Oh my - FOX Shocks

[StrokinOut]

Measuring between the eyes and then subtracting the gap between the bumpstops I have roughly:

Rear: 19" (measuring only half the rubber)
Front 14.5" (rubber fully removed)

Is that to say that a shock with a collapsed length longer than 14.5" or more, will bottom out as the bump-stop makes contact? I must be misunderstanding your numbers, because that is shorter than the FOX shock spec posted earlier.

 

[toximus]

Is that to say that a shock with a collapsed length longer than 14.5" or more, will bottom out as the bump-stop makes contact? I must be misunderstanding your numbers, because that is shorter than the FOX shock spec posted earlier.

Yes, that is correct (based on my very rough measurements). It is shorter than the Fox spec which is interesting. I've always removed the squishy rubber bumpstops (known as a jounce) for measurements since they 1) can squish 2) can fall out or deteriorate so they shouldn't be assumed. But maybe Fox knows something about the fronts that I don't know.

Has anyone ever loaded the front or rear suspension to the point of squishing the bumpstops? I'm wondering if the factory shocks bottom out before they hit...? I can't imagine Ford doing that though and I'd think we'd be seeing more broken shock mounts. Even pulling a heavy gooseneck, I've only seen some markings in dust on my rear bumpstop pads as evidence that they touch, but never a sign of them compressing.

 

[StrokinOut]

Yes, that is correct (based on my very rough measurements). It is shorter than the Fox spec which is interesting. I've always removed the squishy rubber bumpstops (known as a jounce) for measurements since they 1) can squish 2) can fall out or deteriorate so they shouldn't be assumed. But maybe Fox knows something about the fronts that I don't know.

Has anyone ever loaded the front or rear suspension to the point of squishing the bumpstops? I'm wondering if the factory shocks bottom out before they hit...? I can't imagine Ford doing that though and I'd think we'd be seeing more broken shock mounts. Even pulling a heavy gooseneck, I've only seen some markings in dust on my rear bumpstop pads as evidence that they touch, but never a sign of them compressing.

OE shocks are usually conservative, meaning they are far from bottoming out before the bump stop does. Bottoming out a shock is the worst thing you can do to a shock. They will die quickly. When you look at the compressed length of a FOX 2.0, or a Bilstein 5100 they both are under 14" collapsed length, but I also can't see FOX listing a shock for 0-1.5" if it could potentially bottom out. So that 14.81 should be safe. Post #50 makes it sound like the axle bump stop and shock bumper make contact at about the same time. Could be super close to bottoming but doesn't .

 

[HeavyAssault]

Some of the thoughts I'm thinking have been addressed. Shock "collapsed" length is key. Previous pictures show shocks at a point where physically cannot compress any further. Is that the same as when mounted on the truck?? I doubt it...BUT...it's key as what has been said.
The suspension travel to the point where it's contacting bump stops tends to be "the limit" of travel. So what's the eye-to-eye (ETE) mounting point of the suspension measurement(s)? Not the shocks but the suspension.
If that ETE measurement is LESS than the "fully" compressed length of the shock off the truck you might have a problem.
If the ETE measurement is MORE than the "fully" compressed length of the shock then you should be good to go. Does that make sense??

See Post #22 for the pictures. The rear shocks tend to not have issues. The front shocks can be the worst.

Some of this goes hand in hand with lift kits. There's a reason they provide front bump stop spacers to move them lower (hence closer to contacting the axle on full suspension travel).

 

[FuelTankReInforcedSkidPlt]

Note that the section between the green lines is made of rubber. This might explain the appearance of being fully collapsed in the picture, as there's still about 5/8" of rubber compression available.

With the stock Tremor coil springs, my front shock shafts were clean occasionally (shock wipers after a significant impact) and the joust pads showed imprints from the bump stops. However, I never experienced a jarring hit that you'd typically get without any rubber in place (the kind that can destroy shocks).

*I would get the measurements you're looking for to confirm, but I've since swapped to F450 coil springs and added a Rough Country 1.5" Leveling Kit, achieving about a .75" lift up front. Therefore, it wouldn't be a direct comparison to the old Tremor springs

 

[HeavyAssault]

Thanks for all the help. I'm not one for getting too deep but the information helps people make better choices or just have the best info possible.

Any "extra" travel from rubber compressing might be mute. If 1/2" is the difference in blowing out a shock then the answer is already known.

 

[toximus]

FYI - Fox assumes that rubber bumper isn't on their shocks for their listed measurements. Because it can compress.

 

[toximus]

My Fox 2.5 DSC rears arrived and I put them on today. It already seems to have better behavior through ruts than the OEM shocks. It wanted to bounce around a lot before. Jumping in the back of the bed also is noticably less bouncy. It just soaks the impact without secondary bounces. This is what I expected since I have the same on my Jeep. I can't wait for the fronts to arrive. I'll be putting a lot of highway miles on next week to go see the eclipse so we'll see if my wife notices anything different.

 

[toximus]

Love the improvement from just the rears with my truck camper. However while towing gooseneck with only the rear Foxs I felt like the rear was stable but the front of the truck felt like it was bouncing on rough roads at 65mph+. We'll see if that's improved now.

