Who Re-valves Mojave Fox Shocks ???

[msiminoff]

Ever since adding the (300lb) Go Fast camper to my JTM, the rear suspension has felt like a pogo stick, and it can take 4-5 bounces for it to settle down after going over any kind of bump or dip in the road/trail, e.g. a speed bump or a whoop. The front end (where I haven't added much weight) still feels great.

I've read through each of the half-million threads about Mojave shock "rebuilding" (servicing); there are plenty of shops who can do that. What I am looking for is re-valving (tuning).... and I can't seem to find any body who will re-valve my shocks. Yes, I've already called Shock Surplus and Accutune and All Terrain. All of them said NO. Several local off road shops told me the same thing

I know about the Falcon 3.3's for the Mojave, and I do think they are a fine fallback option. But the stock internal bypass Fox 2.5's are a damn good shock and if they can be re-valved then that seems like a simple/quick/economical option.

Any recommendations for a shop that will re-valve my rear shocks for me??? Bonus points if they're located on the west coast.

Thanks!
-Mark

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[Minty JL]

So as a local shop told me 2 weeks ago.....the OEM Fox shocks ARE rebuildable, but that's it.

If you want specific valving in regards to dampening and rebound.....you have to just up a class or two in shocks. In the base adjustability....shocks with remote reservoirs with adjustments for rebound and dampening via knobs. The next level is BIG money.....bypass shocks.......now you're starting at $10k for a full set.

Assuming a base $10k buy is not your jam or price point like most of us. Look at the Falcon 3.3s, Fox 2.5s or the @Metalcloak Black Sport adjustable shocks. The Metalcloaks adjustable front and rear for a Mojave is roughly $2500. Fox is going to run over $3000 easy.

 

[Mr._Bill]

The problem with the Mojave is it was designed as a high speed Desert Runner, not a weight carrier. If you want to use it in a different manner, you have to modify it to match your intended use. The FOX shocks it comes with are good, but are custom manufactured to Jeep specifications for the intended use. They are not like any of the FOX retail offerings.

 

[outdoor.adventures]

Desert Speed Shock Tuning in Utah will revalve and tune factory Mojave shocks. @Huhnowwhat got his done there and speaks highly of the shop.

 

[PuddleJumper]

Ever since adding the (300lb) Go Fast camper to my JTM, the rear suspension has felt like a pogo stick, and it can take 4-5 bounces for it to settle down after going over any kind of bump or dip in the road/trail, e.g. a speed bump or a whoop. The front end (where I haven't added much weight) still feels great.

I've read through each of the half-million threads about Mojave shock "rebuilding" (servicing); there are plenty of shops who can do that. What I am looking for is re-valving (tuning).... and I can't seem to find any body who will re-valve my shocks. Yes, I've already called Shock Surplus and Accutune and All Terrain. All of them said NO. Several local off road shops told me the same thing

I know about the Falcon 3.3's for the Mojave, and I do think they are a fine fallback option. But the stock internal bypass Fox 2.5's are a damn good shock and if they can be re-valved then that seems like a simple/quick/economical option.

Any recommendations for a shop that will re-valve my rear shocks for me??? Bonus points if they're located on the west coast.

Thanks!
-Mark

fox elite 2.5s are an option from accutune but yeah no one will touch the factory foxes except to rebuild. It shouldn't need a retune, this sounds like your riding too low and just bouncing off of bumpstop. I carry hella more weight in my Mojave and don't have this issue. I have a 3/4 spacer and airbags. about 11 psi with all my gear makes it cycle like stock. the rear springs are soft AF if you don't have the tow package so a little resistance goes a long way. going to a soft 2in lift spring from iron man 4x4 is also a solution. just get the no additional load option and you'll sit about stock with a GFC weight and your gear. also make sure your not running you tire psi to high or low.

 

[davesparky6]

I agree it sounds like maybe something else. I frequently carry an ATV in the back of my JTM and don’t have that issue. ATV is 700 lbs give or take.

 

[msiminoff]

Desert Speed Shock Tuning in Utah will revalve and tune factory Mojave shocks.

Thank you @outdoor.adventures , this is exactly what I was looking for

Note that I'm running 1.5" Teraflex spacers in the rear (sorry, failed to mention that in my original post!) to bring my JT back to ~stock ride height. This means that my shocks are in the bypass (comfort) zone and I've now got more weight and more spring. This is the reason I'm looking to re-valve. Oh, and I am not hitting the bump stops. For those who mentioned that their JTM's ride fine with heavy items in the bed (@PuddleJumper , @davesparky6 ); With the extra weight you're carrying, your shocks are compressed past the bypass so there's much more damping.

The Falcon 3.3, Fox 2.5 Elite, & Metalcloak Black are all good options and within my budget, however none of them have bypass circuits. The Fox Race series, which are bypass shocks, are more money than a sane person would spend on a mostly stock JTM.

I'll give Speed Shock Tuning a call today. Still interested to know if there are any other west coast tuners who have experience with re-valving the factory JTM shocks.
Thanks,
-Mark

 

[PuddleJumper]

Thank you @outdoor.adventures , this is exactly what I was looking for

Note that I'm running 1.5" Teraflex spacers in the rear (sorry, failed to mention that in my original post!) to bring my JT back to ~stock ride height. This means that my shocks are in the bypass (comfort) zone and I've now got more weight and more spring. This is the reason I'm looking to re-valve. For those who mentioned that their JTM's ride fine with heavy items in the bed (@PuddleJumper , @davesparky6 ); With the extra weight you're carrying, your shocks are compressed past the bypass so there's much more damping.

