Tundra Fox 2.0 vs Bilstein 6112 (now including Ironman PFC and Falcon shocks)

Hanzo

Member
Sounding like the Ironman foam cell pros front and rear might be a good option. Just level with that and skip the leafs. This gets me Leveled with a 2.5+ Shock size and OEM style mounts front and rear which sounds ideal.

Can anyone give me a little education on the “foam cell” shock design? I’ve always been under the impression that a mono tube/charged shock was superior to a twin tube/uncharged design. Does the foam cell tech change this or am I misinformed? I’m not a “suspension guy” so any clarification would be welcomed.

My other concern is the steel construction, I live on the coast of Lake Michigan which means snow/salt/sand ?...has anyone run these in a like environment? How have the held up against rust? I kind of expect coil over to be a pain to adjust for height after awhile here but don’t want the body rusting out on me. Thanks for everyone’s help so far!
 

rruff

Explorer
Sounding like the Ironman foam cell pros front and rear might be a good option.

I'm definitely not an expert, but most performance shocks are monotube to improve cooling and reduce aeration, and yes the foam cell is intended to improve the twin tube design. OME are twin tube. Twin tube designs seem to last longer.

Aluminum will also corrode. Note that the Fox shocks require removal from the vehicle to adjust the preload. You'd do well to keep rust inhibitor on Ironman's; the threads especially.

One thing I'd mention is to try and keep your front lift to 2 inches or less, unless you want to get UCAs also.
 

rruff

Explorer
Honestly it wasn't a night and day difference. When I made the switch I was commuting over 100 miles a day so I spent a fair amount of time in the truck. It was more or less little things like cracks in the road surface, or irregularities in the road (tree roots causing bumps, patches from potholes ect.).

Thanks. Sounds like they are less compliant on smaller bumps. Did you notice a difference on large bumps?
 

Hanzo

Member
I'm definitely not an expert, but most performance shocks are monotube to improve cooling and reduce aeration, and yes the foam cell is intended to improve the twin tube design. OME are twin tube. Twin tube designs seem to last longer.

Aluminum will also corrode. Note that the Fox shocks require removal from the vehicle to adjust the preload. You'd do well to keep rust inhibitor on Ironman's; the threads especially.

One thing I'd mention is to try and keep your front lift to 2 inches or less, unless you want to get UCAs also.

I’ll be hitting the underside with fluid film annually to help whatever I put on, but still curious to hear any experience with corrosion on either aluminum fox’s or Ironman Pros. I’m not too concerned with adjusting height or preload after the initial install, more of a set it and forget it kinda guy.

Plan is stay under 2” and run 275/70r18 tires, trying to improve my rig overall but not kill my mpg or convince. Which ties into your last comment...I am more concerned with small bump compliance then jumping or going fast off-road.

So if my understanding is correct the Ironman have compression but no rebound if they are not a charged shock? What’s the pro/cons of this?
 

the kid

Juke Box Hero
...So if my understanding is correct the Ironman have compression but no rebound if they are not a charged shock? What’s the pro/cons of this?

Not exactly. They are fine or comfortable in any position of travel. When I say they are not a pressurized shock I mean that they do not want to atuyomay extend to maximum travel while free of load or resistance. The foam cell pro shocks provide equal resistance on both compression and rebound. Inert is the term I like to use to discribe them.
 

rruff

Explorer
My concern about needing to take the strut off to adjust it... is it's a PITA (or $$$) and it's tough to know exactly how much you'll get ahead of time... plus they sag a bit.

I have 325/65r18s (35x13) on mine (no lift), and my MPGs haven't gone down at all. Which surprised the hell out of me. I think I got lucky with a tire that has low rolling resistance... Hankook ATM. The model of tire can make a big difference, and you can't tell by weight or looks. A lift will pretty universally lower MPG on the highway.

All shocks have compression and rebound damping, with the rebound being the highest. The compression curve seems to vary quite a bit between models. Looks like Ironmans are digressive similar to Bilstein and Icon, where the compression damping ramps up steeper at the beginning of travel, then is linear.

Also, they show both soft and medium damping options, but I've never seen this choice on a purchase page... ???

Shock-comparison-info-for-website-scaled.jpg
 

the kid

Juke Box Hero
Thanks. Sounds like they are less compliant on smaller bumps. Did you notice a difference on large bumps?
I wouldn't say that at all. They were night and day different and better than the Bilsteins I had on the truck. The ride was so much smoother and more controlled. I simply said the Icons did a better job thank the FCPs, like took things to the next level. The FCPs have a very nice ride and I have yet to meet someone who has them or has run them who is not impressed with them.
 

the kid

Juke Box Hero
As far as salt/rust goes, I like in the pacific northwest and regularly spend time at the ocean and beach. And while we don't salt the roads here we use a calcium chloride which is pretty bad in its own right. In the past few years I have really seen the rust taking off on vehicles that have not been treated. I paint the underside of all my rigs every fall with a chassis/epoxy paint anywhere their is scraped or exposed metal and all leading edges... I never had any issues with my FCPs becoming rusted or seized up I won't BS you and tell you they look brand new but they are gonna hold up better than the aluminum stuff using dissimilar metals.
 

