Tuned by Ford Fox 2.0 Coilovers are different than aftermarket Fox 2.0 kit

[Ranger_Rocks]

My Ford/Fox kit was made 9/2019 and installed out-of-box by my dealer pre-delivery 7/2020. No adjustments. Kits were in short supply at that time.

Sponsored

 

[5280Ranger]

I know a lot of people have suggested that there is no difference between the aftermarket Fox 2.0 coilvers versus the Tuned by Ford Performance Fox 2.0 coilovers. However, after viewing images of the two versions, I noticed that the Tuned by Ford Performance coil springs had at least 2 or more additional coils. This got me asking questions.

Long story short, I contacted Fox to ask about this. They stated the following: "All information including differences and technical information on proprietary products must be answered/directed to the proprietor. Please contact ford performance." So, I contacted Ford Performance and they directed me to this article here.

In addition, I confirmed with Shawn at Stage 3 Motorsports that the aftermarket Fox 2.0 coilovers have approximately 9 coils. When viewing pictures of the Tuned by Ford Performance coilvers that readers on Ranger5G have posted, you can clearly see that they have 11 or 12 coils.

After reading the article and confirming the coil spring differences, I can confidently say that these two kits are not the same. From my somewhat limited knowledge of coil springs, assuming that coil diameter and overall spring length is the same, when you introduce more coils, you effectively reduce the spring rate.

This would mean that the Tuned by Ford Performance coil springs are softer than the aftermarket Fox 2.0 kit. Ford may be compensating for this with their own specific valving, but your guess is as good as mine. Of course, this begs the question; Which is better for your own particular application?

There are a lot of people here who have installed the Tuned by Ford coilovers and remark how great they are on road and how they changed the ride for the better. I have yet to read a review though on how they perform off road. Stage 3 Motorsports has an excellent video review of the off road performance for the aftermarket Fox 2.0 kit, but I have yet to find anything close about the Tuned by Ford Performance coilovers off road.

Based on this information, I'm thinking that the aftermarket Fox 2.0 kit may be the better choice for myself. I believe I would prefer the higher rate coil spring for off road. I know Ford may be compensating for the softer spring with valving, but valving can only do so much for a softer spring. In addition, heavier aftermarket front bumpers, winch setups, and/or a truck loaded with overlanding gear would favor the higher rate spring as well.

Of course it would be nice if someone could compare the two different kits, but I don't think this is going to happen unless a couple of buddies have the same truck with the two different kits to test for themselves.

What do you think?

Attached are photos of the Ford Fox 2.0 kit. If anyone has the Fox non-ford ones we can compare. I am also interested in the Fox only preload setting from factory. The Ford ones seem very minimal.

 

[NvrFinished]

Attached are photos of the Ford Fox 2.0 kit. If anyone has the Fox non-ford ones we can compare. I am also interested in the Fox only preload setting from factory. The Ford ones seem very minimal.

The Ford Fox preload setting is less due to the 2" longer coil spring. The Fox aftermarket setting is higher because the coil spring is shorter.

Something many have commented on is that the preload settings of the Ford Fox kit seem to be right on the money whereas the Fox aftermarket kit is much more inconsistent.

 

[5280Ranger]

My Ford/Fox kit was made 9/2019 and installed out-of-box by my dealer pre-delivery 7/2020. No adjustments. Kits were in short supply at that time.

What amount of lift did you get without adjustment?

 

[5280Ranger]

The Ford Fox preload setting is less due to the 2" longer coil spring. The Fox aftermarket setting is higher because the coil spring is shorter.

Something many have commented on is that the preload settings of the Ford Fox kit seem to be right on the money whereas the Fox aftermarket kit is much more inconsistent.

Thank you for the information. Very helpful!

 

[GhostStrykre]

Reviving an old thread for a question:

I know the aftermarket Fox 2.0's require a rebuild after like 30k-50k miles. Does the Ford Tuned Fox suspension kit require a rebuild, and if so, at what mileage?

