Fox 2.5 DSC Suspension - A Brief Overview, Procedure, and Review of Proper Suspension Setup

[H2OMAN]

They will soon...right after I order Foxes!!!

It's always possible. And, it's about time. But, they have to catch up before they can surpass. Your Foxes will serve you well for years and years.

 

[boogielander]

I'll have to figure out a local place that I can take to, that can check and fill if needed. That would be great if I can go up on the PSI for firmer ride. Do you know what they're supposed to come with?

iirc it's 150psi or 200 or something like that.

 

[boogielander]

Actually, Don wasn't saying he advised Carli Kings, he was saying he advised the Carli Commuter 2.5F/2.0R setup for me over the Fox 2.5 PE DSCs.

Sure, the Carli Comms do have 2.5-3.0" lift like the Fox PEs, but the PE's DSC is what I feel would help me to get what I want for ride quality.

Carli Comms are supposed to be a very comfortable street setup, but you get what you get with them.

I Carli Comms have some kinda "magical" valve setting, then Don could do that with Kings..and maybe his Stage-1 would be that(?).

Anyways, Don didn't feel his Kings would be best for me, and he didn't seem to be big on the Fox shocks. It's interesting that he sells Fox 2.0s for 2500s and Ford/GM..maybe he's commenting more about them thsn the PE DSCs..I couldn't get him to elaborate as to what he didn't like about the Foxes..he just mentioned that the base valving was anything but soft(?!)..I don't get it..I thought Fox PEs are basically Progressive at 1L/1H and then become more Linear at 5L/7H (half way) and then become more Digressive near closed at 10L/14H..at least that's what I gleaned from Accutune's info pages(?).

The Carli Commuters very well could be sufficient, and maybe perfect for my street truck (and cheaper for sure), but I can't afford to get the strut/shock pick wrong since I'm spending a lot of cash.

My brain says the Carli Commuters are a smart choice, but my gut says the Fox PEs are what I've wanted since the day I bought the truck. Problem is, I can't always trust my brain or my gut..which is why I love input from the Forum

(**I want to get ordering parts.. the Thuren parts to install as Stage 1, then the shocks as Stage 2 to study how affective the Thuren parts are, but the markets haven't been playing nice this week so far)

ah
yeah the commuter can be a good fit for you. I know why Don is not a big fan of Fox, but I am not at liberty to disclose. For me personally though, Fox has gotten so big with OE applications that "aftermarket" support is bad. Really bad. For instance, I was told by Fox "one spin" on the preload collar is enough to bring my front down after I went 700lb springs... nope I had to bring it up 1 full inch at the collar to get my preload right.

At this point yes, the commuter can work for what you want. Remember I said Carli's tuning works for 80% of the people, while Thuren's tuning works for the remaining 20% that is very specific on what they want/ need. Fox 2.5 PE is the better version of the "off-the-shelf" solution where you can turn the knobs to cater to your needs.

There's more to how a shock rides than progressive vs digressive. It has everything to do with how the shims are stacked in the piston, like the diameters of the shims. Different diameter combinations change how soft/ hard a shock rides. Progressive vs digressive is a blanket description of how a shock performs, but the actual "ride" is on the design of the shim stack. Shim stack is what shock tuning is.

Rebuild = opening up the shock body, replace existing shims in the piston with exactly the same, change the seals, refill new shock fluid, refill nitrogen, reinstall, and done.
Tuning = opening up the shock body, replace existing shims with new stacks (secret sauce as base line), replace seals as needed, refill fluid, refill nitrogen, reinstall, test it, and repeat from step 1.

 

[boogielander]

Haaaa, so true!!
I JUST sent Zeb at Thuren an email response that I was waiting for the markets to make me the $$$ this week, so the Thuren would be free, AND INSTEAD..the F-ing markets lost me the Thurens AND Foxes, but I told Zeb.."Monday I'll send in the order"..the money will always come..and go again!!