 

[MVI]

Love the improvement from just the rears with my truck camper. However while towing gooseneck with only the rear Foxs I felt like the rear was stable but the front of the truck felt like it was bouncing on rough roads at 65mph+. We'll see if that's improved now.

View attachment 156971

How's the 65+ ride?

PN's please

 

[toximus]

How's the 65+ ride?

PN's please


View attachment 157503

Haven't towed with them on all corners yet. Unloaded rides great at 65+ especially combined with dropping tire pressure.

Obviously, this is in context of a 1-ton truck and doesn't ride great compared to my Jeep which is absolutely dialed and can hit speed bumps at 65mph. But that kind of suspension would suck for towing. So for what it is I'm very happy with how it rides.

For a stock Tremor:
Rears: 883-26-096
Fronts: 883-26-095

 

[FuelTankReInforcedSkidPlt]

Hey so those of us with these shocks make sure you check out your rear drivers sided brake lines mine were chafing on the shocks

will report back if the Teflon held up or something else needs to be done.

 

[SantaCruzT100]

Has anyone had experience with the new IFP 2.5 HTO's?

I've been looking at the OP's original 2.5 with remote res but these new IFP's look good! It looks like per this thread the 0-1.5" is still the best shock option for a stock Tremor.

RAM 3500 | 2.5 PERFORMANCE SERIES

FOX 2.5 Performance Series HTO shock is a bolt-on shock loaded with position-sensitive technology vehicle-specific valving and larger pistons to improve on and off-road performance. A type II anodized aluminum body efficiently dissipates heat and prevents corrosion. The 2.5-inch shock body...

ridefox.com

 

[TX Crawler]

Has anyone had experience with the new IFP 2.5 HTO's?

I've been looking at the OP's original 2.5 with remote res but these new IFP's look good! It looks like per this thread the 0-1.5" is still the best shock option for a stock Tremor.

If these would have been available when I bought mine, I probably would have went with them. That's a big enough price difference to make a difference. I think the 2.5" non-resi's is all most (of us) really need to bomb down the highway 99.9% of the time.

 

[Fozzy]

Has anyone had experience with the new IFP 2.5 HTO's?

I've been looking at the OP's original 2.5 with remote res but these new IFP's look good! It looks like per this thread the 0-1.5" is still the best shock option for a stock Tremor.

RAM 3500 | 2.5 PERFORMANCE SERIES

FOX 2.5 Performance Series HTO shock is a bolt-on shock loaded with position-sensitive technology vehicle-specific valving and larger pistons to improve on and off-road performance. A type II anodized aluminum body efficiently dissipates heat and prevents corrosion. The 2.5-inch shock body...

ridefox.com

I think that's going to be the shock of choice for all HD truck owners not looking at Blasting the whoops in their PinTop set up. A very good tuned 2.0 struggles to keep up with a 2.5" shock.

 

[Txsandman]

Those are some of the best looking shocks imo. I’d imagine they’ll do just fine on your rig

 

[MrFancypants]

I contacted AccuTune to ask about the Fox 2.5 HTOs and their opinion was that for the same money a remote reservoir 2.0 would ride better. I don't think they can adjust the valving or rebuild IFPs. I also noticed the HTOs have 1" less compression travel.

 

[Fozzy]

I contacted AccuTune to ask about the Fox 2.5 HTOs and their opinion was that for the same money a remote reservoir 2.0 would ride better. I don't think they can adjust the valving or rebuild IFPs. I also noticed the HTOs have 1" less compression travel.

Yes you can rebuild and tune the HTO’s. I can’t imagine Fox would let the shock be the bump stop.

 

[Cswht]

I installed the fox 2.0 shocks with the adjustable remote reservoir with the stock springs on my 2023 gas tremor. I believe they are an excellent option for anybody who does not want to lift their truck. They eliminate all of the harshness from the over damped stock shocks. They can be adjusted as the load increases. I can actually drive over a wash board gravel road at more than 5 mph without the backend going sideways

 

[SantaCruzT100]

I contacted AccuTune to ask about the Fox 2.5 HTOs and their opinion was that for the same money a remote reservoir 2.0 would ride better. I don't think they can adjust the valving or rebuild IFPs. I also noticed the HTOs have 1" less compression travel.

AccuTune seems like a good company and I wouldn't discount their experience. Having a few options for our trucks is awesome. Per Fox tech, the 2.5 HTO's can be rebuilt and custom valved with a suspension tech like other shocks.

That's a good eye on looking at the travel numbers on all the 0-1.5" shocks.
I saw the following on Fox website:

2.0 Remote Resi Performance Front
Travel 8.62
Ext Length 22.37
Comp Length 13.75

2.5 Remote Resi Performance Elite Front
Travel 7.48
Ext Length 22.29
Comp Length 14.81

2.5 IFP HTO Performance Front
Travel 7.39
Ext Length 22.19
Comp Length 14.8

I can't imagine Fox designed the shocks to be the end stroke bottom out before hitting bump stops.

Hope this helps and doesn't over complicate this thread.