FOA shock pre-use tune up.

[2012SVTSC]

Oops! How bad did it get the shock body? or did it just grab and stick in place pretty much?

The body had a few minor scratches, I did my best to de burr them.

I switched to a old style fox high flow 3.5" piston. I reduced my compression valve stack substantially but installed a rate plate, and installed a 1" top out spacer. With FOA's "new" seals and I decided to stick with the standard orings.

Shock pictures:

 

[Hi-Desert Motorsports]

nice! that fox piston is gonna put in work! I am curious why you chose a rate plate setup rather than a traditional stiffer stack?

 

[84Prerunner]

Running a fox piston in my FOA 3.5 as well. Had to Maching down the OD and wear band depth a little bit works great.

 

[84Prerunner]

nice! that fox piston is gonna put in work! I am curious why you chose a rate plate setup rather than a traditional stiffer stack?

I use them in bypasses to get a firm bumpzone

 

[2012SVTSC]

nice! that fox piston is gonna put in work! I am curious why you chose a rate plate setup rather than a traditional stiffer stack?

For my truck, with the leafs and fairly light rear end my worst enemy is washboard and chop. The Fox piston I am using dose not have any freebleed holes. I am floating my compression valve stack with a 1.6x.004 shim before the first shim for free bleed. This should cause my shock to have super low break away force especially with the ultra slim valve stack I have, which is:

=====Piston
-----1.6x.004...free bleed valve float shim
_____ 2.3x.008
_____ 2.15x.008
_____1.85x0.010
_____ 1.55x0.015
_____ 1.3x.010 pivot shim
_____ 1.3x.015 rate plate lift
::::::: rate plate 1.973x .185

so with the light valveing I have chosen to handle the small washboard I hate, I needed the rate plate for bigger hits, and because I have 3 compression tubes the linear rate will be easier for my brain to tune with the bypass tubes.

Atleast thats my thoughts on that and why i set it up like this.

Running a fox piston in my FOA 3.5 as well. Had to Maching down the OD and wear band depth a little bit works great.

Glad to hear it! I just had to machine the center from 1/2 to 5/8" the od was literally the exact same!

 

[2012SVTSC]

Fox v FOA for reference:

 

[Hi-Desert Motorsports]

I use them in bypasses to get a firm bumpzone

they definitely do the job there! We just tuned a single shock ranger that had front IBP's, the main valving stack had a rate plate that was absolutely critical to get the truck to work well in the smaller holes and still take the big holes without harsh bottom outs! I used to be against them, but after tinkering with them for a while I definitely see where they have their benefits and place!

 

[Hi-Desert Motorsports]

For my truck, with the leafs and fairly light rear end my worst enemy is washboard and chop. The Fox piston I am using dose not have any freebleed holes. I am floating my compression valve stack with a 1.6x.004 shim before the first shim for free bleed. This should cause my shock to have super low break away force especially with the ultra slim valve stack I have, which is:

=====Piston
-----1.6x.004...free bleed valve float shim
_____ 2.3x.008
_____ 2.15x.008
_____1.85x0.010
_____ 1.55x0.015
_____ 1.3x.010 pivot shim
_____ 1.3x.015 rate plate lift
::::::: rate plate 1.973x .185

so with the light valveing I have chosen to handle the small washboard I hate, I needed the rate plate for bigger hits, and because I have 3 compression tubes the linear rate will be easier for my brain to tune with the bypass tubes.

Atleast thats my thoughts on that and why i set it up like this.

Glad to hear it! I just had to machine the center from 1/2 to 5/8" the od was literally the exact same!

Makes sense! did you not wanna drill and tap the piston for added free bleed? Its what we have done in the past to help with chatter, But as you said it has that negative affect on the bigger hits that you always must keep into account. Was talking with Sonny from Downsouth at the expo and we both had the same conclusion with shock tuning, Theres countless different ways to achieve a great result in shock tuning! Looking forward to see how your truck works

 

[theycallmeWALLY]

This thread is rad!

I messed with my FOA's back in the day. Ended up just going with King stuff but it was a great way to learn about shocks and trying new things.