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FOA shocks review from Crawltopia.....you get what you pay for

I think other that some quality control issues (as were mentioned before) everyone is expecting these shocks to perform like they are top of the line and forgetting that the whole idea behind FOA was to build an affordable shock for the average guy. I think people get a little too anal with their builds sometimes. If you want to build an immaculate rig and have every single detail just perfect then that's fine. These shocks aren't for you. But for a guy like me with square tube links and Jonny joints they're perfect. That's what this all comes down to. I buy off brand cheap stuff all the time and some things are worth it and some things are junk. I personally think FOA makes a great product but that's just my experience with them. It's like the battle between GM Ford and Dodge...
So I wouldn't necessarily say it's cutting corners on anything. Otherwise everyone who is running 52" or 56" leaf springs up front would be cutting corners. In my brain cutting corners would be something like running tractor parts for links or not enough triangulation in your cage.
 
F.S.F.W said:
Maybe I'm just cheap and don't really care about having a flawless product... But my FOAs are and always have worked great for me. I also used them on a SASd duramax and they worked fine on it as well. I think a lot of it comes down to being picky. Of course I would go with the best of the best if I didn't have to worry about budget, but honestly how many of us "need" that? I've gone just as many places on coil springs and $50.00 rancho shocks as other guys with name brand stuff. And how many guys are tearing it up on leaf springs? BUT... As for the real problems that were mentioned that sucks and maybe I got lucky?
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If a shock leaks the nitrogen out of it, they work like crap.

If its a pavement pounder, sure its not a big deal. But if you actually use the shocks and need the dampening, I wouldn't call wanting your shock to do its job picky.
 
@F.S.F.W has a great point, shocks are damn simple in their function. And regardless of the brand if the shock is working properly I bet no normal guys gonna tell the difference between the shocks.. not without looking at them.
Also do you even know what the extra dollar gets you? Because little of that has anything to do with sealing or tolerances.
All the cheap king shocks or fox have similar attributes to the FOA similar seals, shafts etc.. your getting more exotic materials, different pistons, maybe a better piston rod that may be induction hardened vs chrome plated. Disputing and viton seals are upgrades as are larger rod ends with bigger bearings.
Everyone wants to be a shock snob until the see the price. We're not talking abou 100$ here. It's close to 500$ and to some guys that is rear shocks on their rig.
So to me it's a hard argument because almost all these issues are fixable before you run the shock.
I agree you shouldn't have to do this but for a 180$ shock that can perform like a shock that's 600$ it is a freaking bargain.. annnd their quality will get better as they produce more product..
again this is my opinion..take it with a grain of salt
 
sreidmx said:
@F.S.F.W has a great point, shocks are damn simple in their function. And regardless of the brand if the shock is working properly I bet no normal guys gonna tell the difference between the shocks.. not without looking at them.
Also do you even know what the extra dollar gets you? Because little of that has anything to do with sealing or tolerances.
All the cheap king shocks or fox have similar attributes to the FOA similar seals, shafts etc.. your getting more exotic materials, different pistons, maybe a better piston rod that may be induction hardened vs chrome plated. Disputing and viton seals are upgrades as are larger rod ends with bigger bearings.
Everyone wants to be a shock snob until the see the price. We're not talking abou 100$ here. It's close to 500$ and to some guys that is rear shocks on their rig.
So to me it's a hard argument because almost all these issues are fixable before you run the shock.
I agree you shouldn't have to do this but for a 180$ shock that can perform like a shock that's 600$ it is a freaking bargain.. annnd their quality will get better as they produce more product..
again this is my opinion..take it with a grain of salt
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I am of the same opinion.

The one caveat I have to that though is the time. If I were ordering FOAs I would try to do so months in advance because I know I might have issues
 
If they advertised leaky shocks as Coil Carriers, they would have much better reviews...
 
F.S.F.W said:
I think other that some quality control issues (as were mentioned before) everyone is expecting these shocks to perform like they are top of the line and forgetting that the whole idea behind FOA was to build an affordable shock for the average guy. I think people get a little too anal with their builds sometimes. If you want to build an immaculate rig and have every single detail just perfect then that's fine. These shocks aren't for you. But for a guy like me with square tube links and Jonny joints they're perfect. That's what this all comes down to. I buy off brand cheap stuff all the time and some things are worth it and some things are junk. I personally think FOA makes a great product but that's just my experience with them. It's like the battle between GM Ford and Dodge...
So I wouldn't necessarily say it's cutting corners on anything. Otherwise everyone who is running 52" or 56" leaf springs up front would be cutting corners. In my brain cutting corners would be something like running tractor parts for links or not enough triangulation in your cage.
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I guess "cutting corners" might not be right wordage I was looking for. But settling on parts that might or might not work as intended or have problems leaking later, does not seem like a way to save money. I know not everyone has problems....But why take a chance?
I'm with you on the whole how good a product looks thing.
 
