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Fork & Shock service
Hi guys,
Just need some advice, do LBS do Fox Fork & Shock servicing, or is it better to get it done by specialists?
Fox Talas 36 Fork & Fox RP2 DRCV Shock, Trek bike.
Never had them seviced yet, but have never had any problems either.
Any advice would be welcomed.
Thanks
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Had my fork seals and basic fox shock done by Woolys. Great job.
they can send back the shock for full treatment, but even the basic gave me back alot of suppleness.
Sometimes you don't know what you're missing till you get it back !
It depends on which service you require. Most shop mechs can do seals etc. Some clever guys can do fork damper bleeds. No one can do a shock bleed as it requires a) secret knowledge and b) an expensive, unobtainable machine to pressurise it. Make it clear which service you require and they can decide if they do it in house or send it to Sola.
Alternatively, send your items to NS Dynamics. they are tops. Apparently.
NS Dynamics are very good, quick turn around and really know their stuff.
I guess i only need a basic service including seals, but i don't know enough about forks & shocks to know myself. I've got no leaks or problems to really know what type of service i need. But i'm heading over to Canada in June, so i want to get it sorted before i go. Only thing i know, fork is overly firm, but has been like this from new. Ed from Planet Bike in Rotorua changed fork setting to 75psi instead of 86psi as recommended for my weight by Trek, he too said it was too firm at that setting. Can anyone explain why this would be, and can this be fixed while servicing fork?
This can happen for two distinct reasons.
Pressure builds up in the fork lowers and it can feel as if the fork has too much air in the air chamber. The two are not related. This pressure is built up simply as a result of use and is relieved by removing the lowers. Since fork designers are engineers, and specify that the lowers be removed every thirty hours for a bath oil change, they do not bother to employ a method to release this air by other means. They simply expect the servicing will be carried out on time.
Also, as we all know, compressing air causes the moisture in that air to condense. This is why, when one looks inside the air chamber of a fork, and especially a shock, it's wet. In humid locations this is a real problem and the air chamber can have so much water inside that it causes fork to be far more progressive than intended. And progressivity is exponential. Remember, water doesn't compress. If it can escape, then one has a seal problem...
So, there's two fine arguments to regularly service one's stuff. In any fork service, one would remove the air piston and give everything, including the inside of the stanchion, a damn good clean. And reassemble dry and lubed.
Thus, your noted problem will most likely corrected in a service. All by itself.
Thanks for the fork lesson, great explaination.
Will get both fork & shock serviced asap.