Accutune Fox coilover question

[jasongrim2016]

I recently purchased and had installed a set of fox coilovers from Accutune, installed by a local shop. During the order process it was decided to upgrade the the rear springs to the heavier option I believe 250 lbs springs. When the install was completed I ended up a little over 3 inch higher in the rear. I spoke Accutune and they wanted measurements of the coilovers and springs on the ground and then lifted. I went back to the shop that did the install and instead of trying to going Accutune route, their solution is to install a 2.5 inch Metalcloack puck-spacer to level out the front. They don't want to mess with the preload on the front springs because of loss of shock travel. My question is this a bad idea. I know many on the forum will say to go to another shop, but in where I live I am very limited on decent 4X4 shops and the local Ford dealer won't do it.

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[V1Rotate]

So you bought an expensive, well tuned (from accutune anyway, not fox) height-adjustable setup and they think the best option is to jam a spacer lift into the front to even it out? FWIW its not hard to adjust them by yourself with basic tools and access to the internet. Assuming you supplied accurate info to Accutune and everything was installed correctly (which I'd now question) then you shouldn't have to crank the fronts into obliveon to even them out with the rears.. assuming the rear is on lowest setting too. What front spring rate do you have and what are you running as far as winch, bumper etc? If somehow you're still on the stock Fox spring rate on the front then it needed to be stiffened up too.. desperately

 

[jasongrim2016]

So you bought an expensive, well tuned (from accutune anyway, not fox) height-adjustable setup and they think the best option is to jam a spacer lift into the front to even it out? FWIW its not hard to adjust them by yourself with basic tools and access to the internet. Assuming you supplied accurate info to Accutune and everything was installed correctly (which I'd now question) then you shouldn't have to crank the fronts into obliveon to even them out with the rears.. assuming the rear is on lowest setting too. What front spring rate do you have and what are you running as far as winch, bumper etc? If somehow you're still on the stock Fox spring rate on the front then it needed to be stiffened up too.. desperately

Front spring rate 550 lbs rear 250 RCI front bumper 89 lbs warn 10k winch and full set RCI aluminum skids

 

[V1Rotate]

Front spring rate 550 lbs rear 250 RCI front bumper 89 lbs warn 10k winch and full set RCI aluminum skids

Yeah that should be a great setup.. again assuming they installed everthing correctly. Would be hard to screw up but if they're suggesting a spacer lift on top of that then I'd question competency. I wouldn't have expected them to start 3" different but if those rates are accurate and its installed right then you shouldn't have to adjust them much to level. Are both ends currently adjusted as low as they'll go?

 

[FreddieLee]

I went back to the shop that did the install and instead of trying to going Accutune route, their solution is to install a 2.5 inch Metalcloack puck-spacer to level out the front. They don't want to mess with the preload on the front springs because of loss of shock travel.

Um, do not do that, or do business with anyone that would propose that.

 

[87-Z28]

The fox shocks are at the limit of extended length wrt CV binding. Anything more than 24.3” is the danger zone. I would not add even a 1 mm spacer to your setup. First thing to check is the spring preload. As mentioned make sure the rear is set to lowest allowable and try to adjust the front. I assume the fox shocks have a threaded collar. This is fairly easy to do yourself.

Can you get pics of the current location of the threaded collar? Did you get installation instructions from shocks? Collar upper and lower limits should be included. Take some measurements and see where you are wrt to guidelines from fox.

 

[jasongrim2016]

Yeah that should be a great setup.. again assuming they installed everthing correctly. Would be hard to screw up but if they're suggesting a spacer lift on top of that then I'd question competency. I wouldn't have expected them to start 3" different but if those rates are accurate and its installed right then you shouldn't have to adjust them much to level. Are both ends currently adjusted as low as they'll go?

They did no adjustments to the coilovers.

 

[V1Rotate]

They did no adjustments to the coilovers.

