May have a new shock option soon!
- Thread starter Gottagetone
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Just throwing this out there...i am no expert, but do you think that having very dissimliar valved shocks on front and rear could be adding to the issues that you are feeling with the Fox's? just an idea...
It's a good thought. The Fox's are too soft. I would not want them on all 4 corners of my 100. I don't think it's the case of having two different shocks on my truck, I think the Fox's are just too soft. Anybody would admit it.
This is some good feedback that maybe Fox should be aware of. If it is just a matter of revalving them for a heavier truck, then that should be simple to do. I've ridden in rb4638's truck and it is plush, great for the road, but I can see how off-road they could feel a little soft if you are used to OEM's.
2000UZJ, remind me how much your setup weighs? And I'm assuming the 866's are the 'heavy' springs? It may just be that the stock Fox valving is not matched to your vehicle weight and spring rate as there's no correct universal valving setup.
Absolutely this can be the case. The suspension should be a tuned system set for the vehicle and not a mix and match independently per axle.
Absolutely this can be the case. The suspension should be a tuned system set for the vehicle and not a mix and match independently per axle.
I installed my fronts this weekend. So far so good, I was hoping for a soft yet controlled ride and that's what I got. I will report back when I get the rears on. I hope to get that done tonight.
I'm running 863's and a heavy bumper, so it'll be a good test.
I'm running 863's and a heavy bumper, so it'll be a good test.
Interested in this....same setup but going to move to slee heavies.
866's are progressive rate coils, IIRC. I believe that would result in a bit of 'pillow top' in the first part of any force put on it (bumps, dips, etc...).
Interested in this as well. Sounds like our rear ends are pretty similar..
Petrotk what kind of weight do you have on your front end?
stock torsion barsThe rear of my truck is 100% stock and I do not even carry a spare tire. All my weight is up-front(ARB, 12K winch, lights) below (skids), and up-top (roof rack). Past the rear doors my truck is 100% stock. My 866 springs have ~100K on them. It may be time to replace them, I'm not sure. It may be the progressive coil that is causing this issue. Maybe I'll throw 200lbs of weight in the back and "stiffen" the springs up a bit.
With all the weight upfront I have a larger shock to control the weight, I figured with the much lighter rear end a slightly softer shock would provide very similar ride front to rear.
unless your truck is jacked up in that pic, you show you are using 50% of up travel but there's not telling how much down travel. It's probably very little. I'm really looking forward to a cushy ride, maybe it'll smooth my 863's out.
I was unable to get my rear shocks off last night, I'm just going to cut them off now. I'm not sure why I didn't just do that in the first place.
The Fox's are easy to install and probably remove as well since they have an allen wrench hole at the top of the stem.
I was unable to get my rear shocks off last night, I'm just going to cut them off now. I'm not sure why I didn't just do that in the first place.
The Fox's are easy to install and probably remove as well since they have an allen wrench hole at the top of the stem.
After riding in Nicks truck last night, I was surprised at how mushy the rear was and could understand why he would want a much more responsive shock. While going over small potholes, speed bumps, poorly maintained stretches of highway, and hard braking, the fox setup had the rear of the truck bouncing multiple times. While the front profenders took the same "obstacles" quickly, comfortably, and without making you think you're on a boat. If nick had fox on all 4 corners, id refuse to ride with him because I'd probably get seasick in the first 5 minutes.
I highly doubt having profenders on the front is having anything to do with the ride in the rear...
Putting 600lbs of s*** in the trunk may stop the rear from bouncing as much. It'll also cut down on the already abysmal 14ish mpg.
The only thing I can think of is that the springs may be wearing out, and the much more likely, the shocks are just soft as s*** and they need to be tuned somehow to give a much more responsive ride or sent back in order to purchase a better shock.
I highly doubt having profenders on the front is having anything to do with the ride in the rear...
Putting 600lbs of s*** in the trunk may stop the rear from bouncing as much. It'll also cut down on the already abysmal 14ish mpg.
The only thing I can think of is that the springs may be wearing out, and the much more likely, the shocks are just soft as s*** and they need to be tuned somehow to give a much more responsive ride or sent back in order to purchase a better shock.
i don't think it is fair to assess these shocks when used with 100k coils and disproportionate weight in front. definitely try some weight in back but the only real way to test this would be to swap out the coils or to hear the same thing from others with a different set up.
the front weight may be partially unloading the rear coils so he is always in the soft part of the progressive coils even going over a bump. if the truck has been riding like that for a while the soft part of the coils may be even softer. the foxes may not be stiff enough to dampen that, but could still be fine with newer stiffer coils or a more balanced ride.
the front weight may be partially unloading the rear coils so he is always in the soft part of the progressive coils even going over a bump. if the truck has been riding like that for a while the soft part of the coils may be even softer. the foxes may not be stiff enough to dampen that, but could still be fine with newer stiffer coils or a more balanced ride.
Semlin,
You make a very good statement. The L-Shocks rode a little harsh, and handled the rear end very well. Until recently when their condition went downhill very quickly. As soon as I put the Fox shocks in the sloppy handling and bouncy rear end was an issue. My coils may be old, I'll look into a replacement. I'm lined up for a rear bumper next summer. I'll throw in increments of 100lbs up to 300lbs and see if that changes the ride. My truck doesn't feel nose heavy, however I tend to hit the rear bump-stops more than the fronts. Thoughts on that issue?
You make a very good statement. The L-Shocks rode a little harsh, and handled the rear end very well. Until recently when their condition went downhill very quickly. As soon as I put the Fox shocks in the sloppy handling and bouncy rear end was an issue. My coils may be old, I'll look into a replacement. I'm lined up for a rear bumper next summer. I'll throw in increments of 100lbs up to 300lbs and see if that changes the ride. My truck doesn't feel nose heavy, however I tend to hit the rear bump-stops more than the fronts. Thoughts on that issue?
With the rear end already under damped, more weight will only exacerbate the issue. More weight itself will require more damping control. Additionally, it will put the rear suspension into the higher spring rate portion of the 866 springs, which again demands more damping.
It is an interesting (unfair) test case for the fox rear shocks though. Semlin has a point on the front biased weight though, which causes leverage about the front axle, effectively lifting the rear. It could be that the fox shocks are setup for soft rebound dampening, which further exacerbates the issue. Then combine that with a relatively firmer damped front shock, and the fox’s start looking flabby.
Though I will say it’s odd as the foxes do seem to be under damped from the factory for this application in general.
2000UZJ, do you notice any redeeming firmer damping quality on hard hits (high speed strokes) in the rear. Does it firm up at all at speed vs low speed parking lot situations?
It is an interesting (unfair) test case for the fox rear shocks though. Semlin has a point on the front biased weight though, which causes leverage about the front axle, effectively lifting the rear. It could be that the fox shocks are setup for soft rebound dampening, which further exacerbates the issue. Then combine that with a relatively firmer damped front shock, and the fox’s start looking flabby.
Though I will say it’s odd as the foxes do seem to be under damped from the factory for this application in general.
2000UZJ, do you notice any redeeming firmer damping quality on hard hits (high speed strokes) in the rear. Does it firm up at all at speed vs low speed parking lot situations?