2005 Rear Shock Owner's Manual
FLOAT - FLOAT R - FLOAT RP3 Vanilla - Vanilla R DHX 3.0 - DHX 4.0 - DHX 5.0
FOX RACING SHOX 130 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076 831.768.1100 FAX 831.768.9342 E-Mail: service@foxracingshox.com Website: www.foxracingshox.com
Table of Contents Introduction Contact Information Shipping Method Payment Methods Service & Warranty Consumer Safety Warranty Policy Disclaimer General Set-up Instructions Shock Terminology Measuring Sag Maintenance Pump FLOAT Shocks Adjusting Air Pressure & Sag FLOAT FLOAT R FLOAT RP3 AVA Air Sleeve Maintenance Brain and Brain Adjust (Specialized) Triad (Specialized) Pull Shock (K2) Vanilla Shocks Setting Sag Installing and Removing Springs Vanilla Vanilla R DHX Shocks Installing DHX Shocks Setting Sag DHX 3.0 DHX 4.0 DHX 5.0 International Versions Japanese Franais Italiano Deutsch Espaol International Service Centers 86 103
Introduction Thank you for choosing FOX Racing Shox for your bicycle. In doing so, you have chosen the number one shock absorber in the industry! All FOX Racing Shox products are designed, manufactured and assembled by the finest professionals in the industry. As a consumer and supporter of FOX Racing Shox products, you need to be aware of the importance of setting up your new shock correctly to ensure maximum performance. This manual will provide you with the step-by-step instructions of how to set up your shock. It is a good idea to keep your receipts with this manual and refer to it for service and warranty issues. Contact Information FOX Racing Shox Phone: 831.768.1100 E-mail: service@foxracingshox.com 130 Hangar Way North America: 800.369.7469 Website: www.foxracingshox.com Watsonville, CA 95076 Fax: 831.768.9312 Business Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM Pacific Time Shipping Method Payment Methods FOX uses UPS ground Visa, MasterCard, service in the USA. American Express, Cashier's Check Service & Warranty FOX Racing Shox USA is pleased to offer 48-hour* turnaround for product service, provided the following steps are taken. 1. Contact FOX Racing Shox at 831.768.1100 or Authorized Service Center to obtain a Return Authorization Number (R.A. number) and shipping address. For Authorized Service Centers, please refer to the list on page 107 of this manual, contact FOX Racing Shox or go to www.foxracingshox.com to determine the Service Center nearest you. 2. Satisfactory proof of purchase receipt is required for warranty consideration. 3. Mark the R.A. number and the Return Address clearly on the outside of the package and send the item(s) to FOX Racing Shox or your Authorized Service Center with shipping charges pre-paid by sender. 4. Include a description of the problem, bicycle information (manufacturer, year and model), type of FOX Racing Shox product, spring rate and return address with daytime phone number. *Authorized Service Centers operate independently. Service and Warranty turnaround times may vary. Consumer Safety RIDING A BICYCLE CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. TAKE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS SERIOUSLY. Maintain your bicycle and suspension. Wear protective clothing, eye protection and a helmet. Know and ride within your limits. Follow IMBA's Rules of the Trail - 1) Ride on open trails only 2) Leave no trace 3) Control your bicycle 4) Always yield trail 5) Never scare animals 6) Plan ahead. Your bike is equipped with FOX Racing Shox suspension. Before riding take time to read this manual on set-up, use and service of the shock. Contact FOX Racing Shox or an authorized Service Center with questions. If the shock ever loses oil or makes unusual noise, stop riding and have the shock inspected by qualified personnel. A BROKEN OR MALFUNCTIONING SHOCK CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL, CRASHING AND POSSIBLE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. Don't modify your bike frame or shock. Use only genuine FOX Racing Shox parts. Modification, improper service or use of after-market replacement parts voids the warranty and could cause the shock to malfunction and cause loss of control resulting in serious injury or death. Follow the scheduled maintenance recommendations in this Manual. Shock service should be performed by FOX Racing Shox in the USA or an authorized Service Center outside the USA. The exception is Air Sleeve service on air shocks which can be performed by the end user. FOX Racing Shox CONTAIN A NITROGEN CHARGE. DO NOT PRY OUT THE WHITE NYLON (PLASTIC) PLUG AT THE EYELET END OF THE SHOCK. THE CHARGED PORTION OF THE SHOCK SHOULD ONLY BE OPENED BY A QUALIFIED FOX Racing Shox TECHNICIAN. OPENING A NITROGEN PRESSURIZED SHOCK CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN RESULT IN INJURY. DO NOT DO IT! ON AIR SHOCKS, THE PORTION OF THE SHOCK THAT IS CHARGED WITH NITROGEN DOES NOT NEED TO BE OPENED TO PERFORM AIR SLEEVE SERVICE. WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PULL APART, OPEN, DISASSEMBLE OR SERVICE A SHOCK IF IT IS COMPRESSED OR HAS NOT RETURNED (WILL NOT RETURN) TO ITS ORIGINAL NEUTRAL LENGTH (WITH NO LOAD ON THE SHOCK). THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.

