Fox 2.0 arrived today!

Travis Whitmore · November 30, 2015

TeeDub, I received Fox 2.0 (983-02-086) and awaiting for the install later this week. Interesting observation, if we both indeed have the same part number, I counted 19 threads on my and 29 threads on the pics you provided for your 2.0.

I contacted the retailer / shop I ordered the Fox 2.0 from and asked for some parameters I regard to height and thread count. This is the answer I received. It's right on point and makes complete sense.

"There is really no way to tell how much adjustment is needed to achieve a specific lift height on any given truck."

"This coilover fits a standard cab, double cab and crew cab truck. It fits every engine option and series from the most stripped down work truck to the most fully loaded model. The shocks fit 2wd and 4x4 models. The problem is different trucks have very different weights over the wheels. The lighter in weight the truck is the more lift the coilover will provide at the same setting versus a heavier truck."

"The coilover spring preload can be adjusted after the shocks have been installed. You do not need to remove the shocks from the vehicle to adjust the lift height. Our advice is to install the coilover as-is and drive it around the neighborhood. The coil springs will usually lose a very small amount of height as they take their set. You can then adjust the coilover spring preload to achieve your desired lift height. Once the ride height has been set you can get the truck re-aligned."

Let us know how you made out with the preset adjustment. Heck,it may same me some time and effort if it raises your truck too much or not.

Cheers

The part number on mine is: 985-02-018 and is listed as coil over for 2014-2015 with aluminum suspension. Supposedly the ones for the aluminum suspension trucks are 1/2" shorter to assist with install. Not sure why but that is what they told me. Mine have 20 threads showing on the shock body which equates to roughly 2" of threads. Going to install them tomorrow after I drop my son at school so we shall see. Should be pretty easy since I already had it apart to install the lift blocks and I know what is involved with pulling them out.

Travis Whitmore · November 30, 2015

Be sure to put some red loctite on them

They don't say to do this in the directions. I'd consider using blue, but not red.

Travis Whitmore · November 30, 2015

Part number for these shocks? Those for 2014-2016 silverado with aluminium control arms?

I'm willing to order this too.

http://performancelifts.com/fox-2014-silverado-sierra-coilover-985-02-018.html This is where I ordered mine from. Rears weren't on sale but the fronts were $100 off. This is the link to the ones used on trucks with aluminum upper and lower control arms.

Travis Whitmore · November 30, 2015

Well, just finished up. Passenger side took like 20 minutes, driver's side was a pain in the ass. Had to loosen up more stuff on that side to get the coil over in place, then the holes wouldn't line up to thread the bolts into the bottom of the strut assembly. I fought it for about 20 minutes then thought to myself, the thing must rotate some how (the angle wasn't allowing the bolts to go in. Pulled it back out, used some large pliers and low and behold the part did rotate, making it so I could thread the bolts in.

Now, the bad. I had the 1" lower strut blocks before that lifted the front exactly 2" on my truck. When I called Fox customer support today before starting the project they told me these 2.0's come from the factory set to give a 2" lift. Not true on my crew cab. Before and after measurements the FOX coil overs lowered my truck exactly 1.5" making it only 1/2" higher than it was stock and they haven't even had time to settle yet. The coil spring compressor I rented at the local auto parts store won't work as the claws are too thick to even go between the coils on the Fox struts since they're much closer together than the stock coil spring. Now need to return it, go to Harbor Freight and buy one of their cheap ones with thinner claws, pull it apart and attempt to adjust them so I get close to 2" of lift. Whew!

As for the ride they do seem much better than the Ranchos. Smoother and handle bumps much better.

Jimmy W · November 30, 2015

They don't say to do this in the directions. I'd consider using blue, but not red.

Dont matter to me bro it is yours to let come apart!!!

Travis Whitmore · November 30, 2015

Just got off the phone with FOX and of course they're baffled as to why I only got 1/2" of lift. Now have to take pictures of everything and shoot it over to them to look at. Damn.

Dont matter to me bro it is yours to let come apart!!!

FOX actually told me blue not red.

