Fox 2.0 shocks
10-16-2016, 09:55 AM
#11
2015 F150 Guy
I bought my Fox 2.0s on Amazon. They arrived in 2 days! In short THEY ROCK! HANDS DOWN THE BEST BANG FOR BUCK, BEST MOD I'VE DONE. PERIOD.
My Rig: I have a 2015 Larry, big cab, small box, FX4, 20" rims. I have the Helwig rear bar. Everything else underneath is stock. I do 99% pavement, 1% groomed dirt and 0% real off road.
I think the truck handling is terrible and under certain conditions even "dangerous". This condition is widely documented herein so I won't go into it.
The Install: The install is really simple, but not totally easy. I did mine alone at home with simple hand tools.
You don't need to jack the truck or remove wheels if you don't mind laying on the floor. Each shock is fastened with two bolts, a 15mm bolt and 18mm nut. The stock units came off surprisingly easy. Remove the bolts and the shocks expand about 8". As reported by others, they're really soft and can be compressed NP by even a child.
The trouble with the Fox 2.0 install is simultaneously compressing them, aligning them and then installing the bolt. They're a bear!
First off, I installed my Foxes "upside down", with the rod facing down.
The FIRST side, I installed the lower bolt(without the nut) first. Then I used a nylon strap (like from a ratchet strap). I looped the strap around the top neck of the shock, then ran it down to the bottom of the shock and around the aforementioned lower bolt. Next, I compressed the shock and was able to hold the shock in that state just long enough to get the top bolt. Whew! Maybe I'm a loser, but that took me about 50 minutes.
The SECOND side, I did the opposite. I inserted the top bolt. First. I couldn't budge the shock(as it is now 6" off the floor), so I used a 2x4 for leverage and jacked 'er up with my floor jack. This got me 99% of the way. I still needed to wheedle the bottom with a flat bar to get the bolt installed. Took maybe 20 min.
Comments:
I tried jacking up the rear end but it didn't help. If you lift from the differential, the suspension will not sag, so the amount you need to compress the shock is the same. Duh! I didn't consider this at the time. I suppose if you can jack from the frame it may allow the rear end to sag and thus decrease the amount of compression necessary. If this works, I'd install the bolts loose and tighten them with the vehicle level on the ground.
One of the 18mm nuts was totally rounded off. Obvious manufacture defect. I was able to get it from the bolt end and holding back with a vise grip.
As I said, I have the Helwig. I like the Helwig, but frankly I think the bar is not heavy enough and the design kinda sucks, specifically the passenger side mount NOT being on the outside . . . If you got one, you know what I mean. Still, I'd get the bar if you can spare the $. If you have to choose one over the other, go Fox.
As I, and many others here have said before, the Fox 2.0s rock.
First, the stock shocks are on par with a mountain bike shock. I think the stock units from my VW Golf were stiffer than they. Really.
Second, I don't go off road so they are working for me. I agonized about not getting the 2.5s, but I just can't spend $1200 (or whatever they cost) right now. I may upgrade in the future. I definitely prefer a harder riding vehicle.
First Impressions: I literally noticed the difference as I was backing out of my garage! Gone! is the seesaw motion when tapping the brake backing up. Turning out of the driveway I immediately noted a nice flat corner and more crisp steering. Touring around the hood, making 90 degree turns with normal braking, the truck corners flat with way less body roll and brake dive. Honestly, I would never have believed it. For me, it's a NEW TRUCK! No $h1t.
What's Next?: Obviously new front units. I don't want to go for coilovers tho. First, I'm not going to lift my ride. Second, they're expensive. I'd like to find a decent replacement tube and swap them out like I did the rears.
TomJV
My Rig: I have a 2015 Larry, big cab, small box, FX4, 20" rims. I have the Helwig rear bar. Everything else underneath is stock. I do 99% pavement, 1% groomed dirt and 0% real off road.
I think the truck handling is terrible and under certain conditions even "dangerous". This condition is widely documented herein so I won't go into it.
The Install: The install is really simple, but not totally easy. I did mine alone at home with simple hand tools.
You don't need to jack the truck or remove wheels if you don't mind laying on the floor. Each shock is fastened with two bolts, a 15mm bolt and 18mm nut. The stock units came off surprisingly easy. Remove the bolts and the shocks expand about 8". As reported by others, they're really soft and can be compressed NP by even a child.
The trouble with the Fox 2.0 install is simultaneously compressing them, aligning them and then installing the bolt. They're a bear!
First off, I installed my Foxes "upside down", with the rod facing down.