@sreidmx brought something up that I didn't really think of... On both sets that I have dealt with I upgraded to the better seals and hardware. This may be the difference maker in a good FOA vs a junk FOA? @FOR MUD after I read back through what I posted I'm realizing that you are a good sport here. I don't want anyone to think I'm being arrogant. And I especially don't want anyone to think that I don't care about a sweet looking well thought out build. I think that is awesome. I just a don't want anyone to be discouraged and think they have to buy the best parts out there to have a capable rig. As I browse through the builds on here I sometimes get discouraged. I know I have the talent I need to build something amazing but I lack the funding so I have to make due with what I have and use what I have the best I can so things work the way they should. But that being said sometimes good enough is all you can get. I would love to see FOA grow into a flawless company that continues to offer an affordable product. So far I think they have a good start but it's up to all of the customers that weren't satisfied to go to them showing grace rather than saying "FOA SUCKS!!!".
 
F.S.F.W said:
@sreidmx brought something up that I didn't really think of... On both sets that I have dealt with I upgraded to the better seals and hardware. This may be the difference maker in a good FOA vs a junk FOA? @FOR MUD after I read back through what I posted I'm realizing that you are a good sport here. I don't want anyone to think I'm being arrogant. And I especially don't want anyone to think that I don't care about a sweet looking well thought out build. I think that is awesome. I just a don't want anyone to be discouraged and think they have to buy the best parts out there to have a capable rig. As I browse through the builds on here I sometimes get discouraged. I know I have the talent I need to build something amazing but I lack the funding so I have to make due with what I have and use what I have the best I can so things work the way they should. But that being said sometimes good enough is all you can get. I would love to see FOA grow into a flawless company that continues to offer an affordable product. So far I think they have a good start but it's up to all of the customers that weren't satisfied to go to them showing grace rather than saying "FOA SUCKS!!!".
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I have run some real junk over the years and was very happy how it worked not knowing any better. Then I started reading things like this review and some 4x4 forums and saw there are better ways of doing things.
Trust me I'm far from being rich, I do things in stages. I 4-linked the rear this year and will have to wait 2018 to do the front end.
As FOA making a better product.....I hope they read reviews like these and take it to heart and improve their product.
 
Problem is not only with quality from foa it is also with customer service. From experiences people have told me personally and stories I have read the customer service is just as shotty as they're shock quality. Heard and read too many stories of FOA putting the blame on the consumer as the cause of a failure which in some cases may have been. But like I said in beginning you get what you pay for. Will foas still work as a shock. Yes they will. Will they work flawlessly with no headaches and extra time replacing and rebuilding your brand new shocks probably not.

I'm not saying dont buy foa. I get it they are cheap and the price is intising. But I don't want to read one comment about someone whining that there foa shock leaked all it's oil all over there rig or that there bump stops blew off the caps. You know the potential of what your buying. Haha
 
The coil overs on the front of my Colorado haven't had any issues yet. I haven't drove it a ton, but I also don't know how old they are or what was done before I got the truck.
 
Mr.Clean said:
Problem is not only with quality from foa it is also with customer service. From experiences people have told me personally and stories I have read the customer service is just as shotty as they're shock quality. Heard and read too many stories of FOA putting the blame on the consumer as the cause of a failure which in some cases may have been. But like I said in beginning you get what you pay for. Will foas still work as a shock. Yes they will. Will they work flawlessly with no headaches and extra time replacing and rebuilding your brand new shocks probably not.

I'm not saying dont buy foa. I get it they are cheap and the price is intising. But I don't want to read one comment about someone whining that there foa shock leaked all it's oil all over there rig or that there bump stops blew off the caps. You know the potential of what your buying. Haha
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Have you ever called or ordered anything from them??
How can you state all this stuff like it's fact unless you yourself have had dealings..
just to slander the company's image?? Because a buddies friends girls mom had a leaky shock??
I have dealt with them on all levels including ordering, setup, modifications to the order at the last minute, ordering parts, tech support.. valving adjustments which turned into an hour long talk about what they thought about valving.. they're customer service in my opinion is better that kings is.. or bilstein. Shit I can't even get parts from bilstein.. love their shock but I can only get in contact with anyone via email and that's like two weeks later.

So I really don't know what the point of this thread was besides talking crap about their product based on crawlpedias review of one pair of shocks..
if I show you a pair of kings and swayaws and icons that are defective are you going to take that as the definition of the quality of the shocks?? Because I definitely could.. that would be easy.
Not trying to be a dick or snide or off putting but seriously there's like 300 threads on this online, all from a couple people having issues when they could have reached out to the vendor to solve the problem.. yea sure there's times where they coulda handled it better, they're a small company. I bet you they only know about 1/10 of what the internet says, the rest of the time their building shocks.. and likely trying to do it better and better each run. I'm standing up for them because I have had good luck, good service, quick response and the product isn't as bad as "internets" make it seem.
 
sreidmx said:
Have you ever called or ordered anything from them??
How can you state all this stuff like it's fact unless you yourself have had dealings..
just to slander the company's image?? Because a buddies friends girls mom had a leaky shock??
I have dealt with them on all levels including ordering, setup, modifications to the order at the last minute, ordering parts, tech support.. valving adjustments which turned into an hour long talk about what they thought about valving.. they're customer service in my opinion is better that kings is.. or bilstein. Shit I can't even get parts from bilstein.. love their shock but I can only get in contact with anyone via email and that's like two weeks later.

