Feedback requested: front lift after Fox 2.0s

[EJH]

Looking for advice from the forum community please.

Last week I had Fox 2.0s installed (well the fronts, the rears I did two years ago myself). I love the handling now, and in general the truck is awesome. I'm a few days into a road trip, and have put about 500 miles on the new setup, including 50+ miles of logging roads. The suspension drives wonderful.

My issue is that I specifically asked, and paid for, the coilovers to be adjusted down from the default 2" level from Fox. My truck only has 2" of rake, at least with the Yakima rack and RTT installed. I asked for the coilovers to be set anywhere from stock to 1" of front lift. I ended up getting the truck back with an increase of 1.5" of front height. So I think they did lower the Fox pre-load a little bit, but not enough.

With my rack and RTT, I now have 0.5" of positive rake. On my current trip, loaded with gear (~500 lbs in the bed), I have 0.5" of negative rake or squat. I don't care for the squat. It is kind of my pet peeve in trucks.

What do you guys think I should do?

• Is half an inch being nit picky?
• Should I complain to the install shop? Even if they will redo the install (doubt it?) That is still extra wear on my truck to pull the front end apart again, just to lower it a small amount. As it is, the install (besides being too high) is perfect. The alignment is perfect. The truck drives awesome.
• I am not willing to raise the rear end. I don't want more wheel well gap, nor risk introducing shudder. I would maybe consider Sumo Springs or the global leaf pack or tremor leaf. Though honestly, I am happy with the rear end.

Note that I have OEM Hankooks (30.6"). I will be getting new tires soon - 265/65R18 (31.5"). Will the larger tire size minimize the difference in height?

I am conflicted and wish the front was just 1/2 inch lower. Then I would be dead level loaded, which is fine with me.

Here are a few pictures of the truck now.

Edit: poor cell connection at the moment. I will add pics tomorrow.

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[EJH]

Here are some pictures of the current setup.

 

[Trigganometry]

Lowering isn’t all that difficult while mounted with the right setup. The shop you had it done at should be able to dial that in as you do have the adjustment

 

[deleriumtremor]

My inclination would be to go back to the shop and explain it to the boss, like you explained it to us.

A good shop should want to stand behind their work and most are acutely aware how important it is to have happy customers.

Frankly I think the truck looks awesome as it is, but only you are important in that opinion.

 

[EJH]

My inclination would be to go back to the shop and explain it to the boss, like you explained it to us.

A good shop should want to stand behind their work and most are acutely aware how important it is to have happy customers.

Frankly I think the truck looks awesome as it is, but only you are important in that opinion.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

I'm also really wondering if bigger tires will solve the cosmetics. Maybe I just do that. Maybe I need time to get used to the new look...

 

[deleriumtremor]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

I'm also really wondering if bigger tires will solve the cosmetics. Maybe I just do that. Maybe I need time to get used to the new look...

A set of K02’s would look even better.

I am in the same boat as you with regard to the tires. I still sport the stock Hankook’s and am about to do a Fox level. I know myself well enough that I will wait until the Hankook’s as pretty far down the road before I replace them.

Frankly, I have been pleasantly surprised by the Hankook’s, they are nice and quiet on the road, they aren’t terrible in the snow and ice and hold their own off road (although we don’t do a lot of rock crawling). I do know that K02’s will be a lot better all around (notwithstanding the road noise).

 

[EJH]

A set of K02’s would look even better.

I am in the same boat as you with regard to the tires. I still sport the stock Hankook’s and am about to do a Fox level. I know myself well enough that I will wait until the Hankook’s as pretty far down the road before I replace them.

Frankly, I have been pleasantly surprised by the Hankook’s, they are nice and quiet on the road, they aren’t terrible in the snow and ice and hold their own off road (although we don’t do a lot of rock crawling). I do know that K02’s will be a lot better all around (notwithstanding the road noise).

Agree the Hankooks are the least sucky of an OEM tire. They wear slowly and have decent traction. I only really hate the OWL as mine never look clean. I've just done ~100kms of dirt logging roads on north Vancouver Island and they tires did well. Mine are at 8-9/ 32nds at 31k miles on the truck.

 

[jflogerzi]

Lowering isn’t all that difficult while mounted with the right setup. The shop you had it done at should be able to dial that in as you do have the adjustment

Sadly FOX 2.0's on this truck can't be adjusted while on. I can hardly see it. I would not worry.

 

[EJH]

Sadly FOX 2.0's on this truck can't be adjusted while on. I can hardly see it. I would not worry.

That is the issue ?

Update. I called the shop. They will redo the job next Tuesday. No pushback.

 

[JasonTremor]

Looks good to me in the pictures. If you put a level on your step rails, is it showing lower in the back?

 

[EJH]

I had the install shop lower the front coilovers 0.5-0.75 inch today. Truck looks better, IMHO. Slight rake when unloaded (1.0-1.25 inches of rake). The truck will now be level, or have a very small rake when loaded up with gear.

I had 4 Wheel Parts do the install and adjustment. They were great to deal with. No hassle with the request to adjust them, and no charge. The guy told me about half the folks they install coilovers for want an adjust later on. Most of the time it is due to settling and the customer wanting the coilovers raised up more, but sometimes lowered also. They do the first adjustment free as part of the original install charge.

 

[Wolfman00]

1-1.5” to me is a perfect range. you still get good down travel and alignment is easy.
truck looks perfect. still stockish, but you can tell it’s leveled too.

also- still look into tremor or wildtrak leafs. it’s a solid (non noisy) upgrade!

 

[EJH]

1-1.5” to me is a perfect range. you still get good down travel and alignment is easy.
truck looks perfect. still stockish, but you can tell it’s leveled too.

also- still look into tremor or wildtrak leafs. it’s a solid (non noisy) upgrade!

Thanks.

Most likely I'm going to go with the Tremor or global leaf pack. My rear leafs seem to be slowly sagging over the last 2.5 years. I think they're just crappy quality.

About half of the year I have my tent and rack there, so a constant 200 lb weight in the bed. The rest of the time is just the occasional hauling or towing my travel trailer.

 

[9zero1790]

Thanks.

Most likely I'm going to go with the Tremor or global leaf pack. My rear leafs seem to be slowly sagging over the last 2.5 years. I think they're just crappy quality.

About half of the year I have my tent and rack there, so a constant 200 lb weight in the bed. The rest of the time is just the occasional hauling or towing my travel trailer.

check out auto spring corp set for the 5g ranger. fits all models, gives some lift and beefs up the rear suspension without breaking the bank.

 

[EJH]

Here is the truck after the fronts were lowered about 1/2 inch last week.
My front wheel well is aproximately 37" with the stock Hankooks. It was about 36" before.
I am pleased with the result.

There is about 250-300 lbs in the bed (125 lbs RTT, 60 lbs rack, 50 lbs hitch bike rack and bike, 50 lbs in both swing tool boxes, approximately).

I also drove with a fairly full load of gear a couple days ago. The truck was not quite level, maybe 1/2 inch of rack. Exactly what I was after.

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