The FIRST side, I installed the lower bolt(without the nut) first. Then I used a nylon strap (like from a ratchet strap). I looped the strap around the top neck of the shock, then ran it down to the bottom of the shock and around the aforementioned lower bolt. Next, I compressed the shock and was able to hold the shock in that state just long enough to get the top bolt. Whew! Maybe I'm a loser, but that took me about 50 minutes.
The SECOND side, I did the opposite. I inserted the top bolt. First. I couldn't budge the shock(as it is now 6" off the floor), so I used a 2x4 for leverage and jacked 'er up with my floor jack. This got me 99% of the way. I still needed to wheedle the bottom with a flat bar to get the bolt installed. Took maybe 20 min.
Comments:
I tried jacking up the rear end but it didn't help. If you lift from the differential, the suspension will not sag, so the amount you need to compress the shock is the same. Duh! I didn't consider this at the time. I suppose if you can jack from the frame it may allow the rear end to sag and thus decrease the amount of compression necessary. If this works, I'd install the bolts loose and tighten them with the vehicle level on the ground.
One of the 18mm nuts was totally rounded off. Obvious manufacture defect. I was able to get it from the bolt end and holding back with a vise grip.
As I said, I have the Helwig. I like the Helwig, but frankly I think the bar is not heavy enough and the design kinda sucks, specifically the passenger side mount NOT being on the outside . . . If you got one, you know what I mean. Still, I'd get the bar if you can spare the $. If you have to choose one over the other, go Fox.
As I, and many others here have said before, the Fox 2.0s rock.
First, the stock shocks are on par with a mountain bike shock. I think the stock units from my VW Golf were stiffer than they. Really.
Second, I don't go off road so they are working for me. I agonized about not getting the 2.5s, but I just can't spend $1200 (or whatever they cost) right now. I may upgrade in the future. I definitely prefer a harder riding vehicle.
First Impressions: I literally noticed the difference as I was backing out of my garage! Gone! is the seesaw motion when tapping the brake backing up. Turning out of the driveway I immediately noted a nice flat corner and more crisp steering. Touring around the hood, making 90 degree turns with normal braking, the truck corners flat with way less body roll and brake dive. Honestly, I would never have believed it. For me, it's a NEW TRUCK! No $h1t.
What's Next?: Obviously new front units. I don't want to go for coilovers tho. First, I'm not going to lift my ride. Second, they're expensive. I'd like to find a decent replacement tube and swap them out like I did the rears.
TomJV
Last edited by tomjv; 10-16-2016 at 10:11 AM.
The following 3 users liked this post by tomjv:
10-16-2016, 10:13 AM
#12
Motor 10
In short; yes, they are worth the $207, that Stage3motorsports charges. Your *** end won't dance around anymore, when riding over rough pavement. Also, as I've previously stated, once you install the rear shocks, you will see how bad the stock fronts are.
Last edited by Bafflingbs; 10-16-2016 at 10:17 AM.
The following users liked this post:
wildcat333 (10-20-2016)
10-16-2016, 10:25 AM
#13
I just put mine on a couple days ago. They changed everything for the better! I was going to do Hellwig bar as well, but these helped so much with body roll that i'm going to hold off. Very pleased!
10-16-2016, 12:18 PM
#16
Junior Member
So I tried installing these yesterday by myself...granted I don't have many tools to help me out but damn I could not compress it and then position it fast enough to get the bolt through. I was literally dripping in sweat and exhausted and threw the stock shock back on. I'm going to try Bafflingbs's method and jack up the frame and let the rear end sag to reduce the amount I need to compress. I'm sore as hell today too, lol.
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Bafflingbs (10-16-2016)
10-16-2016, 12:27 PM
#17
Haha. I had the same problem. I was able to get the passenger side on ok, but the driver side has to be compressed an extra 1 1/2" because of the angle of shaft. I fought it every which way and finally got it after about 30 min. My wife asked me the next day why i had bruises all over!?
Compression strap next time.
Compression strap next time.
10-16-2016, 06:54 PM
#18
Junior Member
Thanks to all for your insights. Gave it another go today and got both on in under an hour! I have no idea why it was so hard yesterday, guess I wasn't thinking and just trying to use pure muscle (which I have none of).
10-16-2016, 07:36 PM
#19
Senior Member
This time did you jack up the frame or try again without it jacked up?
10-16-2016, 08:08 PM
#20
For the stock set up the blue an yellow 4600 bilsteins are just as good and cheaper with life time warranty. Not trying to steal the thread just advise.
Last edited by papa tiger; 10-16-2016 at 08:10 PM.