@G Beez Lemus More stable on road with better manners and less harsh when you catch a pothole. Progressives are cushy, but a little sloppy. When you hit a big bump, the dampening ramps way up and can feel a little rough.
Stage 3 Motorsports: Straight up question. With all the options out there. All the brands that you sell. What are the top 3 brands of leveling kits? 90% on road/10% mild to moderate off road. With some towing mixed in. 2016 Platinum FX4. I await your recommendation. Thank you.
There are openings at the bottom of the roost shield that allow rocks and mud to fall out. I just took a look at ours and there's a tiny bit of residual mud and pine needles stuck in there, but not enough to have any effect on the performance of the shock. Looks like we should be able to just spray it out with a hose
Not to pick in S3 because I appreciate the effort & their service in the past, but all reviews from any vendor that sell the product they are reviewing: “These are pretty good, like the other things we also sell.” They only use bland, subjective phrasing, and are careful to NEVER draw a hardline comparison with other products they sell (or might). Only thing we learn from videos like this is that the product exists, fits, and is for sale. So it’s still a gamble for the consumer. How about a rating system? Rankings? Awards? Etc? Anyone know of anyone doing this objectively out there?
I think you make some good points here Calvin and a rating system is something to consider down the road. The truth is there often times isn't an easy way to draw dramatic hardline comparisons between parts because the aftermarket world is saturated. There are so many upgrades that perform similarly and serve the same purpose with only minor differences that it's hard not to end up with vague comparisons. This review is an example of that situation. The Falcons have solid build quality and ride similar to many comparable F150 suspensions on the market so the buying decision essentially comes down to whether or not you want to pay the higher price tag or if you specifically like the brand. That being said, I'm constantly trying to improve the reviews and keep them honest so I appreciate the constructive criticism and I'll work on finding more distinct differences between products in the future.
Noah Stage 3 I appreciate the consideration Noah. You do a better job than most everyone else from a quality/production value. Just looking for ways to “learn” more from these, in addition to the entertainment factor. A lot of consumers don’t have the time to try a bunch of different of options, let alone the funds. Some type of verdict at the end. Identifying competitive set up front (from your perspective could also be helpful for a sell against angle on products you don’t sell). Pros vs Cons beyond things that can be found without “touching“ the product (eg not price). Type of person/situation/use case that fits the product best. Just simple stuff I’m trying to brainstorm that wouldn’t upset suppliers or cannibalize sales. I appreciate you guys thinking about it too. Hopefully the market would reward the retailer that provides the best info and looks after customer interests best. Which already seems to be S3 anyway IMHO. But hey, always room for improvement right? Best of luck!
Can this fit 285/55R22s ridge grapplers on a factory f150 limited wheel or 285/65/20 BFG ATs if i trade the dealer for a different factory 20? Truck will have an ARE cap on it if that matters
We actually don't know this answer as we've never run an F150 with KING shocks, but don't worry this year is the year! Hit Subscribe and stay tuned to see how the KING's hold up vs the competition.
I don't understand the point of the relocated bump pad on the axle. the top of the bump stop didn't move over so isn't it just going to hit the factory one?
In theory, the axle can move laterally while articulating and having a plate there to take a hard hit can make sense. However, it's something we found questionable about the kit as well.
They're the ANZO Switchback Headlights click the link to find out more about them - www.stage3motorsports.com/111398-2018-2019-F150-ANZO-Plank-Style-Switchback-Projector-Headlights-Black-Housings.html
We've tested a couple different suspension setups on this truck. You can get some more details on our project page! www.stage3motorsports.com/Stage-3s-2018-F150-5-0L-Budget-Build.html
We have! Since this truck has been used as our "Budget Build" we have previously installed two full suspensions (Rancho & Bilstein) and before that we added a spacer kit to our stock suspension. Many guys asked us for a review of these Falcon shocks so we felt it was a perfect fit and great application for testing and direct comparison to the Bilstein system.
I've watched all your install videos. I've noticed you never cover the proper reinstallation of the axle and IWE unit. You can easily mess up your IWEs if you don't do it correctly.