Warranty Policy The factory warranty period for your shock is one year from the original date of purchase of the bicycle or shock. A copy of the original purchase receipt must accompany any shock being considered for warranty service. Warranty is at the full discretion of FOX Racing Shox and will cover only defective materials and workmanship. Warranty duration and laws may vary from state to state and/or country to country. FLOAT, FLOAT R, FLOAT RP3 Warranty: To maintain high performance, product longevity, and preserve warranty rights, periodic end user maintenance is required. (See the Maintenance Schedule for further instructions) DHX 3.0, DHX 4.0, DHX 5.0 Warranty: DHX shocks require a minimum of 75psi in the Boost Valve to function properly. If the shock is cycled or ridden with less than 75psi in the Boost Valve emulsification will occur. FOX Racing Shox will not repair shocks in this condition under warranty. To ensure peak performance, repairs and service to the shock must be performed by FOX Racing Shox in the USA or outside the USA by a FOX Racing Shox Authorized Service Center. Parts, components and assemblies subject to normal wear and tear are not covered under this warranty. FOX Racing Shox reserves the right to all final warranty or non-warranty decisions. General exclusions from this warranty shall include but are not limited to any failures caused by: Installation of parts or accessories that are not qualitatively equivalent to genuine FOX Rac ing Shox parts. Abnormal strain, neglect, abuse and/or misuse. Accident or collision damage. Modification of original parts. Lack of proper maintenance. (very important - see Maintenance Schedule) Any attempt to disassemble damper assembly. Shipping damages or loss (purchase of full value insurance is recommended). Damage to interior or exterior caused by improper cable routing, seatpost, rocks, crashes or improper installation. Oil changes or service not performed by FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized Service Center. Coil bind / Excessive spring preload (two turns maximum) Unless otherwise specified. Specific exclusions from this warranty shall include: Parts replaced due to normal wear and tear and/or routine maintenance. Parts subject to normal wear and tear and/or routine maintenance: Bushings and reducers, Seals, Suspension fluids DHX shocks damaged by riding with less than 75psi in Boost Valve. FOX Racing Shox makes no other warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. All implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose which exceed the obligations and time limits stated in this warranty are hereby disclaimed by FOX Racing Shox and excluded from this warranty. Warranty Q & A Q. What costs are my responsibility during the warranty period? A. The customer is responsible for all costs of maintenance services, non-warranty repairs, accident and collision damages, oil, seals, bushings and reducers, and mounting hardware. Q. What are some examples of abnormal strain, neglect or abuse? A. These terms are general and overlap each other in areas. Specific examples are: Hucking, ghost riding, big drop, stunt / dare-devil riding, riding with broken parts, riding without oil in shock, too much preload, wrong spring rate, etc. Q. Does the warranty cover incidental costs such as shipping or transportation? A. No. The warranty is limited to repair of materials and/or workmanship. Q. May I perform any or all of the recommended maintenance shown in the owners manual? A. You may perform FLOAT Air Sleeve, bushing and reducer maintenance only. Oil changes, damper service and repairs must be performed by FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized Service Center. Disclaimer FOX Racing Shox is not responsible for any damages to you or others arising from riding, transporting, or other use of your shock or bicycle. In the event that your shock breaks or malfunctions, FOX Racing Shox shall have no liability or obligation beyond repair or replacement of your shock, pursuant to the terms outlined in the warranty provisions of this manual.

General Set-Up Instructions Shock Terminology Shock Sag: The amount the shock compresses with the rider on the bicycle in a normal riding position. Compression Damping: The oil damping resistance felt when trying to compress the shock. Rebound Damping: The oil damping resistance which controls the rate at which the shock will extend after being compressed. Preload: The initial amount of force placed on a spring. Spring Rate: The force needed to compress a spring one inch. FLOAT: The acronym for FOX Load Optimum Air Technology which delivers the performance of a coil spring with the adjustability and light weight of an air shock. ProPedal Damping: Technology that provides pedaling efficiency as well as control and sensitivity for big and small hits.
Measuring Sag To get the best performance from your FOX Racing Shox, it is necessary to adjust sag. Sag is how much the shock compresses or sags when you sit on the bicycle. Use this procedure to measure the sag on your FOX Racing Shox FLOAT and Vanilla shocks. Measurement #1 1. Before sitting on the bicycle, measure and record the distance from the center of one mounting bolt to the center of the other mounting bolt. This is known as the eye to eye measurement. Air shocks have an o-ring on the shock body. The o-ring should be pushed up against the scraper lip of the air sleeve. If there is no o-ring, use the "eye to eye" method. Measurement #2 2. Sit on the bicycle in a normal riding position. Your weight should be distributed on the saddle, handlebars and pedals. It may be necessary to hold yourself up against a wall or post to steady yourself. Do not bounce on the pedals or saddle. 3. Have an assistant measure and record the eye to eye distance. Subtract Measurement #2 from Measurement #1. The difference is the sag. For an air shock, dismount the bicycle and measure from the scraper lip to the o-ring. This is the sag.
Maintenance Maintenance Schedule Item Set sag (All shocks) Set rebound (shocks w/ rebound adjust) Clean shock body (all shocks) Air sleeve maintenance (FLOAT shocks) Wet & muddy conditions Dry & dusty conditions New Every Ride Every 8 hours Every 40 hours Every 100 hours

