NEW RELEASE: FOX 2.5 Performance Series Shocks

[j.o.y.ride]

Were you not a participant in my tuning thread? 16 pages of how bad they were out of the box and what I did you fix it.

I also remember the Mojave being in internal bypass shock yes?

I dont recall following it.

Mojave are external bypass, same basic shock as the 2.5 elites just properly tuned and not adjustable.

I always thought that 2.5" shocks were a bit too robust out of the box for this sized truck and need to be revalved anyhow. Like the guy who dropped all the money on the 3.0 and found they're way way too stiff... yeah because they're intended for F150+ sized truck off the shelf.

The 2.0 is only one I would put on off the shelf. Gotta get them 2.5 or bigger from accutune or another tuner. That includes these 2.5 unless they have been tuned down.

Not Fox's fault... wasn't meant for this truck out of the box really.

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[CrazyCooter]

I dont recall following it.

Mojave are external bypass, same basic shock as the elites.

I always thought that 2.5" shocks were a bit too robust out of the box for this sized truck and need to be revalved anyhow. Like the guy who dropped all the money on the 3.0 and found they're way way too stiff... yeah because they're intended for F150 off the shelf.

The 2.0 is only one I would put on off the shelf. Gotta get them 2.5 or bigger from accutune or another tuner.

Not Fox's fault... wasn't meant for this truck out of the box really.

It's a good read if you like technical talk with a happy ending. It looks like I finished that chapter and I'm on to the next challenge....... https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-to-those-doing-their-own-shock-tuning.53421/

I feel the 2.5"+ shocks are just flexing/status for most people. A properly tuned 2.0 aluminum body would cover 90% of the posers who drive Jeeps. For the other 5-10%, there are better options. I would like to get my hands on a set of Fox 2.0 Resi CD's to test and come up with a good overland tune for those.

I felt the 2.5 Elites were way too weak for my diesel JT used for all around trail, overland, and towing an RV. I wore out a full set of air bump pads without even being able to begin driving fast!

Not Fox's fault about what? Adding an existing product to the application guide that wasn't really meant for the application? How is that beyond their control?

 

[j.o.y.ride]

I feel the 2.5"+ shocks are just flexing/status for most people. A properly tuned 2.0 aluminum body would cover 90% of the posers who drive Jeeps. For the other 5-10%, there are better options. I would like to get my hands on a set of Fox 2.0 Resi CD's to test and come up with a good overland tune for those.

This is why I went with remote 2.0 from accutune over anything else.

Not Fox's fault about what? Adding an existing product to the application guide that wasn't really meant for the application? How is that beyond their control?

It's not Fox's fault if someone takes an off the shelf shock with a size, 2.5 or 3.0, which is really intended for bigger trucks and uses it on another application. This is why they had to retune the 2.5 they use for the Mojave and remove the adjusters.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

I dont recall following it.

Mojave are external bypass, same basic shock as the 2.5 elites just properly tuned and not adjustable.

I always thought that 2.5" shocks were a bit too robust out of the box for this sized truck and need to be revalved anyhow. Like the guy who dropped all the money on the 3.0 and found they're way way too stiff... yeah because they're intended for F150+ sized truck off the shelf.

The 2.0 is only one I would put on off the shelf. Gotta get them 2.5 or bigger from accutune or another tuner. That includes these 2.5 unless they have been tuned down.

Not Fox's fault... wasn't meant for this truck out of the box really.

The Mojave 2.0/2.5 (because it’s really a hybrid shock….) also has an internal bump that the 2.5 elites do not have.

 

[CrazyCooter]

This is why I went with remote 2.0 from accutune over anything else.



It's not Fox's fault if someone takes an off the shelf shock with a size, 2.5 or 3.0, which is really intended for bigger trucks and uses it on another application. This is why they had to retune the 2.5 they use for the Mojave and remove the adjusters.

