PRO Fox suspension install on 2020 TRD-Off-Road /w KDSS

[niadh0]

thank you Stefan for the feedback on such an install. With KDSS option in place, the front two suspension height needs to be identical for the 4R to be levelled (side to side) correctly.

i have been driving a 2019 TRD Pro VooDoo for 9 months and love the Ride quality. trading it in for a 2020 TRD-Off-Road Premium with KDSS. I decided to buy a Toyota PRO Fox suspension kit with all four suspensions, AND one separate FRONT DRIVER Side PRO Fox suspension. The idea is to make the front two suspensions identical by using the separately bought Driver side suspension on the Passenger side. this means that I will end up with an unused passenger side new suspension from the kit. I checked the 19 pro and the fitment won't be an issue.

any feedback? the alternative is to use top spacers to match the over all height on the passenger side. more trial/error approach.

I also welcome recommendation for alternative setup that will give me (1) plush ride just like the Factory Fox Pro setup and (2) retains the front height (won't mind if it levels front to back but definitely not looking for a 2 or 3 inch lift on all sides - meaning the back needs to remain at stock height as it barely fits in my garage at work.

appreciate any feedback.

 

[snowpeak]

I'd be interested to see how this goes and may consider doing it myself, but from what I've read, the price of the toyota/fox parts is equal or more than better quality after market parts. Please take photos before/after.

 

[llDemonll]

Why not just buy a full Fox 2.5 kit? instead of a TRD kit that's going to have markup and also an extra front component?

 

[niadh0]

Why not just buy a full Fox 2.5 kit? instead of a TRD kit that's going to have markup and also an extra front component?

sure. I also welcome recommendation for alternative setup that will give me (1) plush ride just like the Factory Fox Pro setup and (2) retains the front height (won't mind if it levels front to back but definitely not looking for a 2 or 3 inch lift on all sides - meaning the back needs to remain at stock height as it barely fits in my garage at work. Thx

 

[Harrisnc]

The back will remain at stock height unless you replace the springs. The fox 2.5 should be able to be adjusted down to essentially 0 if you wanted. However the spring rates and shock damping maybe stiffer than the pro version. I’d want the non Toyota ones for the adjustability.

 

[MrGainzz]

The back will remain at stock height unless you replace the springs. The fox 2.5 should be able to be adjusted down to essentially 0 if you wanted. However the spring rates and shock damping maybe stiffer than the pro version. I’d want the non Toyota ones for the adjustability.

The pro fox 2.5 is not height adjustable.


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[MrGainzz]

Why not just buy a full Fox 2.5 kit? instead of a TRD kit that's going to have markup and also an extra front component?

Maybe he’s getting a great deal on the trd pro fox suspension. A guy was selling his pro fox for $350.

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[Harrisnc]

The pro fox 2.5 is not height adjustable.


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The fox 2.5 factory shocks from fox are height adjustable. 0-2 or 0-3

 

[niadh0]

Maybe he’s getting a great deal on the trd pro fox suspension. A guy was selling his pro fox for $350.

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Correct. I bought a new condition TRD Fox set for $1200 with less than 3K miles on them. a fellow forum member just told me that if I use 1inch cornfed (front passenger) and 1/3 inch cornfed spaces (rear passenger) side on top of the fox then the truck will be fully level on all sides... no KDSS lean and the TRD fox will work. this is when i though of buying a spare driver side Pro-Fox (haven't bought it yet) and installing it on the passenger side... just a theory to potentially avoid the spacers.

thanks i also checked the Fox2.5 from Fox and they are adjustable (depending o the model). would have followed that path if i didn't buy the ProFox set already.

 

[Solofowaffles]

Why are you trading in a 9 month old pro?