X X X X X X X

Clean/inspect bushings & reducers Suspension fluid service (must be performed by Service Center)
Other Maintenance Considerations On FLOAT shocks there may be a small amount of air sleeve lubricant residue on the body. This is normal. If this residual air sleeve lubricant is not present, this is an indication that the FLOAT air sleeve should be re-lubed. If you ride in extreme conditions, service your shock more frequently. Wash your shock with soap and water ONLY. DO NOT USE A HIGH PRESSURE WASHER ON YOUR SHOCK! Extensive internal service should be performed by FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized FOX Racing Shox Service Center. Pump A FOX Racing Shox high pressure air pump is available for your FLOAT shock. It is used to add and release air pressure from your FLOAT shock. FOX Racing Shox part number is 027-00-001-A. Remove the air valve cap from the shock. Thread the pumps valve chuck onto the shocks air valve until pressure registers on the pump gauge. This takes approximately 6 turns. Do not over-tighten pump on air valve as this will damage the pump chuck seal. Stroke the pump a few cycles. The pressure should increase slowly. If pressure increases rapidly check to make sure the pump is properly fitted and tightened onto the air valve. Note: If shock has no air pressure, the gauge will not register pressure. Pump to desired pressure setting. You can decrease pressure by pushing the black bleed valve. Pushing the bleed valve half way down, and holding it there, will allow pressure to escape from the pump and shock. Pushing the bleed valve all the way down and releasing it will allow only a small amount of pressure to escape (micro adjust). When unthreading the pump from the air valve fitting, the sound of the air loss is from the pump hose, not the shock itself. Note: When you attach the pump to the shock, the hose will need to fill with air. This will result in a lower pressure registering approximately 10 to 20 PSI on the gauge. Note: Average air pressure range is from 50 to 300 PSI. DO NOT EXCEED 300 PSI. Replace the air valve cap before riding. "Stuck Down" FLOAT Shock Under certain circumstances a FLOAT shock can become "stuck down". This is a rare condition but if it occurs, please follow the instructions below. If your FLOAT shock has not returned to its original neutral length (eye to eye position), DO NOT attempt to disassemble the outer air sleeve or any other part of the shock. Air has become trapped in the Air Negative chamber and can cause serious injury if the shock is disassembled. This condition is known as stuck down. If the shock is stuck down, return it immediately to FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized FOX Racing Shox Service Center for service. (see Service / Warranty for details) Procedure to check for a stuck down shock: 1. Release air pressure from the shock. 2. Using a FOX Racing Shox high pressure pump, pressurize the shock to 250 psi. 3. If the shock does not extend it has become stuck down. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PULL APART, OPEN, DISASSEMBLE OR SERVICE A SHOCK THAT IS STUCK DOWN. SERIOUS INJURY CAN RESULT. Contact FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized FOX Racing Shox Service Center for assistance.

FLOAT Shocks Adjusting Air Pressure and Sag To get the best performance from your FLOAT shock, it is necessary to adjust sag. On your FLOAT shock this is done by adjusting the air pressure. The air pressure needed is determined by the riders weight and riding conditions. Sag is how much the shock compresses when you sit on the bicycle. Increasing air pressure will make the shock stiffer. Decreasing the air pressure will make the shock softer. (Note: It might be necessary to change air pressure to achieve the proper sag setting). The smoothest ride will be attained by running the air pressure low enough to occasionally bottom out. Note: Proper air pressure is subject to personal preferences as well. Some people prefer a softer shock and others a firm one. During the first few rides, experiment with different pressures and find the one that best suits your riding style. 1. Locate the Schrader air valve on the shock and remove the valve cap. 2. Screw the FOX Racing Shox pump onto the air valve until the pump shows pressure on the gauge. Do not over-tighten. 3. Add air pressure until desired pressure is shown on the gauge. 4. Unthread the pump from the air valve and measure the sag. Repeat steps 2-4 until proper sag is achieved. Replace valve cap.
FLOAT Sag Table Common shock lengths inches 5.500 6.000 6.500 7.250 7.875 millimeters 139.7 152.4 165.1 184.2 200.0 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 Shock travel inches millimeters 25.4 31.8 38.1 44.4 50.8 Recommended sag inches.25.31.38.44.50 millimeters 6.4 7.9 9.5 11.1 12.7
FLOAT Shock Features Adjustable Air Spring - High Volume Air Sleeve - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping Self Adjusting Air Negative Spring - Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping - Light-weight Chassis - Factory ProPedal
FLOAT Air Spring Set-up Follow the instructions above in the Adjusting Air Pressure and Sag Section.
FLOAT R Shock Features Adjustable Air Spring - High Volume Air Sleeve - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping Self Adjusting Air Negative Spring - Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping - Light-weight Chassis - Factory ProPedal Externally Adjustable Rebound Damping - Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack
FLOAT Air Spring Set-up Follow the instructions on page 8 in the Adjusting Air Pressure and Sag Section. Rebound Adjustment Rebound damping controls the rate at which the shock returns after it has been compressed. The red adjuster dial can be turned clockwise for slower rebound and counterclockwise for faster rebound. There is a wide range of adjustment enabling the rider to tune the shock to any air pressure and riding condition. The proper rebound setting is a personal preference and varies depending on rider weight, riding style and riding conditions. As a general rule, rebound should be as fast as possible without kicking back and pushing the rider off the saddle when riding the bicycle in rough terrain. If rebound is too slow the suspension will not function properly and the wheel will not follow the changing terrain. Determining the proper rebound setting may take a number of rides. Use the curb test to start dialing in your rebound setting. Do this test on flat ground where there is little auto traffic and plenty of room. Ride at normal cruising speed and stay seated. Ride off a curb and monitor the rebound. If the bike oscillates a few times after landing the rebound is too fast. If the shock does not return promptly it is too slow. Start with the dial in the middle (about 6 clicks from full slow) and adjust 2 clicks in the direction needed. Single clicks of adjustment can be used to fine tune the rebound damping. During the first few rides, adjust the rebound damping and note the different ride characteristics. Your necessary or optimum rebound damping setting may change with different riding conditions.