I'm trying to decide what to do with suspension options. Rebuild mileage is a meaningful factor that I find to be difficult to determine.

 

[EJH]

Reviving an old thread for a question:

I know the aftermarket Fox 2.0's require a rebuild after like 30k-50k miles. Does the Ford Tuned Fox suspension kit require a rebuild, and if so, at what mileage?

I'm trying to decide what to do with suspension options. Rebuild mileage is a meaningful factor that I find to be difficult to determine.

If you look at Fox's website, the rebuild interval is the same for all their IFP 2.0 shocks.

I ran only the rear (non-Ford) Fox 2.0s for 30,000 miles. I replaced them with a new set of the same, when I upgraded the fronts from the FX4 to Fox 2.0 coilovers. I could tell a difference in the rear before and after the replacement. Was it monumental, no, but it was noticeable. Based on that, and my driving, I will be doing a rebuild at about 40,000 miles of usage.

I would guess that all the other shock brands also deteriorate with age. They just don't have rebuild or replacement intervals. YMMV.

 

[GhostStrykre]

If you look at Fox's website, the rebuild interval is the same for all their IFP 2.0 shocks.

I ran only the rear (non-Ford) Fox 2.0s for 30,000 miles. I replaced them with a new set of the same, when I upgraded the fronts from the FX4 to Fox 2.0 coilovers. I could tell a difference in the rear before and after the replacement. Was it monumental, no, but it was noticeable. Based on that, and my driving, I will be doing a rebuild at about 40,000 miles of usage.

I would guess that all the other shock brands also deteriorate with age. They just don't have rebuild or replacement intervals. YMMV.

good info.. i'm just a normie with FX4 suspension that's been on for 65k miles.. hunting for the right set up for the occasional forest road or trail, but otherwise pure tarmac.

with intervals like that i figure i'm best served looking into bilstein or eibach.

 

[HeavyDuty]

What is interesting is no one has mentioned the fact that if you adjust to the same number of threads on the Fox you may get a bit of a difference in lift side to side.

I had to tweek my drivers side about 3/16 of thread to get truck to sit correctly and equal side to side.

If you are nose "heavy" or lower on one side, up front, than you will probably be high the opposite side of rear - respectively.

As much as we might or like to expect it is not a perfect science. And there will be slight differences in spring rate per unit, suspension seat and orientation and how each vehicles front end weight
compresses the strut on each side.

 

[Big Blue]

Incorrect.
Take 2 identical shocks and put a 2” longer spring of the same rate on one of them, the one with the longer spring will ride stiffer.
Spring rate is calculated as pounds per inch. Preload it more and the rate increases.

Not quite true, the spring rate does not change as you increase the compression (preload), what does increase is the spring force (the total force the spring is producing).

Most springs used in front suspensions are constant rate springs. They have evenly spaced coils. They do make variable rate (progressive rate) coil springs. They have varying spacing on the coils when not compressed. I have not seen them used in performance situations.

 

[Whiplash]

What is interesting is no one has mentioned the fact that if you adjust to the same number of threads on the Fox you may get a bit of a difference in lift side to side.

I had to tweek my drivers side about 3/16 of thread to get truck to sit correctly and equal side to side.

If you are nose "heavy" or lower on one side, up front, than you will probably be high the opposite side of rear - respectively.

As much as we might or like to expect it is not a perfect science. And there will be slight differences in spring rate per unit, suspension seat and orientation and how each vehicles front end weight
compresses the strut on each side.

Right side of Rangers are taller , front and rear.....how much varies a little ,,always just alittle more in the rear....It's called the "Ranger Lean" ....Drives the OCD owners crazy... some will go to extreme measures to achieve levelness....

 

[Chris M]

Right side of Rangers are taller , front and rear.....how much varies a little ,,always just alittle more in the rear....It's called the "Ranger Lean" ....Drives the OCD owners crazy... some will go to extreme measures to achieve levelness....

Ommmmmmmmmm.....

Sponsored