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

[Ready Go]

So this thread has become inspiring and dangerous to my checkbook..... Thanks @Ready Go and others...... lol

I'm going to do a little upgrading to my Ram. Adding the Fox PE'S to the rear and going to change from Core 4x4 to Thuren for the rear U/L CA'S, Trackbar and end links. Ive run Core 4x4 on my 23 and 24 Rams so time to try something a little different. May also go with the Thuren UCA'S to replace the BDS that came with their 3" lift package.

Looks like I'll have a lot of parts for sale soon.....

Maybe keep your rear swaybar endlinks..Thuren uses a pressed in poly ball that is basically open on the ends..have to regularily fkush it was lube to keep clean.

I'm gonna use all their suspensuon parts, but use Cor4x4 or Carli endlinks.

 

[Ready Go]

Coming from always running Bilstein 5100/6112 The fox 2.5 are definitely softer on their firmest setting than Bilstein. I like the ride, but honestly wish it was firmer. I have L maxed and H at 6 clicks.

Would I pay the coin to do it again, No. I'd save and go Eibach, or back to Bilstein. I'm not fond of soft rides. Seems less controlled, but not as bad as OEM was.

I'm surprised that you're finding the Fox PEs TOO soft..I'm worrying they would'nt be soft enought. Huh??

 

[boogielander]

I did hear back from Don today..I'll add his responses at the bottom. The first was the follow up response and the second was a follow up to that..sorry, these are just his responses, so one-sided and may be confusing.

The jist is..Don "could" build me Stage-1 Thuren Kings, but he and I agreed they probably aren't what I really want. They could work, but for the wait time (2-3 months), money, and chance of not liking them, I'll pass on the Kings.

I'm going to order the Thuren Front UCAs, Rear U/L CAs, Trackbar, and Rear Swaybar Endlinks later this week. Those pieces will remove the torsional affect of the rear CAs, and the general loose/shifty movements I've felt in the suspension.

I proposed to Don that if not his Kings, I'd be interested in either Fox 2.5 PE DSCs or Carli Commuter 2.5/2.0s as an alternative to go with Thurens Suspension pieces.

For some reason that he wouldn't pinpoint, he seems to feel the Fox PE DSCs base valving isn't necessarily that "soft"?? I've never heard any on this Forum say anything like this..unless I missed it. I feel like you Fox PE guys are pretty happy and have been dialing your valving in with good results..4L/5H, 5L/6H seems to be working from recent posts.

The Carli and Fox are both capable of 2.5-3.0" of front lift. Carli would be a lot cheaper, but the Valve Adjusters of the Fox PEs are what I like..anytime you can add shock valve adjustments to your suspension tuning, you have a much higher likelyhood of getting the result you're looking for. I'm not sure why Don feels Carli would be smoother than Fox PEs..any thoughts??

I'm pretty sure a good number of you will pipe in and vote for Fox 2.5 PE DSCs..just thought I'd ask before I pull the trigger and order..I want to order this week also.

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i drove the Carli Performance King 2.5 few times after I install them for customers.
They do ride firmer than Fox 2.5 PE on my "street" setting (1H, Max Low) with the stock fox springs.

Unless you're hitting speed bumps or your roads are really bumpy, my butt dyno tells me Fox would be better (sorry Don, this is where I disagree with ya haha) for that adjustability. But if you're hitting speed bumps all the time and your roads are bumpy, then Carli Kings would do.

 

[boogielander]

Coming from always running Bilstein 5100/6112 The fox 2.5 are definitely softer on their firmest setting than Bilstein. I like the ride, but honestly wish it was firmer. I have L maxed and H at 6 clicks.

Would I pay the coin to do it again, No. I'd save and go Eibach, or back to Bilstein. I'm not fond of soft rides. Seems less controlled, but not as bad as OEM was.

check your nitrogen level. Sometimes they come undercharged. Mine was.
I also bumped mine up to 250psi, way past what Fox calls for but the seals can handle much higher pressure.