FLOAT RP3 Shock Features Adjustable Air Spring - High Volume Air Sleeve - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping Self Adjusting Air Negative Spring - Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping - Light-weight Chassis - 3 External Positions of ProPedal - Externally Adjustable Rebound Damping Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack - Dual Overhead Cam
Rebound Adjuster 'Schrader Valve Shock Body Reducer

ProPedal RP3 Lever

Air Sleeve
FLOAT Air Spring Set-up Follow the instructions on page 8 in the Adjusting Air Pressure and Sag Section. Rebound Adjustment Please refer to Rebound Adjustment for FLOAT R. ProPedal RP3 Damping Adjustment The FLOAT RP3 features a three position ProPedal tuning lever allowing on-the-fly ProPedal tuning. ProPedal damping reduces pedal induced suspension bob. The three settings of the lever are full ProPedal, light ProPedal and Plush. Use the different settings to tune the shock to different riding conditions and situations. For example, use the full ProPedal position for riding to the top of the mountain and then switch to the Plush position for the descent. Because suspension designs vary, some pedal inherently better than others. To determine which ProPedal position is best, pedal the bicycle at about 15 mph and monitor the shock movement. Switch between positions and select the one that reduces suspension movement most effectively while providing the desired amount of bump absorption. The setting may change depending on conditions and riding styles. Air Volume Adjuster - AVA Some FLOAT shocks feature an Air Volume Adjuster or AVA. AVA technology affords a new level of fine tuning adjustment for mountain bike rear shocks. Turning the AVA ring increases or decreases the volume of the positive air spring chamber allowing the rider to alter the shape of the spring curve. The AVA system creates a shock that, in its smallest setting, is up to 30% more linear spring rate than a standard FLOAT shock. AVA allows as much as 200 lbs of adjustment in spring rate from fully closed to fully open when fully compressed. AVA is a pre-ride tuning feature. The AVA system is not intended to be used on the trail or on the fly. It is important to clean your shock, especially the threads of the AVA air sleeve prior to adjustment. In most cases, maximum air volume will be desired. Rotation of the AVA ring requires near complete deflation of the shock. Using a shock pump, let most or all of the air from the shock so that the AVA ring can be easily turned. Turn the ring until it just touches the wire ring which is snapped onto the air sleeve. This is the maximum volume setting. Pressurize the shock and set sag as normal. AVA does not affect sag. If the shock seems to bottom out too easily or too often, deflate the shock, rotate the ring to the next setting on the air sleeve. Pressurize the shock, set sag and test again for full stroke performance. Repeat this process until the setting that best fits your riding style and terrain is determined. Air sleeve service can be performed as on other FLOAT shocks. Clean AVA seals after every other normal FLOAT seal service, especially if riding conditions are muddy or dusty. Carefully remove wire rings and air sleeves. Clean and inspect seals and parts for damage or wear. Re-lubricate and carefully re-assemble. Refer to diagram for areas with critical sealing and lubrication needs.

Eyelet

Air Sleeve Maintenance See www.foxracingshox.com for downloadable video instructions. Release all air pressure from Air Valve. Cycle shock a few times to release pressure from the air negative spring. Release all air pressure from Air Valve again. Remove shock from bike Remove mounting hardware. Clamp shaft eyelet in a vise with soft jaws being careful not to crush the air valve, RP3 lever, or rebound knob. Slide a screwdriver or punch through the body eyelet to keep the air sleeve from coming off the body. Loosen air sleeve by turning counter clockwise and slide it down the body. Remove screwdriver or punch and remove air sleeve from shock.
Cleaning and Inspecting Clean inside of the air sleeve with parts cleaner. Inspect the seal and bearing inside of the air sleeve. Replace if damaged or worn. Clean body, body seal, body bearings and shaft with parts cleaner. Inspect body seal and body bearings for wear or damage. Replace if damaged or worn. Greasing and Reassembling Lightly lube the shaft eyelet O-ring and shaft eyelet threads with FLOAT Fluid or Multi-purpose Lithium based grease (NLGI #2). Liberally lube the body seal and body bearing, leaving a reservoir of lube above the body bearing. Lightly grease the air sleeve seal, air sleeve bearing, and air sleeve wiper. Use Slick Honey on this part of the shock for best results. Slide the air sleeve over the body until the air sleeve wiper is at the end of the body. Leave the air sleeve unthreaded at this time. (The air sleeve will be very difficult to compress because there is pressure trapped in the air negative chamber. Waiting until after the shock is mounted in the bike will allow the leverage of the bike to easily compress the shock.) Dry bushings and reducers. Install reducers in eyelet bushings and install shock in bike. Carefully compress shock until you can screw on the air sleeve. Don't let the air sleeve slip off the body. Thread air sleeve onto shaft eyelet hand tight. Inflate shock using inflation instructions listed in the Pump Instructions. Note: If needed, the Air Sleeve Seal Kit part number is 803-00-050-B. FLOAT Fluid part numbers: 025-03-002-A 5 cc Pillow Pack 025-03-003-A 8 oz. Bottle
Specialized Bicycles with Brain and Brain Adjust Technology Brain technology senses bumps in the trail and activates the suspension giving the rider the efficiency of a hardtail with all the benefits of a full suspension bicycle. To optimize the performance of the shock, it is important to set it up correctly. Taking the time to tune the spring rate (air pressure) and rebound damping (rate at which the shock returns) will greatly enhance the riding experience. The method for setting sag on a Brain-equipped bicycle is slightly different than that used for traditional shocks. 1. Begin by sliding the travel indicator o-ring to the scraper lip. 2. Sit on the bicycle in a normal riding position. It is best to wear normal riding gear during this step. Remain steady and still in this position for ten (10) seconds. This will allow the shock to sit into its travel. 3. Dismount the bicycle and measure between the scraper lip and the travel indicator o-ring. 4. Recommended sag is 10mm. Adjust air pressure in 5psi increments until sag is achieved. An alternative to setting sag is to set the air pressure according to the air spring chart below. 1. Find the riders weight in the left column and set air pressure per the middle column. 2. Set the rebound dial per the column on the right of the air spring chart. Setting Rebound Rebound damping controls the rate at which the shock returns after it has compressed. The red adjuster dial is used to speed up or slow down the rebound damping. 1. Turn the Rebound Adjuster Dial clockwise until it stops. 2. Consult the air pressure chart below and find the riders weight in the left column. Read across to the column on the right and find the corresponding number of clicks and set the Rebound Adjuster Dial by turning the dial counter-clockwise and counting the number of clicks. Bump Threshold Adjustment Some Brain-equipped shocks feature a bump threshold adjustment. This changes the Brains sensitivity to bumps allowing a firmer (race) or softer (comfy) ride. 1. Rotate the blue lever at the base of the Brain towards the left chainstay to increase the bump threshold. This will make the Brain less sensitive thus requiring a larger bump to activate. 2. Rotate the blue lever away from the left chainstay to decrease the bump threshold. This will increase the sensitivity of the Brain. Smaller bumps will now activate the suspension.

