FOX Performance vs Performance Elite vs Factory Race

FOX sells its truck and SUV shocks in three main families: Performance, Performance Elite and Factory Race. All three are valved for a specific vehicle, position and lift height, and all three are listed in FOX's own fit guide by make, model and year. What changes from one series to the next is the shock's construction, how much you can adjust it, and how it is sold. This guide sets the three side by side using FOX's product data, so you can pick the right one for a tow rig, a truck camper hauler or an overland build.

The three series at a glance

The body sizes and the "each or pair" split are counted from the FOX truck parts we list. The Factory Race line also includes built-to-length race shocks for custom suspension, which are covered in FOX IFP vs reservoir vs bypass shocks.

Performance Series: bolt-on, no tuning needed

The Performance Series is FOX's entry point. Most are smooth-body or coil-over shocks with an internal floating piston, which FOX says keeps the shock oil apart from the high-pressure nitrogen so the oil does not aerate. The bodies are aluminum, which FOX lists as dissipating heat faster than steel.

• 2.0 Performance: the widest choice of fitments. Some 2.0 shocks add a remote reservoir. A smaller group of 2.0 reservoir shocks has a compression adjuster that FOX describes as "8 clicks of adjustment".
• 2.5 Performance: FOX describes these as "no reservoirs, no compression adjusters". The data sheet lists a 2.5 in impact-extruded 6061-T6 aluminum body, a 5/8 in hard chrome shaft and an IFP. Many 2.5 Performance shocks also carry FOX's Hydraulic Top Out (HTO). FOX pitches them at drivers who tow during the week and hit trails at the weekend.

Performance shocks are almost all sold one at a time, so order two for an axle.

Performance Elite Series: adjustable reservoir shocks

Every Performance Elite truck shock we list is a 2.5 in reservoir shock or coil-over sold as a pair. FOX's labels name a DSC (Dual Speed Compression) adjuster on most of them, and DSC EVO on newer kits such as the 2024-on Tacoma. DSC lets you set low-speed and high-speed compression separately. That matters if your truck changes weight a lot, for example empty during the week and loaded with a camper or trailer tongue at the weekend. How the two knobs work is explained in FOX DSC adjuster explained.

Factory Race Series: bypass, bigger bodies, Live Valve

Factory Race is FOX's top truck line. On trucks it is mostly reservoir shocks and coil-overs in 2.5, 3.0 and 3.2 in bodies, many with internal bypass. FOX describes internal bypass as position-sensitive damping: smooth over small bumps, with more control and bottom-out resistance when the suspension is worked hard. Some kits use Live Valve, where an electronic solenoid in each internal bypass shock adjusts damping. FOX says the system senses terrain and driver inputs 400 times a second, with On-Road, Off-Road and Custom modes.

FOX's race-shock data describes owner-serviceable, rebuildable shocks with a Cerakote coating over a zinc-plated base, 17-4 H900 stainless shafts and JM92 MIL-SPEC oil. Factory Race also covers the ATS steering stabilizers and the IFP bump stops.

Some front kits, in all three series but most often Elite and Factory Race, are listed with "Requires Upper Control Arm" in FOX's fit guide, so check the notes before you order. FOX's own billet upper control arms are in the same range.

One truck, three series: two worked examples

Toyota Tacoma 2005-2023, rear, 0 to 1.5 in of rear lift (4WD; RWD trucks must be the 6-lug version):

• Performance: 987-24-026, a 2.5 IFP shock, sold each (travel 7.86 in)
• Performance Elite: 883-26-112, a 2.5 remote-reservoir pair with DSC (travel 8.55 in)
• Factory Race: 883-26-123, a 2.5 internal bypass remote-reservoir pair with DSC (travel 8.29 in)

Ford F-250 / F-350 Super Duty 2017-2026 4WD, rear, 2 to 3.5 in of rear lift:

• Performance 2.0: 985-24-152 (IFP, listed for 1.5 to 3.5 in) or 985-24-149 (remote reservoir, same range), each
• Performance 2.5: 987-24-003, IFP with HTO, each
• Performance Elite: 883-26-098, 2.5 piggyback-reservoir pair with DSC

FOX's fit guide lists no Factory Race rear for that Super Duty position. That is common: not every series is made for every truck and lift, so start from your vehicle, not the series.

Which series fits how you use the truck

• Daily driver that tows on pavement: start with the Performance Series. It bolts on with nothing to adjust, and FOX pitches the 2.5 Performance at trucks that tow during the week and hit trails at the weekend.
• Load that changes a lot (truck camper on and off, heavy tongue weight, full overland kit some weekends): Performance Elite, because the DSC adjusters let you add or remove compression damping as the load changes.
• Fast off-road driving, or a mid-travel build with aftermarket upper control arms: Factory Race internal bypass or Live Valve.

Whatever the series, the lift height decides the exact part number. See how to choose FOX shocks by lift height, then browse the FOX collection. Every FOX order ships from our warehouse in Upland, California. Found it cheaper? We'll beat it.

FAQ

Are FOX shocks sold individually or in pairs?

It depends on the series. Performance Series shocks are almost all sold individually. Performance Elite truck shocks and most Factory Race kits are sold as pairs. Each listing says "Sold as" in its specifications.

Can I run one series at the front and another at the rear?

FOX lists front and rear parts separately in its fit guide, each with its own lift range, so you can buy them separately. Always keep the left and right sides of an axle the same.

Where are FOX truck shocks made?

FOX's data sheet gives the USA as the country of origin for every shock, stabilizer and control arm on it.

Do I need upper control arms for Factory Race coil-overs?

Only where the fit guide says so. On the 2005-2023 Tacoma, for example, FOX lists the internal bypass front pair 883-06-208 with "Requires Upper Control Arm".