These Falcons are technically more comparable to Bilstein's 6112s in ride and capability. The 5100 series is great, but it's less offroad focused and is aimed to provide a more street friendly ride.
The Bilstein springs aren't compatible with this kit so we swapped them out for a set of stock springs we had sitting at the shop, but the two sets do look similar so I see where you're coming from.
This kit is a great option for an upgraded on road ride, you can also check out the Bilstein 5100 kit in this link! czcams.com/video/Ht8JH8Btunw/video.html
These shocks are digressive. (supportive on road, and not harsh when you catch a pothole or dip). Other comparables seem to side on progressive. (Very soft, but a little floaty, but can be harsh on the potholes). My two cents.
This mechanic setting good example for safety, guess he has no eye love. I have the bilstein kit on 4runner, it's stiff in the 2.5 lift setting, but behaves very nicely on bumps and gravel roads at higher speeds
This truck has 3.73s and the e-locker from factory. I really like the way it drives and it doesn't have any trouble turning a slightly larger M/T tire so I doubt we'll ever swap them out.
Thanks Noah - I just purchase a 2018 2.7 with 3:55 and wishing I would have gotten 3:73's. I noticed a power hit with 275/70/18 BFG all terrains. How insane would I be to trade truck in for 3:73's and is it worth it?? Gear swap seems like a pain and expensive although not as much as trade hit.... Thanks!
@@dana-kk3ep No problem! That definitely comes down to personal preference. Re-gearing the truck would probably be cheaper than trying to trade into something different, but sometimes just rocking what you got is the best choice.
@@NoahStage3 Good Call Noah! I like to over analyze things.. I'm new to Ford trucks (Toyota guy) and have found stage 3 to be a great resource and go to for parts. Thanks!
How would you compare these and the bilsteins to the fox stage 1 and roush fox stage 1 suspension with the 2.0’s with coilovers?
How do these compare to the halo coilovers?
So, this kit must be better than the kit u already installed? How does it compare to Fox 2.0 ?
The Falcons are digressive. The Fox is progressive. Pick your poison. The Falcons do have a better warranty and have larger internals.
@G Beez Lemus More stable on road with better manners and less harsh when you catch a pothole. Progressives are cushy, but a little sloppy. When you hit a big bump, the dampening ramps way up and can feel a little rough.
Stage 3 Motorsports: Straight up question. With all the options out there. All the brands that you sell. What are the top 3 brands of leveling kits? 90% on road/10% mild to moderate off road. With some towing mixed in. 2016 Platinum FX4. I await your recommendation. Thank you.
Stage 3. Any info on my question?
Properly done shouldn't the upper control arm be replaced so there is no stress on the oem one ( camber)
Only if you go around 3" does that become a serious issue.
How do they come pair to roush fox shock set up .
what stops that rear debris shield from filling up with dirt and mud?
There are openings at the bottom of the roost shield that allow rocks and mud to fall out. I just took a look at ours and there's a tiny bit of residual mud and pine needles stuck in there, but not enough to have any effect on the performance of the shock. Looks like we should be able to just spray it out with a hose
Nothing. Take the 10mins once in a while to remove the 3bolts and clean it if it bothers you so much
How would you say the Falcons compare between STOCK and FX4 suspensions?
Nice.
What size tires and rims are you running with the fox 2.5???😁👍
What about a header install video for the 2018 f150 5.0.
Does this install of the front require an alignment afterwards?
Not to pick in S3 because I appreciate the effort & their service in the past, but all reviews from any vendor that sell the product they are reviewing:
“These are pretty good, like the other things we also sell.”
They only use bland, subjective phrasing, and are careful to NEVER draw a hardline comparison with other products they sell (or might).
Only thing we learn from videos like this is that the product exists, fits, and is for sale. So it’s still a gamble for the consumer.
How about a rating system? Rankings? Awards? Etc? Anyone know of anyone doing this objectively out there?
