Levelling with Fox Shocks

Newm · March 25, 2015

Wow!

Are those the 2.0 coilovers, part #985-02-018?

Steel or Alum. UCA?

Yes they are the #985-02-018's

Aluminium UCA's.

They really are pretty impressive in person...very happy so far with the quality. Now I just need to find the time to install and see how they perform.

CptMcSaug · March 25, 2015

You could send them my way and I'll tell you how they perform

Newm · March 25, 2015

You could send them my way and I'll tell you how they perform

While I appreciate your eagerness to help a fellow GMTrucks member out....I think I got this one.

thrasher2010 · April 3, 2015

Any updates!!!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Spurshot · April 3, 2015

Newm?

Newm · April 3, 2015

I got them put on last weekend and have put close to a couple hundred miles on them. Install is pretty easy but I will say I had quite a bit of adjusting that I was not expecting to have to do.

When talking with Fox theses were sold as coming out of the box preset for 2" of lift over stock. After installing them the front of the truck was only raised about 5/8" and after sitting overnight that was reduced to about 1/4" of lift. Somewhat disappointed I talked with Fox about the best way to adjust the preload collar and was told that totally removing the coilover and to use a spring compressor then adjust the collar as needed was the prefered method...I was also told I can do it on the truck but to get it on stands to release some of the spring compression but this was the #2 method of adjustment.

Not having a spring compressor on hand I figured I would try to adjust while on the truck. I was able to get about 5 full turns on the adjusting collar before getting tight enough that I was worried about galling the shock body and preload collar so I stopped.

Those extra 5 turns resulted in a front end lift of about 1 1/8" over stock. I really want to get it just a tad higher and closer to 2" of lift but I wanted to drive it a bit to let the spring settle in some and see if it drops anymore.....that and I was tired of messing with it last weekend.

I will say that the ride is greatly improved over the factory Ranchos. Feels more stable and definitely more compliant.. Small rumble strips on the road honestly feel close enough to stock that I can't say it's any better but anything larger than a rumble strip these are head and shoulders above what I had. The bigger the hit or disruption the better these feel.

Overall I am happy with my decision to purchase these but just wish they would have come set at least close to the advertised lift of 2"....but I also understand that's how it goes sometimes once you start modding something.

My drive is on a slight slope so it's a little hard to tell but here it sits just about 1 1/8" raise over stock.

As much as I don't like those cheap strut spring compressors you can rent at the auto parts store....I am thinking I could get the truck on stands again and use those to compress 3 or 4 coils in the middle of the spring to alleviate some pressure and get a few more turns of the preload collar. Anyone smarter than I have any thoughts on this?

stamgd1909 · April 3, 2015

these are nice, will they work with a 7-9 inch lift kit instead of the Bilstein's?

Spurshot · April 4, 2015

I got them put on last weekend and have put close to a couple hundred miles on them. Install is pretty easy but I will say I had quite a bit of adjusting that I was not expecting to have to do.

When talking with Fox theses were sold as coming out of the box preset for 2" of lift over stock. After installing them the front of the truck was only raised about 5/8" and after sitting overnight that was reduced to about 1/4" of lift. Somewhat disappointed I talked with Fox about the best way to adjust the preload collar and was told that totally removing the coilover and to use a spring compressor then adjust the collar as needed was the prefered method...I was also told I can do it on the truck but to get it on stands to release some of the spring compression but this was the #2 method of adjustment.

Not having a spring compressor on hand I figured I would try to adjust while on the truck. I was able to get about 5 full turns on the adjusting collar before getting tight enough that I was worried about galling the shock body and preload collar so I stopped.

Those extra 5 turns resulted in a front end lift of about 1 1/8" over stock. I really want to get it just a tad higher and closer to 2" of lift but I wanted to drive it a bit to let the spring settle in some and see if it drops anymore.....that and I was tired of messing with it last weekend.

I will say that the ride is greatly improved over the factory Ranchos. Feels more stable and definitely more compliant.. Small rumble strips on the road honestly feel close enough to stock that I can't say it's any better but anything larger than a rumble strip these are head and shoulders above what I had. The bigger the hit or disruption the better these feel.