Right so I was just wondering where they were set currently.. as in where the preload rings are set to on both the front and rear. That could shed some light on the adjustment situation

 

[F-Spot]

I spoke Accutune and they wanted measurements of the coilovers and springs on the ground and then lifted. I went back to the shop that did the install and instead of trying to going Accutune route, their solution is to install a 2.5 inch Metalcloack puck-spacer to level out the front. They don't want to mess with the preload on the front springs because of loss of shock travel. My question is this a bad idea. I know many on the forum will say to go to another shop, but in where I live I am very limited on decent 4X4 shops and the local Ford dealer won't do it.

Did the shop not understand what Accutune was asking for? Accutune just wants a simple tape measure reading of the coilovers and springs, compressed under vehicle weight on the ground and at full droop when on a shop lift. That has nothing to do with messing with the preload. Does this shop even have a vehicle lift? Not that its needed to do an install.

 

[Monster1926]

Fox is releasing an upgraded spring option that is .5 taller than the stock option. I believe the accutune eibachs is even shorter than the factory Fox. I would go with the upgraded Fox.

 

[jasongrim2016]

Right so I was just wondering where they were set currently.. as in where the preload rings are set to on both the front and rear. That could shed some light on the adjustment situation

These are the measurements I came up with
Front Driver preload adjustment 1 5/8" above the ring 1 5/8" below ring, spring 9 1/2", total shock length from top of bucket to center of bottom mount 21 1/2"
Front passenger 1 5/8" top 1 5/8" bottom, 9 5/8" spring, 21 5/8 total length
Rear driver 1" top 1" bottom, 9 3/4" spring, 23 3/8" length
Rear passenger 1" top 1" bottom, 9 3/4" spring, 23 3/8 length

 

[jasongrim2016]

The fox shocks are at the limit of extended length wrt CV binding. Anything more than 24.3” is the danger zone. I would not add even a 1 mm spacer to your setup. First thing to check is the spring preload. As mentioned make sure the rear is set to lowest allowable and try to adjust the front. I assume the fox shocks have a threaded collar. This is fairly easy to do yourself.

Can you get pics of the current location of the threaded collar? Did you get installation instructions from shocks? Collar upper and lower limits should be included. Take some measurements and see where you are wrt to guidelines from fox.

 

[V1Rotate]

In case you grab a beer and head out to the garage to make an adjustment - a few notes to spare you some drama. First - assuming Fox is still using the terrible single split ring design for the preload collar be VERY careful not to loosen the pinch bolt more than a few turns with spring tension still on the collar. The collar will jump the threads on the shock body and you'll be disasembling the thing to get it back in place after you take spring tension off completely. Ask me how I know this.. haha

Two - that preload collar is going to be under quite a bit of tension with that 550 lb spring as you try and crank it down some. The pros will tell you not to try and make adjustments with any spring tension but the garage mechanics will tell you its possible but hard. The proper collar wrench makes it easier though I've seen it done without it. Make sure the threads below the collar are clean and lubed if you're trying to raw dog it under tension. Easiest way to do it is just remove the whole unit and throw it in a spring compressor to get the tension off.. but I understand not everybody has the ability and resources to do so.

Did you take heigh measurements before the install? I'd ease the rears off to as low a setting as you can get to then match the fronts and see where things sit. If its all installed correctly it shouldn't be wild.

 

[87-Z28]

Definitely start with rear, lower spring rate will be easier to move collar. Get weight of the tire by jacking up that wheel a little.

before you start adjusting collar I would see what guidance fox supplies with these coilovers. They should have some documentation online to what the adjustment limits are in their opinion. See if your rear is at the lower limit first. If not then lower some by relieving preload. Collar moves towards increased spring length to reduce preload and this will then lower ride height.

edit. Be careful with compressed springs if you are not comfortable doing this. They have a significant amount of stored energy.

 

[87-Z28]

Front passenger 1 5/8" top 1 5/8" bottom, 9 5/8" spring, 21 5/8 total length
Rear driver 1" top 1" bottom, 9 3/4" spring, 23 3/8" length
Rear passenger 1" top 1" bottom, 9 3/4" spring, 23 3/8 length

it looks like the shop just randomly set the collars at their mid point. You should have some room to ad preload in front and remove preload in rear. This will help with ride height.

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