Fox Shocks 2006 EB Sportsmobile

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by ShuttlePilot

Greetings Lokoh,

Yes the specs I posted above are what has been on my van since 2016. I copied and pasted from the receipt emails I got from John at Agile back then. To confirm my van is a 2005 SMB west 4x4 conversion with Deaver springs that were installed in 2010.

In 2016 John and I talked on the phone, had me do several measurements of the suspension at full droop and compression to confirm lengths, and take pictures. If I remember right it was just the front he was looking for confirmation. I got the impression that, at the time, he hadn't confirmed that info with a Deaver sprung van. We discovered the Bilstein shocks Deaver installed on the front were long enough to be at the absolute limit of the brake hoses ripping out. The Fox fronts are shorter extended to give a margin of safety for the brake lines.

Also I think it was the front shocks John had to order as he only had the rears in stock in San Diego. Hope this helps.

- Eric

This is quite interesting. The F shock travel on the Bilsteins that Jeff at Deaver spec'd with my springs is 9.78". He also modified the lower mounting plate to accommodate the longer length over the ARB's originally spec'd by SMB with their springs on my 2005 SMB. That plate subsequently broke at the weld like many others have had occur but I can't help but wonder if the shock was topping out. My solution was to move the lower mount and weld a tab directly to the axle.

I then looked at the Fox options from Agile in Feb 2018 and that's when John at Agile indicated to me that the shocks they sell wouldn't be long enough. Not sure what to think on shocks.

[ShuttlePilot]

Hi JoeH,

Trying to remember 10 years ago and taking a quick look and the front of my van I believe Deaver did replace the front top spring plates and U bolts, welding a metal plate as a spacer to drop the lower shock mount to almost touching the axle tube. This has not been changed. Yet.

Also the Bilstein model number was AK7110SB06 for the front. John wanted the Bilstein numbers Deaver used in 2010 perhaps as a reference point. John mentioned in our conversations that particular Bilstein shock was an uncommon size and long. He was puzzled why they would use that one. Interesting note is, the reason I wanted to replace the Bilstein shocks was the rears had no resistance either direction and the fronts were nearly solid and not smooth. Maybe bottoming out on compression before fully loading the bump stops causing damage to the shocks? I don't know. All this was why I wanted to talk to John (and Ramsey) and tap into their knowledge and experience to come up with a solution.


- Eric

[JoeH]

AK7110SB06 is a monotube correct? Deaver spec'd 5165 series Bilsteins with a remote reservoir with my rig. I thought that was pretty standard with their "spring package". And supposedly custom-tuned but I learned later you can simply buy these off the shelf.

Anyway, the part # is 25-177503. https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/bilste...BBGL-25-177503

[ShuttlePilot]

They were remote reservoir. Gargling the Bilstein number showed these which look exactly like the ones I removed from Deaver.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/BSN-AK7110SB06
According to Summit Racing's specs the length breaks down like this.


Bilstein AKAK7110SB06 vs. John's Fox choice for me.

Collapsed 14.21" vs. 13.95"

Exended 24.31" vs. 21.55"

This would confirm Johns statement of the fox being shorter in an attempt to get a safer more ideal stroke length for the suspension travel measurements I gave him.

- Eric

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by ShuttlePilot

They were remote reservoir. Gargling the Bilstein number showed these which look exactly like the ones I removed from Deaver.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/BSN-AK7110SB06
According to Summit Racing's specs the length breaks down like this.


Bilstein AKAK7110SB06 vs. John's Fox choice for me.

Collapsed 14.21" vs. 13.95"

Exended 24.31" vs. 21.55"

This would confirm Johns statement of the fox being shorter in an attempt to get a safer more ideal stroke length for the suspension travel measurements I gave him.

- Eric

Got it. The difference is yours are the rebuildable 7100 series with a Schrader valve and mine are 5100 series. Same valving I suspect.

[vandiesel]

I followed shuttlepilots plan and when my deavers were installed the plates were modified to accept the new agile fox shocks.

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by vandiesel

I followed shuttlepilots plan and when my deavers were installed the plates were modified to accept the new agile fox shocks.

I wish I had followed shuttlepilot's plan. I have now had to send 3 bilsteins back for a rebuild.

[vandiesel]

When I make big decisions I try and get advice from space shuttle pilots as often as possible.

[arctictraveller]

Originally Posted by ShuttlePilot

We discovered the Bilstein shocks Deaver installed on the front were long enough to be at the absolute limit of the brake hoses ripping out. The Fox fronts are shorter extended to give a margin of safety for the brake lines. - Eric

It's a little hard to tell, but it sounds like your using shorter shocks to limit the droop to avoid stressing the brake lines. It's far better to have shocks long enough to allow as much droop as the springs will allow. If you can't fit longer shocks, you should limit the droop with limit straps and not use the shock as the limiter. Once longer shocks are installed, you can get longer hoses and end up with a better, more capable off road truck.
https://www.technafitstore.com/Custom-Lines-s/1866.htm

[ShuttlePilot]

You are correct AT. Limit straps would be more ideal solution for any vehicle that often experiences a wheel off the ground.


- Eric