The Falcon 3.3, Fox 2.5 Elite, & Metalcloak Black are all good options and within my budget, however none of them have bypass circuits. The Fox Race series, which are bypass shocks, are more money than a sane person would spend on a mostly stock JTM.

I'll give Speed Shock Tuning a call today. Still interested to know if there are any other west coast tuners who have experience with re-valving the factory JTM shocks.
Thanks,
-Mark

Can you measure how much shaft you have exposed on the rear so I can compare?

 

[Minty JL]

Desert Speed Shock Tuning in Utah will revalve and tune factory Mojave shocks. @Huhnowwhat got his done there and speaks highly of the shop.

Interesting. Wonder what the cost for that was.

I was quoted locally $600-800 to just rebuild them; I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze.

 

[msiminoff]

Just got off the phone with Desert Speed and they do have experience with re-valving the Mojave shocks. I am going to have them to the work. Thanks again @outdoor.adventures !!

Can you measure how much shaft you have exposed on the rear so I can compare?

Yeah sure! But it's raining cats & dogs today... will get you a measurement as soon as the rain stops (Desert Speed asked for it as well).

 

[outdoor.adventures]

The front shocks are 20.25" long at ride height (eye to eye). They are 15.75" when compressed, 23.75" when extended. That 8" of total travel is divided between 4.5" of compression and 3.5" of extension when traveling away from the ride height length.

The rear shocks are 22.25" at ride height, 25.75" extended, 17.75" compressed, also with 8" of travel.

See also:

To add more to my original thread post:


Sometimes springs sag over time and accessories (steel bumper, winch, a bunch of ducks) can cause them to ride lower, effectively shortening the ride height length of the shock.

My OG post is describing the bypass zones of the shock. Jeep engineered (and shipped from factory) the optimal ride height of the shock to be 3.5" of downtravel (aka extension) and 4 3/8" of uptravel (aka compression). The front shock length (aka ride height) for these two measurements to be true is 20.5". This is why mine, when originally measured, and @Aj58 's brand new Mojave are 20.5" front.

In many cases besides the Mojave shocks, the shock optimal extension and compression is split 50/50 - but not for these, like @mx5red said, for hitting bumps at speed and allowing for more dampening during shock compression. This is in part because the Mojave shocks have two distinct compression bypass zones, while only one extension zone.

Here's an image I made showing the zones and ride height of the front Mojave shocks. It illustrates how the more your springs have sagged/compressed such that your shocks are less than 20.5" eye to eye, the closer the piston gets to Zone 2 - causing for a harsher ride. If you're at 19" or 19.5" you're literally riding up on the firmer zone. If you're at 20.5", you're 1.5" from Zone 2. On the other side of it, the longer your springs are, the less downtravel you'll have as the piston moves closer to Zone 1 and the bottom of the shock - which is worse for articulation/traction off-road, especially in rock crawling.

 

[chr15m]

Ever since adding the (300lb) Go Fast camper to my JTM, the rear suspension has felt like a pogo stick, and it can take 4-5 bounces for it to settle down after going over any kind of bump or dip in the road/trail, e.g. a speed bump or a whoop. The front end (where I haven't added much weight) still feels great.

I've read through each of the half-million threads about Mojave shock "rebuilding" (servicing); there are plenty of shops who can do that. What I am looking for is re-valving (tuning).... and I can't seem to find any body who will re-valve my shocks. Yes, I've already called Shock Surplus and Accutune and All Terrain. All of them said NO. Several local off road shops told me the same thing

I know about the Falcon 3.3's for the Mojave, and I do think they are a fine fallback option. But the stock internal bypass Fox 2.5's are a damn good shock and if they can be re-valved then that seems like a simple/quick/economical option.

Any recommendations for a shop that will re-valve my rear shocks for me??? Bonus points if they're located on the west coast.

Thanks!
-Mark

I did the exact same, GFC and all, same experience as yours. Added airlift bags to the back and issue was resolved.

The problem with the Mojave is it was designed as a high speed Desert Runner, not a weight carrier. If you want to use it in a different manner, you have to modify it to match your intended use. The FOX shocks it comes with are good, but are custom manufactured to Jeep specifications for the intended use. They are not like any of the FOX retail offerings.

This applies to all shocks, independent od the model. Add 400lbs to any JT and our coils will sag at least 3/4" to 1", placing the shock outside the intended ride range of stroke. All JT shocks are also going to be beyond intended weight for their charge at this point as well.

 

[Free2roam]

Possibly @CrazyCooter

 

[Jaxmax]

Mark my Mojave has an RSI cap and a ARB Fridge and mount in bed, so perhaps 270 pounds , I went a different way using Max Tow springs and an ICON 1 3/8” aluminum spacer for rear, the Mojave springs are taller then the Max Tow springs so the spacer made that up , ride is much better but still rides great, they would be too firm without the cap, front still stock although I did add 70 lbs. with adding a winch in plastic bumper. Perhaps doing something with springs is first before the shocks…Jack

 

[ParatusExpeditions]

@CrazyCooter should be able to do that for you?

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