Travis Whitmore · November 30, 2015

Spoke to the sales rep at Fox a bit ago and he said they should be 2" out of the box. He, of course, is baffled by why these only lifted my truck 1/2". Requested a bunch of photos, so I sent them over. He did say that at some point GMC started casting the aluminum control arms to be the same as the steel and this could be the issue. He said if anything people say the coil overs lifted their truck more than the advertised height. Now I have to wait and see what they say. He suggested I don't mess with trying to adjust them until they figure out if mine does in fact need the coil overs that are for steel control arm trucks. The part for the steel control arm trucks are 1/2" longer than the ones for the aluminum control arm trucks, which would be 1" more lift.

What a PITA.

Gc773 · November 30, 2015

I was of hoping for a success story meeting your needs. What was it on the drivers side that you had to do differently than the passenger side besides rotating the bottom bolt hole assembly? I was going to attempt the install today to save a few bucks, but decided to wait your outcome instead. How many threads do you think you may need to go up? Actually we have different part numbers as mine are the steel control arms with the longer overall shock length, so I guess it's a crap shoot at best. You've got way more patience than I. Good luck, keep us posted. Cheers

gabekalp · November 30, 2015

post some pics.

Travis Whitmore · November 30, 2015

I was of hoping for a success story meeting your needs. What was it on the drivers side that you had to do differently than the passenger side besides rotating the bottom bolt hole assembly? I was going to attempt the install today to save a few bucks, but decided to wait your outcome instead. How many threads do you think you may need to go up? Actually we have different part numbers as mine are the steel control arms with the longer overall shock length, so I guess it's a crap shoot at best. You've got way more patience than I. Good luck, keep us posted. Cheers

I had to loosen the sway bar end link, then jack up both sides of the truck to give me a little more slack to get it in there. Funny thing is I remember when I did the leveling blocks the passenger side was a breeze too. Driver's side wouldn't have been bad if I'd realized up front that that lower shock eyelet could be rotated. I spent a shit load of time trying to get the bolt to thread and it just wouldn't. As soon as I rotated that bottom part a small bit everything went back together just like it should. My recommendation to you would be to jack up the front of the truck and put both sides on jack stands. I was doing mine one side at a time.

"Steve" at FOX confirmed he got my email and photos now I just have to wait and see what they want to do.

Travis Whitmore · December 1, 2015

just got done re-installing my spacers and Rancho shocks. This sucks. Nothing like spending $1000 and having it not work. Hopefully Fox gets back to me tomorrow and tells me what they're prepared to do. I picked up a different spring compressor but it still didn't seem to work. The coil on the Fox is so much smaller and the coils are closer together than an OEM spring you can barely get the hooks around them. When I did and kept cranking on it the spring didn't seem to even compress. Finally gave up, re-installed my old stuff, packed up the Fox stuff and decided to wait and see what they want to do.

Nolasaintz · December 1, 2015

I had to crank the sh*t out my spring compressor to be able to adjust the collar. Some heavy duty springs for sure!

Ya know, spending the money we do on these shocks, you'd think you'd just open the box, install 'em on truck and get 2" of lift. Come on FOX, can't be that hard!

Mine were a pain in the butt too...

gabekalp · December 1, 2015

should've bought kings............................. lol

Travis Whitmore · December 1, 2015

Spoke to the fox rep this morning and their only suggestion was to add 1/2" of preload on the spring. Not really what I wanted to hear. Now I have to take them to a shop with a wall mount compressor since I'm not comfortable using the cheap one I bought at Harbor Freight.

dbcooper748 · December 1, 2015

Spoke to the fox rep this morning and their only suggestion was to add 1/2" of preload on the spring. Not really what I wanted to hear. Now I have to take them to a shop with a wall mount compressor since I'm not comfortable using the cheap one I bought at Harbor Freight.

Wow. This is sounding like a bit of a nightmare. Im truley suprised that a company like fox wont do more for you after you dropped a G on this system. Maybe let them know that you are an active poster on this forum and that you have no choice but to be honest with your peers here on your dissatisfaction