So I really don't know what the point of this thread was besides talking crap about their product based on crawlpedias review of one pair of shocks..
if I show you a pair of kings and swayaws and icons that are defective are you going to take that as the definition of the quality of the shocks?? Because I definitely could.. that would be easy.
Not trying to be a dick or snide or off putting but seriously there's like 300 threads on this online, all from a couple people having issues when they could have reached out to the vendor to solve the problem.. yea sure there's times where they coulda handled it better, they're a small company. I bet you they only know about 1/10 of what the internet says, the rest of the time their building shocks.. and likely trying to do it better and better each run. I'm standing up for them because I have had good luck, good service, quick response and the product isn't as bad as "internets" make it seem.
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I can't say anything about their customer service today, but when I dealt with them in the past they were great to work with. And the second order they caught a mistake I made and sent an email right away to get it straightened out.
 
sreidmx said:
Have you ever called or ordered anything from them??
How can you state all this stuff like it's fact unless you yourself have had dealings..
just to slander the company's image?? Because a buddies friends girls mom had a leaky shock??
I have dealt with them on all levels including ordering, setup, modifications to the order at the last minute, ordering parts, tech support.. valving adjustments which turned into an hour long talk about what they thought about valving.. they're customer service in my opinion is better that kings is.. or bilstein. Shit I can't even get parts from bilstein.. love their shock but I can only get in contact with anyone via email and that's like two weeks later.

So I really don't know what the point of this thread was besides talking crap about their product based on crawlpedias review of one pair of shocks..
if I show you a pair of kings and swayaws and icons that are defective are you going to take that as the definition of the quay of the shocks?? Because I definitely could.. that would be easy.
Not trying to be a dick or snide or off putting but seriously there's like 300 threads on this online, all from a couple people having issues when they could have reached out to the vendor to solve the problem.. yea sure there's times where they coulda handled it better, they're a small company. I bet you they only know about 1/10 of what the internet says, the rest of the time their building shocks.. and likely trying to do it better and better each run. I'm standing up for them because I have had good luck, good service, quick response and the product isn't as bad as "internets" make it seem.
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me personally no. But exactly like i said people i know personally who i have talked to personally have and have told me their story personally.

Who are you to say my stories arent valid. Have you personally called my friends and asked them how their encounters have gone? So how can you slander my name and my friends name without having any personal interaction?

This is not supposed to be a thread to argue your point louder then all the other guys in. Simply share your experience with them and be done. I shared mine. Because of the people i know and the experiences they have had personally that is what has kept me away from ordering foa and this review was just one more nail in the coffin for me. If your experience was great. Customer service was great then awesome share that up in non argumentative way, but dont slander everyone elses experiences and opinions just because they dont match up with yours. This thread is completely off topic now.
 
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I have 2 sets of foa shocks, neither came in perfect shape. When opening box they were scratched up and didn't look like i think they should, they bounced around the box with a set of spacers beating them up. The first set of 2.0 emulsions came with an oil soaked box, they made good of it and sent out a new one as soon as i sent the old one. The other set of 2.5 resi shocks made it 6 months before they were oil soaked. This set when i went to rebuild them the oil was black like coal with small particles in the oil. I rebuilt them with a kit and new oil and so far so good for the past year. Each time tho i called they weren't easy to get a hold of but had taken care of me without costing me anything. (I do now have king coil overs and have had no problems at all/except for the springs but they are blue coil company coils)
 
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Mr.Clean said:
me personally no. But exactly like i said people i know personally who i have talked to personally have and have told me their story personally.

Who are you to say my stories arent valid. Have you personally called my friends and asked them how their encounters have gone? So how can you slander my name and my friends name without having any personal interaction?

This is not supposed to be a thread to argue your point louder then all the other guys in. Simply share your experience with them and be done. I shared mine. Because of the people i know and the experiences they have had personally that is what has kept me away from ordering foa and this review was just one more nail in the coffin for me. If your experience was great. Customer service was great then awesome share that up in non argumentative way, but dont slander everyone elses experiences and opinions just because they dont match up with yours. This thread is completely off topic now.
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Your friends aren't a business and the thread is redundant..
 
sreidmx said:
Your friends aren't a business and the thread is redundant..
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Actually GFW is a business. Unlike you who is not a business. So your statement only goes against your self.

Don't take things so personally Steve. You bought them you like them great for you and for them. They hit their target audience a guy that needs cheap shocks but doesnt care about quality.
 
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