 

[Ready Go]

i drove the Carli Performance King 2.5 few times after I install them for customers.
They do ride firmer than Fox 2.5 PE on my "street" setting (1H, Max Low) with the stock fox springs.

Unless you're hitting speed bumps or your roads are really bumpy, my butt dyno tells me Fox would be better (sorry Don, this is where I disagree with ya haha) for that adjustability. But if you're hitting speed bumps all the time and your roads are bumpy, then Carli Kings would do.

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)

 

[Ready Go]

I do wish that Bilstein's newest 8112s would be available with there DSC Adjusters, but it looks like currently they only have the Res without the DSC Adjusters for 1500s.

Also, I here Eibach is coming out with 2.5s this Fall, but haven't been able to find further info..but doubt they'll go from 2.0s all the way to 2.5 Res & DSC..but they are fslling behind Bilstein, so maybe??

ADS has some awesome 2.5 F&R for the 1500, but no Res and no Adjusters unfortunately for the 1500s.

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

I'm surprised that you're finding the Fox PEs TOO soft..I'm worrying they would'nt be soft enought. Huh??

Coming from Bilstein with a much firmer ride, that's what I'm used to and feel more controlled of a ride over these FOX. I will be installing the CORE4X4 arms and Hellwig this weekend finally since weather isn't going to be brutal. Maybe that will change for me afterwards.

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

check your nitrogen level. Sometimes they come undercharged. Mine was.
I also bumped mine up to 250psi, way past what Fox calls for but the seals can handle much higher pressure.

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?

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

So this thread has become inspiring and dangerous to my checkbook..... Thanks @Ready Go and others...... lol

I'm going to do a little upgrading to my Ram. Adding the Fox PE'S to the rear and going to change from Core 4x4 to Thuren for the rear U/L CA'S, Trackbar and end links. Ive run Core 4x4 on my 23 and 24 Rams so time to try something a little different. May also go with the Thuren UCA'S to replace the BDS that came with their 3" lift package.

Looks like I'll have a lot of parts for sale soon.....

Mo Money Mo Money!!

 

[Ready Go]

Coming from Bilstein with a much firmer ride, that's what I'm used to and feel more controlled of a ride over these FOX. I will be installing the CORE4X4 arms and Hellwig this weekend finally since weather isn't going to be brutal. Maybe that will change for me afterwards.

I'm curious, didn't you just go to a new wheel/tire combo (20x9 with 285/60R20s ??).

Did that change your ride quality & comfort on the Fox PEs?

My new Fuel 20x9 with 285/60R20 Ascents definitely do overpower my Eibach Pro-Trucks (similar to Bilsteins) which aren't dampened or valved well enough for the extra wheel/tire weight (+12lbs).

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

I'm curious, didn't you just go to a new wheel/tire combo (20x9 with 285/60R20s ??).

Did that change your ride quality & comfort on the Fox PEs?

My new Fuel 20x9 with 285/60R20 Ascents definitely do overpower my Eibach Pro-Trucks (similar to Bilsteins) which aren't dampened or valved well enough for the extra wheel/tire weight (+12lbs).

Yes 285/65 AT4W. I'm used to running an AT tire and these are actually heavier then my last AT3W (different size/vehicle), but I feel it's more of the FOX since I'm used to the firmer ride of Bilstein and how they dampen. I'm running 40 psi and feel the tires ride great and quiet. I'm not unhappy, but I was hoping with the adjustability I could make them firmer, since most Fox are known for a softer ride. I'd relate FOX to desert driving, then offroad/pavement. If raising the nitrogen PSI accomplishes what I want, I'll be much happier. I feel more body roll with FOX, then ever with Bilstein. Even my last 6" and 37's or 4" and 35's on my RAMs. I know the Hellwig will definitely help, once installed. So after this weekend I might think different.....

Btw I'm no suspension guru, just what I'm used to and like for a ride.