Rider weight Pounds (Kilograms) 90-100 (41-45) 100-110 (45-50) 110-120 (50-54) 120-130 (54-60) 130-140 (60-64) 140-150 (64-68) 150-160 (68-73) 160-170 (73-77) 170-180 (77-82) 180-190 (82-86) 190-200 (86-91) 200-210 (91-95) 210-220 (95-100) 220-230 (100-104) 230-240 (104-109) 240-250 (109-113) 250-265 (113-120) 265-280 (120-127) 280-295 (127-134) Air pressure PSI 60-62 62-65 65-68 68-71 71-74 74-79 79-84 84-89 89-94 94-99 99-104 104-114 114-124 124-134 134-144 144-154 154-169 169-184 184-199 Rebound clicks from closed 21-20 21-20 20-18 20-18 18-16 18-16 18-16 16-14 16-14 16-14 14-12 14-12 14-12 12-10 12-10 10-8 10-8 8-6 6-4

Blue Lever

More sensitive

Less sensitive

Travel Indicator O-ring

Schrader Valve

Rebound Adjuster Dial
Air sleeve service can be performed as on other FLOAT rear shocks (see pages 10&11). The strut must be removed before removing the air sleeve. A 22mm open end wrench is required to remove the strut. Torque to 175-200 in-lb (19.5-22.5 N-m) when reinstalling. A 22mm crowfoot torque wrench is required to install the strut. Note: Most repairs and warranty issues related to the FOX FLOAT R shock with Brain Technology must be performed through an Authorized Specialized Dealer in your country. Please contact your Specialized Dealer for service, repair or warranty issues. Some FOX Racing Shox Service Centers can service and repair Brain shocks. Please see www.foxracingshox.com for Service Center updates.
Specialized Bicycles with Triad Shocks Some Specialized bicycles feature a FOX Racing Shox Triad shock. The Triad has three onthe-fly suspension adjustment settings - 1)Fully locked out 2) ProPedal for a more efficient ride and 3) Fully open and plush. Generally, the locked out position is used for climbing and road riding, the ProPedal position is used for pedalling sections where a combination of compliance and efficiency is still needed and the fully open and plush position is used for descending. Pedal Locked Open K2 Razorback Pull Shock The K2 Razorback is equipped with a FOX Racing Shox FLOAT RL Pull Shock. To get the best performance from your K2 Razorback, it is necessary to adjust the suspension. The first step is to adjust the air pressure using the Schrader valve on the shock. The proper air pressure is a personal preference and varies upon your weight and riding style. During the first few rides adjust the air pressure to find your personal preference. Set air pressure (psi) equal to your body weight as a starting point. If necessary, adjust in 5psi increments to suit your personal preference. Rebound Adjustment K2 Razorbacks have a shock with rebound adjustment. Rebound damping is adjusted by the red rebound wheel. Rebound damping controls the speed at which the shock returns to its original position after the shock is compressed. The shock has 12 clicks of adjustment from fully closed. Turning the knob clockwise will cause the rebound to be slower. The proper rebound setting is a personal preference and varies upon your weight and riding style. Experts agree that rebound should be as fast as possible without kicking back and pushing the rider off the saddle when riding the bike in rough terrain. If rebound is set too slow, the suspension will not have the time to extend before hitting the next bump Note: When the red rebound wheel is advanced to positions towards full in, or full clock-wise, the blue lock-out lever will feel slack. This is normal.