 

[comtn4x4]

Correct. I bought a new condition TRD Fox set for $1200 with less than 5 or 6K miles on them. a fellow forum member just told me that if I use 1inch cornfed (front passenger) and 1/3 inch cornfed spaces (rear passenger) side on top of the fox then the truck will be fully level on all sides... no KDSS lean and the TRD fox will work. this is when i though of buying a spare driver side Pro-Fox (haven't bought it yet) and installing it on the passenger side... just a theory to potentially avoid the spacers.

thanks i also checked the Fox2.5 from Fox and they are adjustable (depending o the model). would have followed that path if i didn't buy the ProFox set already.

So I'm not sure that I am reading/understanding everything correctly. Do you already have the new truck? And does it have the same amount of KDSS lean as the person you're buying the suspension kit from?
Reason I ask is it seems every 4Runner is different when it comes to KDSS, some have no lean at all (Mine for example) and some have quite a bit.

To me it would seem easier to use a screw type adjustable coil over to adjust the front to get it dialed in correctly and a spacer to adjust the rear. This would allow you to dial it in as close to where you want it as possible. Also remember to get the rear dialed in first then adjust the front.

 

[niadh0]

i am getting a solid trade-in value for the 2019 Pro and therefore decided to trade in for a 2020 TRDOffRoad (Premium in Canada). The main driver for the move is the interior upgrades. The Offroad trim because I am not getting the Army Green and therfore makes no sense to get the Pro and pay $10K more. I will miss the Pro fox ride and so decided to buy a set of slightly used Pro Fox. Just bought them as well.

thanks for pointing out the KDSS lean point. I did not know that all vehicles did not have the lean issue after any suspension swap. with your input it almost sounds like I should install the Pro Fox first and see if there are any issues and then correct them somehow with a spacer if required. I don't have any adjustable suspension from the Fox company so I would have to follow the spacer route. This is when I thought if I could use two driver side front suspension to make sure the height of the suspension with coils itself is identical. i checked the part number of the factory TRD-Off-Road front left and right suspension and they are actually different (not the same case for SR5 where they are identical). So now I am wondering what will be the fix.

a point of clarification. the 2020 arrives in two weeks brand new. the person who gave me a tip about the cornfed spacers actually installed a used TRF Fox set in his 2018/17 TRD-Off-Road with KDSS. I bought my TRD Fox from a different person who swapped them for dobinson. BTW my wife also wants the same ride quality on her limited so i am not yet done with this topic but first i need to make sure the 2020 is solved first.

thanks,

So I'm not sure that I am reading/understanding everything correctly. Do you already have the new truck? And does it have the same amount of KDSS lean as the person you're buying the suspension kit from?
Reason I ask is it seems every 4Runner is different when it comes to KDSS, some have no lean at all (Mine for example) and some have quite a bit.

To me it would seem easier to use a screw type adjustable coil over to adjust the front to get it dialed in correctly and a spacer to adjust the rear. This would allow you to dial it in as close to where you want it as possible. Also remember to get the rear dialed in first then adjust the front.

 

[comtn4x4]

i am getting a solid trade-in value for the 2019 Pro and therefore decided to trade in for a 2020 TRDOffRoad (Premium in Canada). The main driver for the move is the interior upgrades. The Offroad trim because I am not getting the Army Green and therfore makes no sense to get the Pro and pay $10K more. I will miss the Pro fox ride and so decided to buy a set of slightly used Pro Fox. Just bought them as well.

thanks for pointing out the KDSS lean point. I did not know that all vehicles did not have the lean issue after any suspension swap. with your input it almost sounds like I should install the Pro Fox first and see if there are any issues and then correct them somehow with a spacer if required. I don't have any adjustable suspension from the Fox company so I would have to follow the spacer route. This is when I thought if I could use two driver side front suspension to make sure the height of the suspension with coils itself is identical. i checked the part number of the factory TRD-Off-Road front left and right suspension and they are actually different (not the same case for SR5 where they are identical). So now I am wondering what will be the fix.

thanks,

I would definitely install the whole suspension setup and drive it for a while (say a couple thousand miles) to let it settle in then decide how to proceed. There is no reason you have to address the lean at all. Most people it just gets to their OCD and makes them nuts. Functionally the lean has no impact, purely asthetics.

Keep in mind also, if you lift more in the future it could change how much lean you have. Every setup is unique

 

[niadh0]

got you. i love this forum and thanks for the feedback. i will do that and see how it goes. will sure report back. The person who gave me the feedback for Cornfed spacer did say that his lean was significant enough to wakeup OCD in him so he had to address it. he also mentioned that visually the TRD fox were different in height (passenger side shorter by approx 1 inch). i will know once i receive my set.

I would definitely install the whole suspension setup and drive it for a while (say a couple thousand miles) to let it settle in then decide how to proceed. There is no reason you have to address the lean at all. Most people it just gets to their OCD and makes them nuts. Functionally the lean has no impact, purely asthetics.

Keep in mind also, if you lift more in the future it could change how much lean you have. Every setup is unique

 

[osideplayer]

I have a 2016 trail premium. I just bought a new trd pro fox suspension kit. I am just going to install it. Not worried about the lean. I freaked out when I read this. I was like omg what am I missing

 

[Jetboy]

A little bit of confusion here. Just to clear it up, Fox "factory series" are aftermarket shocks that fox makes. They currently offer them only in a 2.5" size. They are a standard monotube shock. The fox TRD Pro shocks are significantly different in a lot of ways. First they are a multi zone bypass shock internally. So they have a lot of dampening potential that a normal shock doesn't. In short they're a vastly more advanced shock design. So the two should ride much differently.

Fox TRD Pro

Fox "Factory Series"

The TRD Pro shocks should be better in every way except that they are smaller so they probably won't be able to handle race type conditions in the desert without the potential to overheat, but I've never found that to be an issue myself. I have fox 2.5 "factory series" shocks. They have some nice benefits in terms of adjustable lift height, heavy duty construction, and basically endless thermal capacity on a stock 4Runner control arm setup. The biggest downside of the TRD Pro setup is that the dampening range is not adjustable, so you need the zero position to be in the middle of the intended shock extension position - ie lifting is tricky to keep the shock performance correct. At stock height - they should ride fantastic.

For me, the biggest reason I'd love to swap to the TRD Pro set is that they use rubber bushings instead of spherical bearings. I HATE the spherical bearings on the fox setup I have. They last me about 10-15k miles between necessary replacements. And it's a PITA to do because the misalignments corrode and end up bonded to the mount bolt. And they make a bunch of noise when the thin layer of UHMW plastic wears through. Mine are due... again. I wish there were some other option instead of using the same bearings again.

I will say that the fox "factory series" ride extremely plush at 1" lift height. They get a lot firmer by 3" lift. I've run my junk at every lift height from 0-3" and overall setup at 1-1.5" is the ideal place for overall ride quality. I only crank it up to the full height for my once a year trip down to rock crawl in California.

I think the Pro fox setup is a great option if the price is reasonable. I'm curious to see how you like it with KDSS.

Like many have said - I would put them on and see what the ride height looks like. I think a 1" spacer would be really unusual to put on one side in the front. It would really surprise me if the fronts are really 1" different side to side. That makes no sense to me why that would be, but I suppose it's possible.

Also - just for clarity - the TRD Pro rear springs are exactly the same as every other 4Runner. Part number 48231-35340. (except the limited models that have lower springs). TRD Pro models are not lifted in the rear. They are ~ 1" taller in the front. Otherwise the same as all the other models. The rear shocks should be nicely tuned to work with the rear spring rate and be at the right height for good performance.

 

[nb rob]

I like the rubber bushings, and the aluminium bodies of the TRD pro fox.

I'd love to try them. I wonder if they're serviceable?

 

[niadh0]

thank you for the private message as well as this post.

I just got a hang of the pictures of the ProFox I bought from a member in Florida. I will be picking them up in December. Based on the pictures (and also confirmed by the seller) the physical height of the front shocks is identical. The two front coils are probably different or compressed at a different height as you can see it on the picture. From the mounting point of view they will mount fine since there is no difference in physical height. with your suggestion I am going to install it in January and then ride it for a while before making any more changes - like spacers etc to fix any lean at all if present.

i am super excited to keep my 19 pro experience for the 2020 TRDOffRoad /w KDSS. with my needs i am only staying at stock height.

I paid $1200 for the set with less than 3K miles on them. just in case if anyone is curious to know. There are two ore guys selling the same set on FB market for $1500 or $1600. i also bought his Basket Roof Rack and Nitto/TRDRims set. Basically upgraded to 2020 with almost no new net cost.

A little bit of confusion here. Just to clear it up, Fox "factory series" are aftermarket shocks that fox makes. They currently offer them only in a 2.5" size. They are a standard monotube shock. The fox TRD Pro shocks are significantly different in a lot of ways. First they are a multi zone bypass shock internally. So they have a lot of dampening potential that a normal shock doesn't. In short they're a vastly more advanced shock design. So the two should ride much differently.

The TRD Pro shocks should be better in every way except that they are smaller so they probably won't be able to handle race type conditions in the desert without the potential to overheat, but I've never found that to be an issue myself. I have fox 2.5 "factory series" shocks. They have some nice benefits in terms of adjustable lift height, heavy duty construction, and basically endless thermal capacity on a stock 4Runner control arm setup. The biggest downside of the TRD Pro setup is that the dampening range is not adjustable, so you need the zero position to be in the middle of the intended shock extension position - ie lifting is tricky to keep the shock performance correct. At stock height - they should ride fantastic.

For me, the biggest reason I'd love to swap to the TRD Pro set is that they use rubber bushings instead of spherical bearings. I HATE the spherical bearings on the fox setup I have. They last me about 10-15k miles between necessary replacements. And it's a PITA to do because the misalignments corrode and end up bonded to the mount bolt. And they make a bunch of noise when the thin layer of UHMW plastic wears through. Mine are due... again. I wish there were some other option instead of using the same bearings again.

I will say that the fox "factory series" ride extremely plush at 1" lift height. They get a lot firmer by 3" lift. I've run my junk at every lift height from 0-3" and overall setup at 1-1.5" is the ideal place for overall ride quality. I only crank it up to the full height for my once a year trip down to rock crawl in California.

I think the Pro fox setup is a great option if the price is reasonable. I'm curious to see how you like it with KDSS.

Like many have said - I would put them on and see what the ride height looks like. I think a 1" spacer would be really unusual to put on one side in the front. It would really surprise me if the fronts are really 1" different side to side. That makes no sense to me why that would be, but I suppose it's possible.

Also - just for clarity - the TRD Pro rear springs are exactly the same as every other 4Runner. Part number 48231-35340. (except the limited models that have lower springs). TRD Pro models are not lifted in the rear. They are ~ 1" taller in the front. Otherwise the same as all the other models. The rear shocks should be nicely tuned to work with the rear spring rate and be at the right height for good performance.

 

[nb rob]

nice pic showing the different perch heights.

Is it possible that there 2 circlip grooves under that spring collar, perhaps able to change when the spring is removed?

 

[Jetboy]

That's a big difference side to side. It's really odd. I'm curious why. I looked at some pics of the Tacoma set and they're slightly offset with the passenger side having a bit more preload (the passenger side being the one with the lower perch set a bit higher.) On the bottom of the lower spring perch they indicate which side they go on. Visually that looks like it has more difference left/right than the Tacoma. That would be consistent with KDSS lean caused by the cylinder on the driver's side.

Incidentally, on my fox factory series shocks I do have to set the passenger side about 1/2" higher to get the front to level side/side. Assuming those are identical side/side it would generally match. It's pretty unusual though to have that much weight difference side/side. I know the fuel tank could weigh around 200lb full. But that's less than 100lb, and it's on the wrong side.