driver - in the great bayou city of Houston (it's really Katy but the lines are blurred), so comfort is important to an extent. We go camping once or twice a year, and I'm an avid mountain biker, so it's very practical being able to carry my bike and all my gear during the work week for afternoon rides and not have to worry too much about my bike getting stolen or being messed with. My LC doesn't see very much off-road, however, the intention is to do some off-road/overland type driving hopefully soon - nothing too gnarly though. I appreciate your response and would like to hear why you chose the 2721s and what you think of them so far? Also, I understand they give quite a bit of lift despite the fact that OME indicates zero lift. Was that your experience? If so, how many inches did you get and have they settled to a lower stance since your install?

 

[robe]

I looked at Fox, King, Icon, OME BP51, OME Nitro, Ironman FCP, and Tough Dog 45mm adjustables. Of the bypass shock options, Fox was the cheapest, though IIRC the 2.0s are not bypass shocks. However Fox, King, and Icon were more expensive than Nitros, Ironman, and TDs and seemed to require more maintenance (i.e. rebuilds every 40-50k miles). I only have one vehicle so I didn't want to deal with having the truck out of commission for a few weeks every few years while I send them off to get rebuilt. FWIW Fox also didn't have a matched rear spring to offer with their rear shocks for the 200 - they basically said go find a spring that suits you.

I had read mixed reviews of Fox on various forums. Seemed to have more complaints about rusting, leaking, etc than King which gave me pause. Fox and King are progressive designs, meaning they start off plush and get firmer the harder you run them, whereas Icons are digressive - stiffer initially but softer as you run them harder. Since the majority of my driving is city with tons of potholes and road imperfections I would have leaned towards a progressive shock.

I considered the BP51s but at the time there were issues with lots of noises in cold temps and since Chicago is cold 6 months of the year I didn't want to deal with that. I believe OME has worked out the issues but between that plus they were double the cost of the TDs plus OME won't say how long they expect them to last before a rebuild (so they could be 40-50k as well) I passed.

Lots of chatter here around OME Nitro being stiffer than they used to be. Some good success with Ironman FCPs, some issues with shocks contacting the front coils, but I had read complaints about the FCPs being jarring depending on the speeds offroad. Tough Dog has 45mm foam cell shocks with adjustable rebound (at least I think that's what the single adjustment knob controls).

Wish I could find it right now but I had an excel file with a price comparison of them. IIRC pricing from least to most expensive was OME Nitro, Ironman FCP, TD 45mm, Fox 2.0s, King, BP51, and Icon. I know many of the manufacturers have multiple options (i.e. TD has 41mm, 45mm, and 51mm options, Ironman has Foam Cell and Foam Cell Pro, Fox has 2.0s and 2.5s, etc)

Ultimately I settled on the TDs. Other than TD providing incorrect rear spring install instructions for the US (they say to put the taller spring on the driver's side in the US, which is wrong) I'm pleased with their performance for the $.

This is excellent feedback linuxgod....thanks for taking the time to share - in particular the Fox rusting and leaking bit. I'm familiar with the names of most of the suspensions you referenced for the exception of TD. Where can I find more information on this?

 

[linuxgod]

This is excellent feedback linuxgod....thanks for taking the time to share - in particular the Fox rusting and leaking bit. I'm familiar with the names of most of the suspensions you referenced for the exception of TD. Where can I find more information on this?

I posted this thread a while back (New shock/strut suggestions for 2008 200?).

I found this very useful in comparing 9 different shocks including Biltstein B6, Tough Dog 41mm, TJM XGS, OME Nitro, and Koni Heavy Track.

http://www.euro4x4parts.com/images/4wd_action_165_tough_dog.pdf

The review is by 4WD Action | Australian 4WD Action. They really like the Tough Dog 41mm foam cell. Koni, Biltstein, and OME all got favorable ratings in many areas as well (Koni's did better in comfort than OME, OME did better in ride control, etc).

None of the fancier bypass shocks (BP51, Icon, King, or Fox) are on the list and no idea the age of the article but it lists the Tough Dog 41mm as the largest bore available, and I know TD has 45mm and 53mm options now so I suspect it's a few years old. Too bad they didn't also rate a set of factory Toyota shocks for comparison

My summary is that there are basically 3 levels of shocks/strut options:

• Cheap, harsh, floaty in the $500. Rancho, TJM, etc. Factory probably fits in this category as well
• Mid-tier with better control and comfort in the $1000-1500 range. TD, OME Nitro, Koni, etc
• High performance with virtually unlimited tweaking for maximum comfort and control in the $2500-3500 range. BP51, King, etc.

Edit: With a bit of searching it looks like the article is from 2010.

Going from the stock LC suspension to TD was not night and day difference, but it's definitely an improvement, particularly with much less body roll and sway on bouncy roads and trails at lower speeds.

@reevesci is the US reseller for TD and is very knowledgeable as well.

 

[NLScooby]

I posted this thread a while back (New shock/strut suggestions for 2008 200?).



Going from the stock LC suspension to TD was not night and day difference, but it's definitely an improvement, particularly with much less body roll and sway on bouncy roads and trails at lower speeds.

@reevesci is the US reseller for TD and is very knowledgeable as well.

Don't forget the added bonus of reduced diving during braking!

 

[robe]

I posted this thread a while back (New shock/strut suggestions for 2008 200?).



Going from the stock LC suspension to TD was not night and day difference, but it's definitely an improvement, particularly with much less body roll and sway on bouncy roads and trails at lower speeds.

@reevesci is the US reseller for TD and is very knowledgeable as well.

Thanks for the information and your time linuxgod.

 

[surfingpl]

I have Fox suspension (2.5 dsc) on my 200 and so far, it's awesome. Only been about a month though...I plan to keep the forum updated. I think the 2.0 IFP's don't get alot of love (yet) for the 200 because they are the lower price point in the fox line. Fox generally being a higher end (in terms of price) product, and this specific application (LC200) certainly being higher end. As the 200 gets more attainable, lower cost parts and accessories will get more traction - at least to the extent that a limited production model like the 200 can support. In a few years, the IFPs might see more adoption. I have personally owned and used most brands of high end off road suspension - sway-a-way, king, bilstein, fox, et al., and they all have their ups and downs - get it? The Fox factory in San Diego is very impressive, their pedigree, and their support for the off road community is undeniable.

 

[robe]

I have Fox suspension (2.5 dsc) on my 200 and so far, it's awesome. Only been about a month though...I plan to keep the forum updated. I think the 2.0 IFP's don't get alot of love (yet) for the 200 because they are the lower price point in the fox line. Fox generally being a higher end (in terms of price) product, and this specific application (LC200) certainly being higher end. As the 200 gets more attainable, lower cost parts and accessories will get more traction - at least to the extent that a limited production model like the 200 can support. In a few years, the IFPs might see more adoption. I have personally owned and used most brands of high end off road suspension - sway-a-way, king, bilstein, fox, et al., and they all have their ups and downs - get it? The Fox factory in San Diego is very impressive, their pedigree, and their support for the off road community is undeniable.

Thanks surfingpl and very fitting reference to the ups and downs - good one! I'm certainly leaning towards the IFPs with an OME set up a close second option. I'm in no rush, so I'll continue to weigh my options. I really like your observations. That's a perspective I hadn't considered and is very helpful. Looking forward to hearing more about your setup. Thanks for taking your time to provide your feedback.