If all of that were true, the 2.5 Elite would have been too stiff for me? I took .010" shims out in places where I am double stacking .015"s , .020"s, and cut the bleed in half? That's A LOT more valving dude........

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

This is why I went with remote 2.0 from accutune over anything else.



It's not Fox's fault if someone takes an off the shelf shock with a size, 2.5 or 3.0, which is really intended for bigger trucks and uses it on another application. This is why they had to retune the 2.5 they use for the Mojave and remove the adjusters.

Something to consider when looking at shocks size…. And really shocks/suspension tuning has a ton of dynamics…. But for conversation and thought based on your comment…..
The intended use is a huge deciding factor between a 2.0,2.5 & 3.0 shocks.

if you run forest service roads and rock crawl a 2.0 is more than adequate and will likely not fade from heat…. If you intend to buzz washboard roads (Death Valley- race track playa….) at 50mph a 2.5 is probably the rout to go.

if you are an overland we that packs the kitchen sick and more and still drives in hoonigan fashion a 3.0 may actually see some benefits…..

Only you will know how you intend to use and abuse your rig…… the rest of us on keyboards can share what we know. It’s your pockets that are either Overpaying for things not needed, paying for broken parts, or getting adequate use. There are also a ton of Jeep people that just like to gloat and use their Jeep to flash their cash…. Tons of them… they often take the bypass on the trail ???

 

[CrazyCooter]

Something to consider when looking at shocks size…. And really shocks/suspension tuning has a ton of dynamics…. But for conversation and thought based on your comment…..
The intended use is a huge deciding factor between a 2.0,2.5 & 3.0 shocks.

if you run forest service roads and rock crawl a 2.0 is more than adequate and will likely not fade from heat…. If you intend to buzz washboard roads (Death Valley- race track playa….) at 50mph a 2.5 is probably the rout to go.

if you are an overland we that packs the kitchen sick and more and still drives in hoonigan fashion a 3.0 may actually see some benefits…..

Only you will know how you intend to use and abuse your rig…… the rest of us on keyboards can share what we know. It’s your pockets that are either Overpaying for things not needed, paying for broken parts, or getting adequate use. There are also a ton of Jeep people that just like to gloat and use their Jeep to flash their cash…. Tons of them… they often take the bypass on the trail ???

Something else when considering shock size is motion ratio. Obviously ours is 1:1 being strait axle suspension with shocks mounted directly to the axles, but @j.o.y.ride mentioned the 2.5+ being for a bigger vehicle like an F150........Perfect example of the IFS motion ratio requiring much more damping......I bet you could exceed the 2.5's ability on an F150 driven hard in the heat.

Even on a strait axle truck.....once you cross over the 6000# mark and plan on driving in higher temps, long distance, and higher speeds off road.......You will find the limits of a 2.0. This is why I run a 2.5" shock..........I run loaded for hours at higher speeds in the wide open desert. I laugh when I see east coast guys installing 2.5's..........

The front shock temps are way up there already becuase of the preheated underhood air that leaks through the fenders on to the shocks.

 

[rharr]

This is why I went with remote 2.0 from accutune over anything else.



It's not Fox's fault if someone takes an off the shelf shock with a size, 2.5 or 3.0, which is really intended for bigger trucks and uses it on another application. This is why they had to retune the 2.5 they use for the Mojave and remove the adjusters.

Shock body diameter really should not be correlated to truck size. All a bigger shock body does is allow more oil to help keep things cooler, allow a greater range of valve tuning for subtle inputs and a larger shaft size for more strength.

If a 3.0 Fox is to stiff for a JT it's because it's either tuned for fast paced off road (more speed = more energy to dissipate in a shorter time) or the valving is not correct for the trucks intended use.

A 3.0 shock with softer valving would work just fine on a JT.

 

[CrazyCooter]

Shock body diameter really should not be correlated to truck size. All a bigger shock body does is allow more oil to help keep things cooler, allow a greater range of valve tuning for subtle inputs and a larger shaft size for more strength.