I think you make some good points here Calvin and a rating system is something to consider down the road. The truth is there often times isn't an easy way to draw dramatic hardline comparisons between parts because the aftermarket world is saturated. There are so many upgrades that perform similarly and serve the same purpose with only minor differences that it's hard not to end up with vague comparisons. This review is an example of that situation. The Falcons have solid build quality and ride similar to many comparable F150 suspensions on the market so the buying decision essentially comes down to whether or not you want to pay the higher price tag or if you specifically like the brand. That being said, I'm constantly trying to improve the reviews and keep them honest so I appreciate the constructive criticism and I'll work on finding more distinct differences between products in the future.
Noah Stage 3 I appreciate the consideration Noah. You do a better job than most everyone else from a quality/production value. Just looking for ways to “learn” more from these, in addition to the entertainment factor. A lot of consumers don’t have the time to try a bunch of different of options, let alone the funds.
Some type of verdict at the end. Identifying competitive set up front (from your perspective could also be helpful for a sell against angle on products you don’t sell). Pros vs Cons beyond things that can be found without “touching“ the product (eg not price). Type of person/situation/use case that fits the product best.
Just simple stuff I’m trying to brainstorm that wouldn’t upset suppliers or cannibalize sales. I appreciate you guys thinking about it too.
Hopefully the market would reward the retailer that provides the best info and looks after customer interests best. Which already seems to be S3 anyway IMHO. But hey, always room for improvement right? Best of luck!
Can't step on any feet.
The goal here is to push product out the door lol.
Can this fit 285/55R22s ridge grapplers on a factory f150 limited wheel or 285/65/20 BFG ATs if i trade the dealer for a different factory 20? Truck will have an ARE cap on it if that matters
Been waiting since these came out for someone of your caliber to do a review on these. They are made less than 5 miles from my house
They're doing great things over there!
Stage 3 Motorsports which do you guys like better all around the 6112 and5160s or falcons?
When the UCAs are loosened up so they move around is the camber getting out of whack? I did not notice camber plates on these newer F150s.
Great review! How would the Falcon Sport System compare both on and off road to King 2.5 coilovers with piggyback rears? Keep up the great work!
We actually don't know this answer as we've never run an F150 with KING shocks, but don't worry this year is the year! Hit Subscribe and stay tuned to see how the KING's hold up vs the competition.
@@stage3motorsports Sounds great, looking forward to it. How about relative to Fox 2.5 coilovers?
Can anyone tell me the name of that small impact gun ?
I don’t understand why the we have to mark the spring with the falcon on stock positions
Would be nice to give it a test and go more further northern Arizona and do it on wash board roads . Navajo lands ?
We hit a good amount of washboard roads during our trip to northern AZ near Ashfork.
@@stage3motorsports and the performance on rough gravel and washboard roads was?
Very Good @@TheRistopher we've been able to run this on a lot of gravel and washboard roads and it's one of the better setups we've run!
why would u lowwer the rear bump stop when u didnt lift the rear at all or is itust a new holder for looks
These perform great in mud keeping in mind they are an A/T
Beautiful truck
Thanks, we're really loving this build!
Do you guys offer the 6112 that was used on your project truck for sale?
I don't understand the point of the relocated bump pad on the axle. the top of the bump stop didn't move over so isn't it just going to hit the factory one?
In theory, the axle can move laterally while articulating and having a plate there to take a hard hit can make sense. However, it's something we found questionable about the kit as well.
@@stage3motorsports interesting, thanks for the reply
Those headlights are nice as well which ones are those?
They're the ANZO Switchback Headlights click the link to find out more about them - www.stage3motorsports.com/111398-2018-2019-F150-ANZO-Plank-Style-Switchback-Projector-Headlights-Black-Housings.html
Have the stock uca's been replaced.
They have not been replaced.
But you keep the stock control arm ?
how long did the install take?
Didn't you already do a full suspension on this truck?
We've tested a couple different suspension setups on this truck. You can get some more details on our project page! www.stage3motorsports.com/Stage-3s-2018-F150-5-0L-Budget-Build.html
We have! Since this truck has been used as our "Budget Build" we have previously installed two full suspensions (Rancho & Bilstein) and before that we added a spacer kit to our stock suspension. Many guys asked us for a review of these Falcon shocks so we felt it was a perfect fit and great application for testing and direct comparison to the Bilstein system.
