Zone 4 inch lift with Fox 2.0 coil overs now high in the front.

[rickjkline]

Hi all,

I just had a Zone 4 inch lift with Fox 2.0 coil overs installed up front, when looking at the measurements, measured from center of wheel to fender, the truck now sits at 27 1/4 inches in the front and 25 3/4 inches in rear, a difference of 1.5 inches. Mind you all, I did not replace the rear springs, they have 175k on them. So they can be replaced, but I did not want a preload lift in the front anyway, I wanted the softer stock height preload ride.
To my understanding the Fox coil overs add a 0-2 inch lift up front from factory, is that correct? I told the shop I wanted a level truck, and did not want any extra preload lift on the front so as to keep the front geometry correct and not pushing the UCA's hard, this was the whole reason for me to go to a lift instead of just a level. Now I need some help as I am going to have to go back and make sure it is done right. They are going to have to remove the struts and compress the springs to change the preload to drop the truck that 1.5 inches to level and I am sure I will get some serious push back, It will also need another alignment as well.

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

[rickjkline]

Just an FYI, my driveway is uphill to the house so it does look worse than it is in these photos.

 

[rickjkline]

Here is a shot of the coil overs, I ordered new swaybar links too Anyone recognize the problem here?

 

[olyelr]

The only “problem” is the spacer for the zone kit lifts the front 4” with stock struts…the fox struts you used most likely also lifted it a few inches give or take. Have them remove the struts and lessen the added lift and you should be all good. And yes, you will need another alignment.

And the bushings on your sway bar links look shot, and nut is most likely loose too.

 

[rickjkline]

The only “problem” is the spacer for the zone kit lifts the front 4” with stock struts…the fox struts you used most likely also lifted it a few inches give or take. Have them remove the struts and lessen the added lift and you should be all good. And yes, you will need another alignment.

And the bushings on your sway bar links look shot, and nut is most likely loose too.

See, I’m not the only person to see this glaring problem. Funny thing is the washer for the bushings is 4 inches below it. They installed the new links extension on top of the washer and never used one. So the bar was slamming around! The lower bushing was crushed down over the extension.

 

[White six four]

I haven't done any suspension work to a 1/2 ton ram but wouldn't the zone 4" lift kit come with something to raise the rear up? I'm kind of lost as if you only wanted to level the front what's the point of buying a lift kit and only using half of it if it did come with new springs or spacers for the rear? Many guys on here running bilsteins set at 2.1 (if I remember correctly) with no problems or overstressing other front end components.

 

[olyelr]

The lower bushing at the control arm looks worn out too…and maybe the nut is loose

 

[DILLIGAF]

The rusty bolt on brand new Fox is all my OCD can see.

 

[mrack]

Zone 4” kit is a 4” front 2” rear, so the truck should be level. Obviously problem is you also used leveling struts which weren’t part of the kit, so you need to have them let the preload down to stock on those coilovers, or go back to stock height struts. Not sure how it’ll ride after lowering the preload that much, but there’s one way to find out.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Fox 2.0 are not struts, they're coilovers, and they're "adjustable" Nobody sees the adjusting collar at the botton in this case ? Lol
Your shop installed the 4" spacers at the top of the CO's, CO's that come preset at 2 or 2.5" so now you have a 6" front at least. Ask your shop to remove height from the coilovers adjusting the collars, you should be able to do it as well.

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

They definitely installed those Fox COILOVERS with them cranked up so they added lift to your 4" of lift lift from Zone. They need to set them down to "0".

 

[rickjkline]

I haven't done any suspension work to a 1/2 ton ram but wouldn't the zone 4" lift kit come with something to raise the rear up? I'm kind of lost as if you only wanted to level the front what's the point of buying a lift kit and only using half of it if it did come with new springs or spacers for the rear? Many guys on here running bilsteins set at 2.1 (if I remember correctly) with no problems or overstressing other front end components.

Yes it came with a block that goes on top of the rear coil to give the needed height lift. The issue is the Fox coilovers come with added lift, that’s why they advertise them as 0-2 inch level. I told the shop that I wanted a level 4 inch lift and instead I got about 5.5 in front and 4 in the rear.

 

[rickjkline]

Thanks everyone for your input, I’m going back on Monday to talk to them about lowering the preload on the Fox coilovers and then realign the front end.

 

[Dan Topp]

I raised my rear after a 4” lift with general 70+. Before springs is in front of the Jefferson school

 

[62Blazer]

Fox 2.0 are not struts, they're coilovers, and they're "adjustable" Nobody sees the adjusting collar at the botton in this case ? Lol
Your shop installed the 4" spacers at the top of the CO's, CO's that come preset at 2 or 2.5" so now you have a 6" front at least. Ask your shop to remove height from the coilovers adjusting the collars, you should be able to do it as well.

What I was thinking to. Like most coilovers there is a threaded adjuster collar. Just jack the front of the truck up to take weight off of it and adjust the collars down. It will take longer to get the truck in the shop and jack it up then it does to adjust the collars.

 

[olyelr]

What I was thinking to. Like most coilovers there is a threaded adjuster collar. Just jack the front of the truck up to take weight off of it and adjust the collars down. It will take longer to get the truck in the shop and jack it up then it does to adjust the collars.

Was not the case with the 2.0 fox units i put on the wifes denali. I tried adjusting them without disassembly and ended up stripping the threaded collar.

 

[62Blazer]

Was not the case with the 2.0 fox units i put on the wifes denali. I tried adjusting them without disassembly and ended up stripping the threaded collar.

Assuming you jacked it up by the frame to let the tires hang and take the pressure off the shocks/springs? Not saying you did anything wrong by any means, just curious. I've worked on a bunch of coil-overs on ATV's/SxS'/fullsize offroad rigs and always just adjusted the collars up or down. That is also the standard procedure for disassembling them...adjust the collars all the way down to take the preload off the springs. All of the instruction manuals I have seen you adjust the collars with the shocks assembled.

 

[rickjkline]

Assuming you jacked it up by the frame to let the tires hang and take the pressure off the shocks/springs? Not saying you did anything wrong by any means, just curious. I've worked on a bunch of coil-overs on ATV's/SxS'/fullsize offroad rigs and always just adjusted the collars up or down. That is also the standard procedure for disassembling them...adjust the collars all the way down to take the preload off the springs. All of the instruction manuals I have seen you adjust the collars with the shocks assembled.

The body of these shocks are aluminum and will strip easily, Fox recommends removing all spring preload before making adjustments.

 

[rickjkline]

Took the truck back yesterday and they agreed to remove the coil overs and readjust per Fox’s recommendation for a level height. The rep at Fox told me that 8 full turns of the ring is 1 inch.
They will have it realigned too.
Fingers crossed.

 

[olyelr]

Assuming you jacked it up by the frame to let the tires hang and take the pressure off the shocks/springs? Not saying you did anything wrong by any means, just curious. I've worked on a bunch of coil-overs on ATV's/SxS'/fullsize offroad rigs and always just adjusted the collars up or down. That is also the standard procedure for disassembling them...adjust the collars all the way down to take the preload off the springs. All of the instruction manuals I have seen you adjust the collars with the shocks assembled.

They actually wernt installed. I took them back off because they were preset for more lift than i wanted, which was the reason i wanted to adjust them. I actually had a cheap rented spring compressor that was wound up as tight as i could get the springs and the damn collar still stripped out.