If a 3.0 Fox is to stiff for a JT it's because it's either tuned for fast paced off road (more speed = more energy to dissipate in a shorter time) or the valving is not correct for the trucks intended use.

A 3.0 shock with softer valving would work just fine on a JT.

To be fair here.....What would be the point of wasting money on a 3.0 dumbed down for city slickers? Yes it can be done , but why waste the money? Just get a smaller shock properly valved? Something off the shelf would probably cover it.

The diameter of the piston should be selected by a formula that would include vehicle's weight, size of terrain traveled, speed traveled, and ambient temperature? A semi truck operated on CA's roads, loaded to 80Klb, and our ambient temps of up to 120° would probably require a 3.0". An unloaded 5Klb pickup in that same situation doesn't even require a 2.0".

I'm still an amateur tuner........but I would say the farther outside proper sizing one gets, the harder it will be to tune out the annoying traits under certain conditions.

 

[rharr]

To be fair here.....What would be the point of wasting money on a 3.0 dumbed down for city slickers? Yes it can be done , but why waste the money? Just get a smaller shock properly valved? Something off the shelf would probably cover it.

The diameter of the piston should be selected by a formula that would include vehicle's weight, size of terrain traveled, speed traveled, and ambient temperature? A semi truck operated on CA's roads, loaded to 80Klb, and our ambient temps of up to 120° would probably require a 3.0". An unloaded 5Klb pickup in that same situation doesn't even require a 2.0".

I'm stiff an amateur tuner........but I would say the farther outside proper sizing one gets, the harder it will be to tune out the annoying traits under certain conditions.

Me to I am a super newbie to suspension as well, I just enjoy understanding how the different parts and pieces of a shock work coming from the dirt bike world.

I agree with what you are saying. Pick a shock for how you plan to use it. I just don't like the generalizations being thrown around. It's how the valving is setup that makes or break how a shock works not the body size This is my point.

I have some 2.25"non piggy back shocks on my deal that i am happy with. I am yet to cook them so the body size is pretty will matched for oil capacity needed to help with fade for my use.

One can use a smaller body shock with a piggy back to get more cooling out of a smaller shock plus the added benefit of possible compression adjustment.

 

[CrazyCooter]

The reservoir on a Fox 2.5 Elite really doesn't do much for cooling since the hose probably displaces more fluid than the shock shaft. The oil within the shock probably never reaches the resi anyway?

I should get some 4.5 IBP King Kong 7 Tube Bypasses so I can float like a trophy truck over the mall speed bumps! Or go back to the 80's style and do quad 2.0s with 3 of them dummy drilled? Hot pink shock boots?

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Shock body diameter really should not be correlated to truck size. All a bigger shock body does is allow more oil to help keep things cooler, allow a greater range of valve tuning for subtle inputs and a larger shaft size for more strength.

If a 3.0 Fox is to stiff for a JT it's because it's either tuned for fast paced off road (more speed = more energy to dissipate in a shorter time) or the valving is not correct for the trucks intended use.

A 3.0 shock with softer valving would work just fine on a JT.

We are saying the same thing.

 

[Darkspeed]

I just want a good adjustable shock for daily driving on a lift. cooling or large diameter is not that important to me.

 

[CrazyCooter]

I just want a good adjustable shock for daily driving on a lift. cooling or large diameter is not that important to me.

It's likely you wont find one out of the box that works right since you are driving a diesel. Buying something that can be modified later is the best choice should you not be happy.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

It's likely you wont find one out of the box that works right since you are driving a diesel. Buying something that can be modified later is the best choice should you not be happy.

???. This kind of goes back to post #40…

So to collaborate both posts, and without getting into the intricate nuances….
this is one of those scenarios where just having a proper shim stack for the weight and spring info is perfect. These 2.5 fox’s if ordered with the correct shims is all he would need.

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