Rider weight Pounds (kilograms) 90-100 (41-45) 100-110 (45-50) 110-120 (50-54) 120-130 (54-60) 130-140 (60-64) 140-150 (64-68) 150-160 (68-73) 160-170 (73-77) 170-180 (77-82) 180-190 (82-86) 190-200 (86-91) Air pressure (psi) 90-100 100-110 110-120 120-130 130-140 140-150 150-160 160-170 170-180 180-190 190-200
Compression Enhancement Razorbacks come with a shock with compression enhancement. The purpose of the compression enhancement is to limit suspension movement when desired by the rider. It is adjusted with the blue lever at the end of the shock. The shock can be oriented two ways on the bike. If the lever is located on the right side of the shock and bike (from the rider's perspective) rotate the lever until it is pointing up and back for normal compression damping. From that position, rotate the lever 90 until it points down and back for compression enhancement. If the lever is on the bottom of the shock, when it points left and back there will be extra compression damping limiting suspension movement. Rotate the lever 90 until it points right and back for normal compression damping.
Vanilla Shocks To get the best performance from your Vanilla shock, it is necessary to adjust sag. On the coil-over shocks this is done by adjusting the spring preload or changing springs. Sag is how much the shock compresses when you sit on the bicycle. Increasing spring preload will make the shock compress less. Decreasing the preload will make the shock compress more. The smoothest ride will be achieved with one turn of preload. (Note: it might be necessary to change spring rate to achieve the proper sag setting.) Adjusting sag setting is easiest with two people, the bike rider and an assistant. See page 6 for Sag Measurement instructions.
Vanilla & DHX Sag Table Shock travel Recommended sag Inches (Millimeters).25 (6.4).31 (7.9).38 (9.5).44 (11.1).50 (12.7).56 (14.3).63 (15.9).69 (17.5).76 (19.0) Inches (Millimeters) 1.00 (25.4) 1.25 (31.7) 1.50 (38.1) 1.75 (44.4) 2.00 (50.8) 2.25 (57.1) 2.50 (63.5) 2.75 (69.9) 3.00 (76.2)
If more than 2 turns of preload are required to achieve the correct amount of sag, it is recommended that a higher rate spring be installed.

To set preload it is necessary to adjust the spring preload ring. FOX Racing Shox recommends no more than two (2) turns of preload. Increase preload by turning the ring clockwise. Decrease preload by turning the ring counter-clockwise. Make sure the preload ring is always in contact with the spring. If desired preload cannot be achieved with the preload ring, change the spring. (See Installing and Removing Springs) A stiffer spring (higher spring rate) decreases sag and a softer spring (lower spring rate) increases sag. Springs are available from FOX Racing Shox (800-FOX-SHOX) and authorized dealers and Service Centers. Numbers are printed on the outside of the spring coils indicating the rate (in pounds) and travel (in inches) Example: 550-1.95 is a 550 pound-per-inch spring rate with 1.95 inches of travel. Please note this number when ordering springs. Also be prepared with the make, model and year of the bicycle plus shock travel, rider weight and riding style. Installing and Removing Springs Vanilla & Vanilla R Loosen and remove the preload ring from the body. Note: It might be necessary to remove the reducers from the body end of the shock to remove the spring. Slide the spring over the shock body. Install your new spring by sliding the spring over the shock body. Tighten the preload adjuster one full turn to keep the preload ring from shaking loose.
Vanilla Shock Features Adjustable Spring Preload - External Coil Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping One Piece Aluminum Body - One Piece Eyelet - Nitrogen Charged Speed Sensitive Compression Damping
Vanilla R Shock Features Adjustable Spring Preload - External Coil Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping One Piece Aluminum Body - One Piece Eyelet - Nitrogen Charged Speed Sensitive Compression Damping - Factory Tuned ProPedal - Multi-Valve Piston 12 Click Externally Adjustable Rebound Damping - Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack
REBOUND ADJUSTER KNOB (RED)
Rebound Adjustment Rebound damping controls the rate at which the shock returns after it has been compressed. The red adjuster dial can be turned clockwise for slower rebound and counterclockwise for faster rebound. There is a wide range of adjustment enabling the rider to tune the shock to any air pressure and riding condition. The proper rebound setting is a personal preference and varies depending on rider weight, riding style and riding conditions. As a general rule, rebound should be as fast as possible without kicking back and pushing the rider off the saddle when riding the bicycle in rough terrain. If rebound is too slow the suspension will not function properly and the wheel will not follow the changing terrain. Determining the proper rebound setting may take a number of rides. Use the curb test to start dialing in your rebound setting. Do this test on flat ground where there is little auto traffic and plenty of room. Ride at normal cruising speed and stay seated. Ride off a curb and monitor the rebound. If the bike oscillates a few times after landing the rebound is too fast. If the shock does not return promptly it is too slow. Start with the dial in the middle (about 7 clicks from full slow) and adjust 2 clicks in the direction needed. Single clicks of adjustment can be used to fine tune the rebound damping. During the first few rides, adjust the rebound damping and note the different ride characteristics. Your rebound damping setting may change with different riding conditions.