Hanzo

Member
Really wish I could find someone with a tundra and PFCs to do a test with...or foxs for that matter. Anyone one know of any good reviews of tundras running either?
 

rruff

Explorer
Really wish I could find someone with a tundra and PFCs to do a test with...or foxs for that matter. Anyone one know of any good reviews of tundras running either?
Owner reviews:

Not a Tundra, but a FCP review: https://www.unsealed4x4.com.au/we-test-the-awesome-new-ironman-4x4-foam-cell-pro-shock-absorber/
On a Tacoma: https://dirtroadtrip.com/blog/trucks/ironman-4x4-foam-cell-pro-suspension-review/
4runner: https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/285180-ironman-foam-cell-pro.html
 
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Hanzo

Member
Owner reviews:

Not a Tundra, but a FCP review: https://www.unsealed4x4.com.au/we-test-the-awesome-new-ironman-4x4-foam-cell-pro-shock-absorber/

saw those ones, pretty sure the ih8mud and tundra talk are the same guy, but really positive about it either way. Andrew pans the Ironman suspension in the video pretty hard....granted it’s on a GX (loaned by metaltech...any thoughts Kid?)
 

the kid

Juke Box Hero
Yeah Andrew has always hated Ironman. If you look back at his old stuff you will see it...
Spoiler alert, I used to work for metal-tech... And I worked for them when Andrew used the shop GX. He didn't air down even though he said he did. 45psi in the tires with any suspension will do that. He completely trashed that truck and I'm not talking about bringing it back dirty but that too, he ripped out wiring, broke latches, body mounts ect. He even commented on how well the ride was on my truck when he rode in it (-it had the FCPs at the time), and after he found out that both mine and the shop truck had the Ironman suspension he quickly started finding faults and picking it apart.

The guy has a lot of fallowers and spends a lot of time off the grid but can't problem solve his way out of some basic stuff. I don't have very many nice things to say about him after meeting him and dealing with him. Could part of that be because I was tasked with repairing and fixing our truck after it was returned to us without even so much as a thank you for letting us barrow it. Sure but it was more how he treats people, he uses people to profit off them, and feels entitled and owed. We all know people like that... He chooses to make a living taking advantage of people who are nice to him, it's one reason he is always testing new gear and brands most companies have the same sour taste in their mouths from him, ask around.

I no longer work for metal-tech, and his visit and use of our vehicles and equipment was of no gain or loss to me, I was paid the same irregardless had he been nice and a pleasure to work with or difficult and a jerk. I gained noor lost anything because of his visit. I also left metal-tech in a mutual not seeing eye to eye with the owner and HR issues. So to say that I would side with metal-tech would also be a inaccurate statement. My opinions are my own based upon my experiences and interactions. Same as with the suspension systems we are discussing. I would recommend finding owners or shops that run, sell, and or install Ironman FCPs and talking with them. I have run them, sold them, installed them, assembled them and I can tell you that now as a individual who would be walking in off the street and paying MSRP for them that they are very high on my list of options I would be willing to spend money on and I have repeatedly recommend them to friends, co-workers and people like yourself. Call me old-school, but if I didn't like them I wouldn't try and suggest anyone else use them. I also wouldn't have recommend those same people buy them from a company I left under a mutual disagreement and support a business that I didn't see eye to eye with. But I can't deny that they are a superb product and very underrated.
 
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Hanzo

Member
Yeah Andrew has always hated Ironman. If you look back at his old stuff you will see it...
Spoiler alert, I used to work for metal-tech... And I worked for them when Andrew used the shop GX. He didn't air down even though he said he did. 45psi in the tires with any suspension will do that. He completely trashed that truck and I'm not talking about bringing it back dirty but that too, he ripped out wiring, broke latches, body mounts ect. He even commented on how well the ride was on my truck when he rode in it (-it had the FCPs at the time), and after he found out that both mine and the shop truck had the Ironman suspension he quickly started finding faults and picking it apart.

The guy has a lot of fallowers and spends a lot of time off the grid but can't problem solve his way out of some basic stuff. I don't have very many nice things to say about him after meeting him and dealing with him. Could part of that be because I was tasked with repairing and fixing our truck after it was returned to us without even so much as a thank you for letting us barrow it. Sure but it was more how he treats people, he uses people to profit off them, and feels entitled and owed. We all know people like that... He chooses to make a living taking advantage of people who are nice to him, it's one reason he is always testing new gear and brands most companies have the same sour taste in their mouths from him, ask around.

I no longer work for metal-tech, and his visit and use of our vehicles and equipment was of no gain or loss to me, I was paid the same irregardless had he been nice and a pleasure to work with or difficult and a jerk. I gained noor lost anything because of his visit. I also left metal-tech in a mutual not seeing eye to eye with the owner and HR issues. So to say that I would side with metal-tech would also be a inaccurate statement. My opinions are my own based upon my experiences and interactions. Same as with the suspension systems we are discussing. I would recommend finding owners or shops that run, sell, and or install Ironman FCPs and talking with them. I have run them, sold them, installed them, assembled them and I can tell you that now as a individual who would be walking in off the street and paying MSRP for them that they are very high on my list of options I would be willing to spend money on and I have repeatedly recommend them to friends, co-workers and people like yourself. Call me old-school, but if I didn't like them I wouldn't try and suggest anyone else use them. I also wouldn't have recommend those same people buy them from a company I left under a mutual disagreement and support a business that I didn't see eye to eye with. But I can't deny that they are a superb product and very underrated.

Bummer to hear you had a bad experience with him, always liked his videos.

I really need to ask around to see if I can find a rig to drive myself with both setups, truck goes into the shop this fall for some body work and I’ll wait until spring to put in some shiny new suspension so I have time. Suspension seems so subjective, unless you’re on a clock, that I think trying them outs the best way to go.
 

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