Navigating the many leveling kit options

[EJH]

I did the rear fox 2.0 shocks pretty early in ownership, and just last week did the front coilovers and really glad I did. I don't 4wheel or tow but just the better ride quality is worth it to me not to mention it just looks meaner.

then I gave it sideburns:

I'm curious how much adding the front Fox shocks to a truck with rears already there improved the ride? I also did the Fox 2.0 rears within a few weeks of buying the truck. I would like to do the fronts, but don't have a need for much lift/leveling. I would mainly do it to improve the ride further. While the rears improved the handling and bounce significantly, the truck still dives a lot on braking. Did the front Foxes improve that brake dive? I also tow and think stiffening up the front end suspension will help with towing.

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[Mellow]

I'm curious how much adding the front Fox shocks to a truck with rears already there improved the ride? I also did the Fox 2.0 rears within a few weeks of buying the truck. I would like to do the fronts, but don't have a need for much lift/leveling. I would mainly do it to improve the ride further. While the rears improved the handling and bounce significantly, the truck still dives a lot on braking. Did the front Foxes improve that brake dive? I also tow and think stiffing up the front end suspension will help with towing.

It rides a lot better with the front done.. I would say while the rears were a good improvement, the fronts are an incredible improvement.

 

[Tremors]

I have the bilsteins an they are great for what I do but for what you're talking about I'd go with either the a fox coil over kit or the Eibach with 3" lift spring/strut combo. Personally I didn't want to go over 2" of lift to keep the angle of the half shafts closer to stock. If you go with the eibach 3" kit you may want upper control arms to help alignment. Like 9Zero said forget any spacer type level. At a minimum you want either Eibach or Bilstein level struts that reuse your springs or a coil over or the eibach/spring combo.

Do you have any problems with your truck shuttering at take off after your 3" lift?

 

[Langwilliams]

Do you have any problems with your truck shuttering at take off after your 3" lift?

I don't have a 3" I went 1.8" with the Bilstein adjustable kit. I wouldn't want to go 3. Just my personal choice. A 2" fox kit is all I'd want.

 

[Tremors]

I don't have a 3" I went 1.8" with the Bilstein adjustable kit. I wouldn't want to go 3. Just my personal choice. A 2" fox kit is all I'd want.

So you must not have any shutter going on. I went with a 2.5" lift. It was enough to cause shutter at take off. I'm just looking around the forum to see how common it is. And how people deal with it.

 

[Langwilliams]

So you must not have any shutter going on. I went with a 2.5" lift. It was enough to cause shutter at take off. I'm just looking around the forum to see how common it is. And how people deal with it.

There's a thread on here about shutter but I thought it was related to either the yoke slip joint needing greased or the drive shaft being out of phase. If it just started after the level I haven't seen anything on that. Luckily I don't have the problem.

 

[philanderer]

I’m very pleased with Bilstein 5100s all around - front is set to 1.8.

However, after doing the work with a friend including spring compression, I would opt for pre-assembled coilovers in the front if I were to do it again. I did save a good chunk of money though. $200 vs $850+

this is what i have. glad i went with the 1.8 vs 2.5 up front as the ride is plenty stiff. any stiffer would be too stiff, but id rather have it a little too stiff than too soft and squishy (thats what she said), if that makes any sense. i do have my tires at 40 lbs so i may air down some and try that. already disappointed in my mpgs so that wont help any

 

[BettaRanga]

this is what i have. glad i went with the 1.8 vs 2.5 up front as the ride is plenty stiff. any stiffer would be too stiff, but id rather have it a little too stiff than too soft and squishy (thats what she said), if that makes any sense. i do have my tires at 40 lbs so i may air down some and try that. already disappointed in my mpgs so that wont help any

That should help a LOT!

 

[Tremors]

There's a thread on here about shutter but I thought it was related to either the yoke slip joint needing greased or the drive shaft being out of phase. If it just started after the level I haven't seen anything on that. Luckily I don't have the problem.

Thanks for the reply and info. I haven't heard about the yoke slip lube. I found a couple threads about the shutter. Some people have it on a stock truck no lift. If there's shutter at take off its most likely the driveshaft alignment. Some people have shutter at higher speed like 20 to 40 or 50 to 60mph that's something different. I saw one dude went with a one piece drive shaft and still has shutter at higher speed. The driveshaft fixed the shutter at take off but still there at higher speed. If I can't get my driveshaft aligned and close enough I might have to try a one piece drive shaft. It seems hard to align the drive shaft because it's two piece and there's several points where it can be out of alignment or phase

 

[TJC]

One Piece Driveshaft Link

-T

 

[Langwilliams]

Thanks for the reply and info. I haven't heard about the yoke slip lube. I found a couple threads about the shutter. Some people have it on a stock truck no lift. If there's shutter at take off its most likely the driveshaft alignment. Some people have shutter at higher speed like 20 to 40 or 50 to 60mph that's something different. I saw one dude went with a one piece drive shaft and still has shutter at higher speed. The driveshaft fixed the shutter at take off but still there at higher speed. If I can't get my driveshaft aligned and close enough I might have to try a one piece drive shaft. It seems hard to align the drive shaft because it's two piece and there's several points where it can be out of alignment or phase

There was one guy I read about that put 2 washers between the each side of the carrier bearing an the frame to lower the drive shaft angle a few degrees.

 

[Deleted member 15875]

I'm curious how much adding the front Fox shocks to a truck with rears already there improved the ride? I also did the Fox 2.0 rears within a few weeks of buying the truck. I would like to do the fronts, but don't have a need for much lift/leveling. I would mainly do it to improve the ride further. While the rears improved the handling and bounce significantly, the truck still dives a lot on braking. Did the front Foxes improve that brake dive? I also tow and think stiffening up the front end suspension will help with towing.

I just had the Ford/Fox performance kit installed for all fours, but have been driving with 5100 rears for a few weeks. To your question, yes, the Fox fronts improve/eliminate dive instantly. The first thing you notice is the front immediate feels taller and more like a truck. I'd say this is very noticeable and really transforms the feel and ride of the Ranger.

The front definitely rides taller and it gives the impression that I just went from a Ranger to a Raptor. Hard to believe, but it's pretty noticeable. The Fox rears are way more compliant then the 5100's I had on, but did like them too and would also highly recommend them. 5100's would be ideal for towing. Fox's in the rear are much less stiff feeling, but still offer more chassis holdup than stock. The Fox fronts feel far more supportive/stout then the Fox rears IMO, but again, the rears absorb well and still holdup. Hope this helps. As most say, no matter your choice, you'll improve the stock ride. Can't wait to ride offroad now!

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