Is the only difference between this kit and the Falcon Sport Tow/ Haul kit the addition of the rear reservoir shocks in the Tow/ Haul kit? Thanks!
Yep
I'd like to see the new anzo taillights on this truck
Stay tuned Dyllan!
I've watched all your install videos. I've noticed you never cover the proper reinstallation of the axle and IWE unit. You can easily mess up your IWEs if you don't do it correctly.
Thanks for pointing that out Terrence, we'll keep that on our list of ways to improve these videos!
Noah, I bought the 5100’s from you guys and like them. How does these compare?
Watch the Video
These Falcons are technically more comparable to Bilstein's 6112s in ride and capability. The 5100 series is great, but it's less offroad focused and is aimed to provide a more street friendly ride.
Was this setup at the level height on the shocks or higher?
It was at the level height
@@stage3motorsports nice just ordered my a set for my 19 ram rebel
@@nabatron21 They're going to be awesome!
I would buy them but I'm fresh out of "spring compressors"!
Auto parts stores often lend them out for no cost
It appears you guys used the bilstein springs on this install and not the factory ones.
The Bilstein springs aren't compatible with this kit so we swapped them out for a set of stock springs we had sitting at the shop, but the two sets do look similar so I see where you're coming from.
What’s the ride quality compared to stock?
Have you compared these directly to the tow haul shock kit they have?
We have not, we did tow with the sport kit and had great results so I can only image it'd be a bit better.
What's a good system that will ride smoother than the stock system on road.
This kit is a great option for an upgraded on road ride, you can also check out the Bilstein 5100 kit in this link! czcams.com/video/Ht8JH8Btunw/video.html
These shocks are digressive. (supportive on road, and not harsh when you catch a pothole or dip). Other comparables seem to side on progressive. (Very soft, but a little floaty, but can be harsh on the potholes). My two cents.
Are the old rear Bilstein shocks for sale?
Eyan Tsosie bilstein is to stiffer I put in my truck and I change for falcon shock
What's the point of spending money on a suspension that's no nicer than stock??
the DRL bar in the headlight is tacky as hell
I think it looks way better than stock
@@Dukevares1 it looks ebay as fuck
This mechanic setting good example for safety, guess he has no eye love. I have the bilstein kit on 4runner, it's stiff in the 2.5 lift setting, but behaves very nicely on bumps and gravel roads at higher speeds
What size tire and rim and offset on rim?
Colten, Find all those details over on our build page!www.stage3motorsports.com/Stage-3s-2018-F150-5-0L-Budget-Builds-Now-Unlimited-Budget.html
@@stage3motorsports well I followed the link provided but it didn't say shit about wheel and tires so now I'm disappointed.
Hey Noah - curious to what gears this f150 has? Thanks!
Probably 3:55
This truck has 3.73s and the e-locker from factory. I really like the way it drives and it doesn't have any trouble turning a slightly larger M/T tire so I doubt we'll ever swap them out.
Thanks Noah - I just purchase a 2018 2.7 with 3:55 and wishing I would have gotten 3:73's. I noticed a power hit with 275/70/18 BFG all terrains. How insane would I be to trade truck in for 3:73's and is it worth it?? Gear swap seems like a pain and expensive although not as much as trade hit....
Thanks!
@@dana-kk3ep No problem! That definitely comes down to personal preference. Re-gearing the truck would probably be cheaper than trying to trade into something different, but sometimes just rocking what you got is the best choice.
@@NoahStage3 Good Call Noah! I like to over analyze things.. I'm new to Ford trucks (Toyota guy) and have found stage 3 to be a great resource and go to for parts. Thanks!
ha ha drill go ooga dooga
Stop saying RAN
$1400 😳
While these are on the top end of the price range for leveling systems these are worth every penny as you can see in our review.
Scott Thomas, better not look at King’s, Elkas, fox 2.5s or icon 2.5s. I have the Falcons and think they’re great shocks for the money.