Are Fox shocks worth it?
- Thread starter kiwi
- Start date
I do enjoy them, but i also have nothing to compare them to. It’s my first ever vehicle, and it had stock suspension before i put the ranchos on it. So i don’t really have a feel on how it should ride.
I try not to drive new fancy vehicles, makes me want to spend more money. Sounds like you know what works for you. If you can find somebody local that has the Fox shocks that's the way to go, see what it gets you. I know that's not always easy but maybe in the regional forums here?
Just to clarify ... Fox 2.0 with or without resi may or may not be tunable and cost either $1000 or $2000 per set of four.
The IFP 2.0 shocks are tunable, but no one want to mess with them. The Nitrogen fill valve is a PITA.
Just to add some info to this… The set i’m looking at is on marketplace. It is a set of 4, completely brand new. The owner bought them, but totaled their jeep before they could install (have photos to prove it). They are listed at 400$, could possibly go even lower. This may help others advice my decision. Thanks.
I bought my 4 for $400($200 for fronts, 200 for rears) from different owners, fronts had about 300 miles on them, the rears were brand new as the owner immediately tore them off to do some coilovers
I figured I could resell them for at least that much if I didnt like them. I say go for it, shoot him an offer for cheaper and see what he says. If you dont like them then just re sell them im sure someone will want them especially if theyre hardly used. My $0.02
Mudflap
Member
I agree with this, if you hate them you can sell them again. They aren't bad shocks, just stiff. I have the non-resi Fox 2.0 shocks and they ride rough lol. It takes some getting used to but I've only ever driven on the old OEM shocks before. If you're looking for a stiffened up ride I'd pull the trigger.I bought my 4 for $400($200 for fronts, 200 for rears) from different owners, fronts had about 300 miles on them, the rears were brand new as the owner immediately tore them off to do some coilovers
My $0.02
I don't know any of that. I was not aware that anyone referred to all shocks as 2.0s until this thread. My guy can tune the IFPs, he won't but he can.Ok, thanks for clarifying. Pragmatically, if someone buys some 2.0’s they’ll be getting the Aluminum body shocks with floating piston that Savvy specified as TJ tuned. They aren’t tunable. Correct me if I’m wrong. Around here someone would have to know what they were doing to search it out and avoid buying the pieces of shit ones.
Yes and no. An emulsion shock with no reservoir does not have a piston, it just has an air space for the compressed gas charge which gives the displaced oil a place to move into as the shock shaft moves into the body. The oil isn't expanding, it is getting displaced. If there wasn't room for the oil, then the shock would lock up solid when the shaft started to move into the body.
The IFP sits on the oil and prevents the oil and gas from emulsifying which is the downfall of emulsion shocks since the spongy oil affects shock performance.
None of that, any of it, limits shock travel. In the case of the IFP, it makes a shock body longer relative to the shaft and you wind up with a shorter travel shock in the same mounting locations.
Unless they weld the end cap to the body, all shocks are tunable since all that has to be done is pull the shaft, take the piston off the shaft and move some shims around. The issue is whether it is worth it since the IFP aluminum body shocks don't have a shrader fill valve and instead use something like you see on a football or basketball. The tuners don't like that since they break one or two needles per set they fill.
I just refer to them as silver shocks, white shocks, black shocks... etc... LOL! My TJ has white shocks, and they replaced the factory black shocks.
On my JT Overland, I put the JT Rubicon suspension on, to include the stock Fox shocks... way softer and better feeling ride than the Overland stock suspension.
@kiwi, I would do as others said, get them, try to negotiate them down, and if you don't like the shocks, sell them on and get yourself some different ones. Just because something is tuned for your vehicle does not mean it is tuned to your liking or preference...
On my JT Overland, I put the JT Rubicon suspension on, to include the stock Fox shocks... way softer and better feeling ride than the Overland stock suspension.
@kiwi, I would do as others said, get them, try to negotiate them down, and if you don't like the shocks, sell them on and get yourself some different ones. Just because something is tuned for your vehicle does not mean it is tuned to your liking or preference...
If we can get the mounts optimized, do some tweaking on the internals to get max travel, there should be a lot of the same benefits to the bolt in versus custom install. Travel won't be as high but the ability to tune easier will make it very worthwhile.
Okay so it sounds like they’re more versatile, and have the ability to adjust and tune. With all this information, i’m back to my original question.
Is it worth it?
400$ for the shocks, plus probably a couple hundred more to get them tuned, will they be THAT much better than some longer ranchos? Or should i just wait until i can do resi’s?
jesseshoots
TJ Enthusiast
The problem is when you buy the $400 shocks, no companies will tune them because it's too difficult to do.
Right. And correct me if i’m wrong but multiple people are saying that non-resi, not tuned, is not that much better than ranchos. And they’re double the price…
How often are you going offroad? I live in Utah so I am always close to dirt roads, bad roads, or offroading. I can live with the firmer ride during my 9 mile commute. I love the feel of the Fox 2.0 on and off road, so I was super happy with my upgrade. I had Terraflex 9550 before and did not like them at all.
jesseshoots
TJ Enthusiast
You're correct. Even the remote reservoir shocks (in the Fox Performance series) have the same tuning style that the non-reservoir shocks have (the one with needle valves that no one wants to use).
I've run plenty of JK's with the off-the-shelf Fox Performance shocks and found the same to be true. They were super stiff.
I installed some Skyjacker BlackMax shocks on my TJ and enjoy them so far.
Currently once a month. But starting next year i’ll be going once a week. But mostly a DD.
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