DHX Installing DHX Shocks If installing a DHX shock on a bicycle that was not originally supplied with a DHX shock, it is very important to install the shock without the spring and carefully cycle the suspension through its travel. Check that all parts of the shock are clear of the frame and swingarm through the full travel of the suspension. Setting Sag on DHX Shocks Set sag on DHX shocks the same as Vanilla shocks. See instructions and Sag table on page 14. Sag on DHX shocks can be as much as 33% of shock travel. Changing Springs Back off preload ring to loosen the spring until the slotted spring retainer can be removed from the shock. Note: It might be necessary to remove the reducers from the shaft end of the shock to remove the spring. Slide the spring over the eyelet. Slide the new spring on over the eyelet, and re-install the spring retainer. Note: The slotted spring ring retainer slot must rest on the flat side of the spring. If the slot is straddling the gap caused by the end of the spring wire the slotted spring retainer may bend. Tighten the preload adjuster one full turn to keep the spring retainer from shaking loose. Align the slotted spring retainer so that the rebound knob is in the middle of the slot. DHX 3.0 Shock Features Adjustable Spring Preload - External Coil Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Shim Controlled Compression Damping 12 Click Externally Adjustable Velocity Sensitive Rebound Damping - Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack - Boost Valve Position Sensitive Adjustment - Factory Tuned ProPedal
Reservoir Schrader Valve Rebound Adjuster Knob Shaft Reducer

Body Cap

Rebound Adjustment Please refer to Rebound Adjustment for the Vanilla R on Page 15. Boost Valve Adjustment The Boost Valve controls the shock's compression damping. On the 3.0 model you can alter the pedaling efficiency and bottoming resistance of the shock via the Schrader valve. The pressure range of the Boost Valve is 75-200psi and is factory set at 150psi which should be a good starting point for most riders. Ride the bicycle on rough terrain and note the compression characteristics of the shock. If it seems that the ride is too firm and there is too much compression damping, attach a shock pump to the schrader valve and reduce the air pressure 10-15psi. Repeat this procedure until desired compression damping is achieved. If compression damping is too light, add 10-15psi until desired compression damping is achieved. Use care when attaching and removing the pump not to lose too much air pressure. The Boost Valve uses high pressures in a small volume so small pressure losses can affect performance. Important Note: DO NOT ride or cycle the DHX shock with less than 75 psi in the Boost Valve. This will damage the shock requiring repairs that are NOT covered under warranty.

Slotted Spring Retainer

Bottom Out Bumper

Preload Ring

DHX 4.0 Shock Features Adjustable Spring Preload - External Coil Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Shim Controlled Compression Damping 12 Click Externally Adjustable Velocity Sensitive Rebound Damping - Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack - Boost Valve Position Sensitive Adjustment - ProPedal Adjustment

ProPedal Adjustment Knob

Installing DHX Shocks Please see the note about DHX Shock installation on Page 17. Rebound Adjustment Please refer to Rebound Adjustment for the Vanilla R on Page 15. Setting Sag on DHX Shocks Set sag on DHX shocks the same as Vanilla shocks. See instructions and Sag table on page 14. Sag on DHX shocks can be as much as 33% of shock travel. Boost Valve Adjustment Please refer to Boost Valve Adjustment for the DHX 3.0 on Page 17. ProPedal Adjustment The ProPedal Adjustment knob allows the rider to adjust the amount of ProPedal damping. ProPedal damping affects the first part of the compression stroke and is designed to control pedal induced suspension bob. Since suspension designs vary not all bicycles require the same degree of ProPedal damping. There are 15 clicks of adjustment. Rotate the knob all the way counter-clockwise for the lightest ProPedal setting and all the way clockwise for the most ProPedal damping. ProPedal and Boost Valve Interaction While they are separate adjustments, aspects of the Boost Valve can influence the ProPedal adjustment. If the ProPedal Adjustment Knob is all the way counter-clockwise in the lightest ProPedal damping position and the compression damping is still to strong, attach a shock pump to the schrader valve on the Boost Valve and reduce the pressure 10-15psi. Repeat these steps to achieve the desired compression damping. If there is not enough compression damping with the ProPedal knob fully clockwise, add 10-15psi to the Boost Valve until desired compression damping is achieved.
DHX 5.0 Shock Features Adjustable Spring Preload - External Coil Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Shim Controlled Compression Damping 12 Click Externally Adjustable Velocity Sensitive Rebound Damping - Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack - Boost Valve Position Sensitive Adjustment - ProPedal Adjustment Bottom-out Adjustment
Bottom-out Adjustment Knob
Schrader Valve Rebound Adjuster Knob Shaft Reducer Reservoir
Adjustment Indicator Lines
Installing DHX Shocks Please see DHX Shock installation instructions for the DHX 3.0. Setting Sag on DHX Shocks Set sag on DHX shocks the same as Vanilla shocks. See instructions and Sag table on page 14. Sag on DHX shocks can be as much as 33% of shock travel. Rebound Adjustment Please refer to Rebound Adjustment for the Vanilla R on Page 15. Boost Valve Adjustment Please refer to Boost Valve Adjustment for the DHX 3.0. ProPedal Adjustment Please refer to ProPedal Adjustment for the DHX 4.0. ProPedal and Boost Valve Interaction Please refer to ProPedal and Boost Valve Interaction for the DHX 4.0. Bottom-out Adjustment The blue knob on the end of the reservoir is used to adjust bottom-out resistance and affects the last part of the compression stroke. Bottom-out should be adjusted with a maximum of 125psi in the Boost Valve. The knob can be turned by hand or with a 4mm hex key inserted into one of the holes around the perimeter. Do not use any other tool to turn the knob - 4mm hex key only! Turn the knob all the way clockwise for the most bottom-out resistance and counter-clockwise for the least. There are three (3) rotations of adjustment and three (3) corresponding Adjustment Indicator Lines on the reservoir. Note: If the knob feels gritty during rotation, set the knob to maximum volume and then use a 2mm (8-32) hex key to loosen the set screws in the perimeter holes and remove the knob. Clean thoroughly, grease and re-install.

