New Fox Shocks Make the F-150 Raptor Even More Awesome

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor (Credit: © Ford)

Ford is slowly releasing information on its newest versions of the F-150 Raptor. Today, we learn all about one of the most important parts of turning the work-ready F-150 into a dune-ready beast.

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I am, of course, talking about the shock absorbers. If there is one component that can make or break an off-road buggy, it’s the suspension. And the shocks are the heart of this system.

The new F-150 Raptor will make use of all-new shocks from the off-road experts at Fox. These new 3-inch shocks–0.5 inches larger than the previous-gen Raptor—feature a base valve piston that allows for reduced pressure inside. This lower pressure gives a more comfortable ride on smooth pavement while the nine zones inside the shock manage forces based on the surface you’re driving on. The most important of these zones is the final one, which acts as a hydraulic bump stop to prevent the truck from bottoming out when you hurdle back to earth.

In addition to the changes to its ride, the new shocks and suspension combine to improve the Raptors overall suspension travel by almost 2 inches. This improvement takes the front suspension’s total travel from 11.2 inches to 13 and the rear from 12 inches to 13.9.

Want to see these shocks in action? Check out the video below.

We expect to see the 2017 F-150 Raptor in showrooms in the fall of 2016. Pricing and full details will arrive as we near its official launch.

Watch the Video: