When should I expect to need to service the Fox shocks?

[rocsteady]

Another thread was talking about replacing shocks with ones FOX has upgraded the live valviness on and got me thinking again. Is there a recommended mileage where the shocks are supposed to be serviced/rebuilt? If so, has anyone got there yet and what kind of expense is it? Mine does a vast majority of its mileage on the road with occasional off road fun, almost entirely flat-ish trails, not jumping it or bottoming it out like one would during more baja-like shenanigans.

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[Dracena]

The generally accepted internal for daily driver street use is 50K miles. You'll know when they feel like skateboards on gravel.

 

[superj]

Not a ranger but my buddy has an f150 raptor and he just had his shocks rebuilt 3 weeks ago. I want to say it something like 2k to get it done but he said his truck rides like a brand new raptor now

 

[Havasu RR]

Another thread was talking about replacing shocks with ones FOX has upgraded the live valviness on and got me thinking again. Is there a recommended mileage where the shocks are supposed to be serviced/rebuilt? If so, has anyone got there yet and what kind of expense is it? Mine does a vast majority of its mileage on the road with occasional off road fun, almost entirely flat-ish trails, not jumping it or bottoming it out like one would during more baja-like shenanigans.

30,000, mi would be fine with that usage.

 

[Havasu RR]

Another thread was talking about replacing shocks with ones FOX has upgraded the live valviness on and got me thinking again. Is there a recommended mileage where the shocks are supposed to be serviced/rebuilt? If so, has anyone got there yet and what kind of expense is it? Mine does a vast majority of its mileage on the road with occasional off road fun, almost entirely flat-ish trails, not jumping it or bottoming it out like one would during more baja-like shenanigans.

Also, on off-road shocks I just removed the struts and or shocks and take them in and have them serviced. $120 per shock.

 

[Lion77]

Dealer service or off-road specialty shop? Id consider DIY rebuilds if it doesn't take any crazy specialty tools.

Already have a spring compressor kit. Ive swapped plenty of springs struts on performance cars.

Im assuming the oil is changed out and there's likely a purge process, but curious as to what else is serviced on them.

 

[superj]

Need new seals/o-rings when rebuilt

 

[Havasu RR]

Dealer service or off-road specialty shop? Id consider DIY rebuilds if it doesn't take any crazy specialty tools.

Already have a spring compressor kit. Ive swapped plenty of springs struts on performance cars.

Im assuming the oil is changed out and there's likely a purge process, but curious as to what else is serviced on them.

Basically the oil and the associated o-rings. And then nitrogen charged.

 

[embedded rock]

I'm going to suspect shocks will get a rebuild once they start leaking more so than a preemptive shock oil refresh. Then, I wonder if Ford dealers will have the skills and experience to do a shock rebuild/repair. Really, it seems dealers will simply replace the Fox shock with new shocks. If/when that happens be sure to get your old, original shocks and take them home.

 

[Lion77]

I was gonna say, I've not seen anything in the service manual about "preventative maintenance" on the Live Valve. It seems to me, that like a gas strut (I understand these are oil filled, nitrogen purged), it's intended to be used until it wears out and then replaced.

50~60k miles is not a lot of mileage for replacement / rebuild, especially for such a capable shock that spends 90% of its life on the street....I would think maybe 100k if you do a lot of off-roading, but it seems to me that Ford expects them to last at least as long as the "severe service lifespan" of 150k.

 

[Mystic]

I was gonna say, I've not seen anything in the service manual about "preventative maintenance" on the Live Valve. It seems to me, that like a gas strut (I understand these are oil filled, nitrogen purged), it's intended to be used until it wears out and then replaced.

50~60k miles is not a lot of mileage for replacement / rebuild, especially for such a capable shock that spends 90% of its life on the street....I would think maybe 100k if you do a lot of off-roading, but it seems to me that Ford expects them to last at least as long as the "severe service lifespan" of 150k.

I won't say this is wrong, as I haven't yet done a deep dive, but the crowd over at FordRaptorForum seems to think 50k is the correct interval (dependent on usage habits, of course). There are shops (Texas Shock Works, et al) that cater specifically to this niche.

If you can find info put out by Ford, let me know, because I'm interested to know what the no bs OEM correct answer is as well.

Edit: to clarify, obviously the big boy truck is running a different shock than our little trucks, so our mileage may vary (quite literally)

 

[RaptrJr]

Fox's website tells you 50k miles for rebuild intervals

 

[Havasu RR]

I won't say this is wrong, as I haven't yet done a deep dive, but the crowd over at FordRaptorForum seems to think 50k is the correct interval (dependent on usage habits, of course). There are shops (Texas Shock Works, et al) that cater specifically to this niche.

If you can find info put out by Ford, let me know, because I'm interested to know what the no bs OEM correct answer is as well.

Edit: to clarify, obviously the big boy truck is running a different shock than our little trucks, so our mileage may vary (quite literally)

I run mine really hard off-road. After about 20 or 30 minutes. I'll pull over and put my hand on one of the front shocks. You can't leave your hand there for a second. It's absolutely frying. That's what kills the oil.

 

[Mystic]

I run mine really hard off-road. After about 20 or 30 minutes. I'll pull over and put my hand on one of the front shocks. You can't leave your hand there for a second. It's absolutely frying. That's what kills the oil.

Do you mainly do high speed stuff or rock/slow stuff?

I don't do much high speed, like...I'll sometimes get up to 40-55 over washboards on easy flat sections out in the desert, but I don't go looking for dry lakebeds to do 90+.

Just on 10 minute sections of washboard these shocks seem to get tired

I'll probably get the new Fox shocks from one of the other recent threads eventually if the truck proves reliable

 

[Hande]

Question to European friends: where do you get your shocks serviced inside EU ?

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