Not 100% yet on Foxes, but Fox PEs will be ordered Monday..or next week also.

I want to the Thuren parts on..then compare Thurens plus Fox PEs.

yo where's the invite lolll
i need the market to help me buy a power wagon and it seems like you can talk to the market

 

[boogielander]

They will soon...right after I order Foxes!!!

you'll be fine lol
helll, good thing you don't wheel/ play in the desert or else the next thing you want is LT and bypasses, not Eibach or some other ones lol

 

[boogielander]

alslo, if anyone looking at suspensionmaxx sway bar end links to go wiith their Fox 2.5, feel free to go for it.
I F*CKED up on my end link install and F*CKED the bushings (i didn't read instruction and therefore, I didn't see the torque instruction) and went to run Henderson to Laughlin race course and then Mojave with end links showing 3 threads only.

Emailed suspensionmaxx to help me find the bushing listing (they got new site and bushing isn't up yet) and they said don't worry about it we'll send new ones to you for free.

really appreciate that level of customer service despite I fuc*ed it up and willing to own up to it lol

 

[Ready Go]

yo where's the invite lolll
i need the market to help me buy a power wagon and it seems like you can talk to the market

Every day I'm talking..to myself..the markets don't seem to be listening!
Maybe next week

 

[Ready Go]

ah
yeah the commuter can be a good fit for you. I know why Don is not a big fan of Fox, but I am not at liberty to disclose. For me personally though, Fox has gotten so big with OE applications that "aftermarket" support is bad. Really bad. For instance, I was told by Fox "one spin" on the preload collar is enough to bring my front down after I went 700lb springs... nope I had to bring it up 1 full inch at the collar to get my preload right.

At this point yes, the commuter can work for what you want. Remember I said Carli's tuning works for 80% of the people, while Thuren's tuning works for the remaining 20% that is very specific on what they want/ need. Fox 2.5 PE is the better version of the "off-the-shelf" solution where you can turn the knobs to cater to your needs.

There's more to how a shock rides than progressive vs digressive. It has everything to do with how the shims are stacked in the piston, like the diameters of the shims. Different diameter combinations change how soft/ hard a shock rides. Progressive vs digressive is a blanket description of how a shock performs, but the actual "ride" is on the design of the shim stack. Shim stack is what shock tuning is.

Agreed, the Carli Commuters are intriguing..price is good, height adjustments are good, reviews suggest the valving is good, but no valve adjustments like the Fox PEs which means no fine tuning and less margin for error.

The PEs with their DSCs gives more flexibility..case in point, yesterday we took out Wifey-poohs ND Miata Club. I have MeisterR GT1 COs (double Digressive/mid adjust) on four corners, full Goodwin underbody bracing, and -1.9°camber all four..it's Tight! This spring, I dialed down the rear valves 1 click softer to balance the ride "feel" better. Half way on our trip yesterday, I had her pull over and I dialed all four down 1 click softer..and what a huge instant change! I'm getting older and our Wisco roads are getting rougher..that ability to change valving is huge to me.

I know you aren't a fan of Accutune, and I probably don't need real custom tuning anyways for being a street truck, but I do wish there were more tuning options/tuners out there.

 

[Ready Go]

@boogielander
You mentioned height adjusting your Front PEs..am I correct in remembering the PEs adjust on a 0.5:1 ratio (1/2" collar adjust equals 1" ride height change)??

Also, if I don't get my height(collar) measurement set perfectly before installing the PEs, is it sufficient to lift the front end (wheels off) and adjust the spanners..or do they HAVE to come out to adjust the height..hoping not to have to remove them to adjust them!

I plan to set my Fronts to ~2.625" lift (may need RF a fraction more..1/16-1/8") to adjust my current "level lift" to "level lift +1", but in case my rear +1" coils aren't accurate, I'll need to adjust the fronts to get to level.

My MeisterR spanner wrench won't work on Fox PEs..any suggestion on a wrench I should buy that has the dimple fitting for Foxes?

Thanks