Overall I am happy with my decision to purchase these but just wish they would have come set at least close to the advertised lift of 2"....but I also understand that's how it goes sometimes once you start modding something.

My drive is on a slight slope so it's a little hard to tell but here it sits just about 1 1/8" raise over stock.

As much as I don't like those cheap strut spring compressors you can rent at the auto parts store....I am thinking I could get the truck on stands again and use those to compress 3 or 4 coils in the middle of the spring to alleviate some pressure and get a few more turns of the preload collar. Anyone smarter than I have any thoughts on this?

I'd put some lube on the threads before any cranking.

thrasher2010 · May 2, 2015

I got them put on last weekend and have put close to a couple hundred miles on them. Install is pretty easy but I will say I had quite a bit of adjusting that I was not expecting to have to do.

what part number did you use for the Fox Coilovers? I had these on my last truck and they raised the truck the 2 inches in the front.. It was more at first but after the alinement it settled Kind of weird that these didn't do that, as for the adjusting them, you want to take them off the truck first, if you try to do it while they are still in the truck this could happen ..

I tried to adjust mine while on the truck and I guess I didn't get the locking screw in far enough, it was as tight as I could get it but, I guess that wasn't good enough.. I drove around for about a day, and the next I went to go over uneven payment with a small drop off and that happens.. The looking collar fell all the way to the bottoms of the coilover.. I was pissed but it was my fault ..

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Colt54qg · October 25, 2015

I talked to the same guy at Fox today.

He said the 2.0's are actually going to ride smoother around town while the larger 2.5's will ride rougher in town but be much better offroad. He did actually give me part #'s for the 2.5's that would work with the Stock Aluminum control arms. I still think the 2.0's would be an improvement over the stock rancho's offroad as well. The part # depends on if you have steel or aluminum control arms so it's good to check and make sure you order the right shocks.

As for the rears, I asked about the difference between the 2.0's and the 2.5 Reservoir shocks. The only benefit he said is if you do a lot of towing, hauling or offroading. Then the 2.5's just don't fade as fast.

Since my truck is my daily driver and only sees offroading 10-20% of the time, it sounds like the 2.0's are the way to go for me. The 2.5's aren't worth the extra cost (which is like double).

Now I just need to wear out my tires because I want to level the truck and go with new tires at the same time.

Where did you buy them from?

Travis Whitmore · November 30, 2015

Just installed mine and the same thing. Only 1/2" of lift and they haven't even settled yet. Now FOX is telling me some of the aluminum control arms were made in a similar shape as the steel ones. Their coil overs for the aluminum control arm trucks are 1/2" shorter. He said some of the aluminum arm trucks may need the longer assembly made for the steel arm trucks. I just sent them over a bunch of photos of my control arms and they're going to look them over and see if they can figure it out. He said not to crank up the pre-load too much as it will hurt the ride. Not sure at this point if they're going to ship me the longer ones or what but hopefully they'll help me get it sorted. I had a 2" leveling block installed before and now my truck is almost back to stock height, but my wallet is $1000 lighter (front and rear shocks).

AUJeeper · December 20, 2015

I just installed these on my 2015 LTZ. Easy install and great ride. I went with 285/65/18 BFG KO2's

RBPNosaj · January 3, 2016

I just installed these on my 2015 LTZ. Easy install and great ride. I went with 285/65/18 BFG KO2's

I have a 2016 with steel control arms and the stock ranchos. Is it level and did you have to adjust them any? How much better ride is it? thanks

AUJeeper · January 3, 2016

The truck is dead level. I have the steel control arms as well-pay attention when ordering as there are two different part numbers-the ones for aluminum control arms are shorter. Don't know how to explain how much better the ride is as that is subjective but Inwill say I now want to order the fox rear shocks as I can tell a significant difference between the ride of the Ranchos and the Fox. I have been very pleased. Ordered my from performance lifts for about $100 less than I saw elsewhere.