Falcon or Fox?

[Tim]

I am looking to replace the shocks on my 2020 Rubicon. I have just over 50k miles on the truck and recently installed the 2” AEV spacer lift, Mopar front LCAs, 35x12.5 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires, steel bumper, winch, and a bed rack. I felt the stock suspension was soft but generally ok prior to the aftermarket goodies. Now it feels too soft/under damped.

I am going to get either Falcon SP2 3.3 shocks or Fox 2.0 smooth body reservoir shocks. It seems like the Falcons get a lot of love but I am worried they will be too stiff. I don’t wheel a ton but beach driving is something I do at least once a year.

There are a lot of opinions out there about aftermarket Fox compared to OE Fox. If aftermarket Fox is indeed different (especially the remote reservoir 2.0s) than stock that could be just what I need. Seems like the Falcons would be better for everything but the beach driving (maybe) where the Fox shocks would shine. The online consensus seems to be that the Falcons, even in their softest setting, are stiffer than Fox.

One final point of consideration is that at some point I will probably ditch the AEV spacers in favor of 2.5” lift springs, most likely from Clayton. Regardless of the exact springs I end up with in the future I assume pretty much all aftermarket springs will be firmer than the OE Rubicon Springs.

Thanks in advance for any input or links to other threads.

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[bastage]

I went from the Fox 2.0's to the Falcon SP2 3.3's... They are not an apples to apples shock... The Falcon is adjustable. So if its too stiff it takes less then a minute to adjust them & soften them up. The Fox's you get what you get which I did not find stiff enough on road (specifically cornering at any type of speed) & too stiff off-road.

 

[bleda2002]

The fox 2.0s are a great budget shock, but the falcons you are looking at are more in line with fox 2.5s as they are adjustable reservoir shocks. If these are your 2 choices the sp2 3.3s are just a better shock in all respects.

 

[Ted Striker]

FWIW, if you're thinking about going with a Clayton lift down the road, Clayton designed their lift with the Fox shocks according to John at Clayton when I spoke to him when I was purchasing my lift.

 

[bastage]

FWIW, if you're thinking about going with a Clayton lift down the road, Clayton designed their lift with the Fox shocks according to John at Clayton when I spoke to him when I was purchasing my lift.

I have the Clayton 2.5" lift & can say without a doubt the Falcon 3.3's are much better shocks on the Clayton Lift's then the Fox 2.0's

 

[Tim]

I went from the Fox 2.0's to the Falcon SP2 3.3's... They are not an apples to apples shock... The Falcon is adjustable. So if its too stiff it takes less then a minute to adjust them & soften them up. The Fox's you get what you get which I did not find stiff enough on road (specifically cornering at any type of speed) & too stiff off-road.

This is great insight. Are the Falcons on the softest setting softer than Fox? Do the Falcons do ok on washboard type situations?

The SP2 3.3s are on my short list because they are adjustable and for what they are, reasonably priced. I mean plain jane monotube Fox 2.0s are about $1k. For $500 more I could get Fox 2.0 resi shocks or SP2 3.1s. For just a mere $500 more than that I can have the SP2 3.3s and gain adjustability. Can’t touch that functionality at that price with Fox.

 

[bastage]

This is great insight. Are the Falcons on the softest setting softer than Fox? Do the Falcons do ok on washboard type situations?

The SP2 3.3s are on my short list because they are adjustable and for what they are, reasonably priced. I mean plain jane monotube Fox 2.0s are about $1k. For $500 more I could get Fox 2.0 resi shocks or SP2 3.1s. For just a mere $500 more than that I can have the SP2 3.3s and gain adjustability. Can’t touch that functionality at that price with Fox.

Yea the Falcon's are MUCH softer on the softest setting then the Fox shocks are. The falcon's have been quite good on washboard when I get out to adjust them. If it ever becomes available I may get the 3.5 eadjust upgrade for them so that I never have to manually adjust again too.

 

[Rockridgeboss]

I have the Clayton 2.5" premium lift and am running the Falcon 3.3 Adjustable shocks. I find the adjustment easy, and quite noticable between the settings, something I never noticed on other brands with "adjustment". Very happy with the Falcons!

 

[AZCooWhip]

Falcon. Nuff said.

 

[calipoontappa]

Just splurge and get the Fox 2.5 adjustable… fantastic ride after you dial it in. Can’t say anything about the Falcons but I’ve heard they are stiff as well, especially in comparison to the Fox 2.5 but it’s all subjective.

 

[Outside Reality Check]

You are definitely heading down the right path by doing your due diligence. There is a ton of good info out there like side-by-side shock component comparison; which was my decider. It's a Coke vs Pepsi kind of thing when you ask around. These are two great products. I went Falcon on my JTR with a 3" lift, soft is like Fox stock (great on trails), firm is great for loaded up highway driving, and medium is decently adjustable for daily. It's an important mod worth the time to think it through. Either way you go, go with what works for you. Good luck

 

[Mac]

If you live somewhere without road salt consider the Rancho 9000s or Bilstein 5100s I have had both and liked them but they both rust bad in the Northeast even when sprayed with something like Fluid Film.

 

[MCATDT]

Love my AEV tuned Bilsteins. Have the complete lift but the shocks are solid.

 

[Tim]

If you live somewhere without road salt consider the Rancho 9000s or Bilstein 5100s I have had both and liked them but they both rust bad in the Northeast even when sprayed with something like Fluid Film.

Well the Garden State Parkway is like a gravel road after it snows except it’s not gravel…it’s salt. ??‍ Gotta love toll roads where there is a big budget to blow…

 

[OnlyOne]

If you want to use a mouth guard go with the Falcons. Otherwise stick with Fox. I made that mistake. Never again.

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