2004 Rear Shock Owners Manual
FLOAT - FLOAT R - FLOAT L - FLOAT RL Vanilla - Vanilla R - Vanilla RC AVA - TALAS - SBC Enduro - SBC Brain - K2 Pull Shock
FOX RACING SHOX 130 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076 831.274.6500 FAX 831.768.9312 E-Mail: service@foxracingshox.com Website: www.foxracingshox.com

Table of Contents

Introduction.... 3 General Information Contact Info... 3 Method of Shipping... 3 Methods of Payment... 3 Service / Warranty... 3 International Service Centers.. 3 Warranty Policy... 4 Disclaimer... 4 Consumer Safety... 5 Shock Terminology... 5 General Set-Up Instructions Measuring Sag.. 6 General Maintenance.. 6 FLOAT Shocks Pump... 7 Adjusting Sag... 8 FLOAT Drawing & Features... 8 FLOAT R Drawing & Features.. 9 Rebound Adjustment.. 9 FLOAT L Drawing & Features.. 9 Compression Adjustment.. 9 FLOAT RL Drawing & Features.. 10 SBC Enduro FLOAT R & RL.. 10 Air Volume Adjuster - AVA.. 11 Travel Adjust Linear Air Spring - TALAS.. 11 Air Sleeve Maintenance.. 12 SBC Brain... 13 K2 Razorback Pull Shock.. 14 Remote Lock-out.. 15 Vanilla Shocks Adjusting Sag... 16 Installing and Removing Springs. 16 Vanilla Drawing & Features.. 17 Vanilla R Drawings & Features.. 17 Rebound Adjustment.. 17 Vanilla RC Drawing & Features.. 18 Compression Adjustment. 18
International Versions Franais.. 19 Italiano... 37 Deutsch.. 55 Espanol.. 73 Japanese... 91
Introduction Thank you for choosing FOX Racing Shox for your bicycle. In doing so, you have chosen the number one shock absorber in the industry! All FOX Racing Shox products are designed, manufactured and assembled by the finest professionals in the industry. As a consumer and supporter of FOX Racing Shox products, you need to be aware of the importance of setting up your new shock correctly to ensure maximum performance. This manual will provide you with the step-by-step instructions of how to set up your shock. It is a good idea to keep your receipts with this manual and refer to it for service and warranty issues. General Information Contact Info Phone: 831.274.6500 E-mail: service@foxracingshox.com FOX Racing Shox North America: 800.369.7469 Website: www.foxracingshox.com 130 Hangar Way Business Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM Pacific Time Watsonville, CA 95076 Fax: 831.768.9312 Shipping Method Method of Payment Visa, MasterCard, We use UPS ground service within the USA. Cashiers Check Service/Warranty FOX Racing Shox USA is pleased to offer 48-hour* turnaround for product service, provided the following steps are taken. 1. Contact FOX Racing Shox at 831.274.6500 or Authorized Service Center to obtain a Return Authorization Number (R.A. number) and shipping address. For Authorized Service Centers, please refer to the list below, contact FOX Racing Shox or go to www.foxracingshox.com to determine the Service Center nearest you. 2. Satisfactory proof of purchase receipt is required for warranty consideration. 3. Mark the R.A. number and the Return Address clearly on the outside of the package and send the item(s) to FOX Racing Shox or your Authorized Service Center with shipping charges pre-paid by sender. 4. Include a description of the problem, bicycle information (manufacturer, year and model), type of FOX Racing Shox product, spring rate and return address with daytime phone number. *Authorized Service Centers operate independently. Service and Warranty turnaround times may vary.
Australia D i rt Works 011 612-9679-8400
di rtworks@di rtworks.com.au
Germany Shock Therapy 06126-2267700
support@shock-therapy.com
Philippines D an's Bi ke Shop 3633

dansbi ke@WBI.ph

B elgium Sabma 87-631980

sabma@skynet.be

Germany T xoholi c's o 49 6331-258160 toxoholi cs@t-onli ne.de Israel D AA Sport Marketi ng 972-(0)9-865-6960

dan@daa.co.i l

Spain D i rt Raci ng 011 34-91-663-71-25

mrojo.di rt@nexo.es

B raz il Pli max 2 Fast 011 5511-251-0633

Consumer Safety RIDING A BICYCLE IS DANGEROUS AND CAN RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. TAKE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS SERIOUSLY. Maintain your bicycle and suspension Wear protective clothing, eye protection and a helmet Ride within your limits Tread lightly
Your bike is equipped with FOX Racing Shox rear suspension. Before riding, take the time to read the FOX Racing Shox manual on set-up, use, and service of your shock. If you have questions, contact your Authorized FOX Racing Shox Service Center or call FOX Racing Shox directly at 831.274.6500. If your shock ever loses oil, or if it makes unusual noise, stop riding immediately and have the shock inspected by a dealer, Service Center or contact Fox Racing Shox. RIDING WITH A BROKEN OR MALFUNCTIONING SHOCK CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL, CRASHING, AND POSSIBLE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. Never modify your bike frame or shock. Only use genuine Fox Racing Shox parts for your shock. Any modification, improper service, or use of after-market replacement parts will void the warranty and could damage the shock or cause loss of control of the bike resulting in serious injury or death. Follow the scheduled maintenance recommendations in this Manual. Always have your shock serviced by Fox Racing Shox in the USA or an Authorized FOX Racing Shox Service Center outside the USA. YOUR FOX Racing Shox IS PRESSURIZED WITH NITROGEN. DO NOT EVER PRY OUT THE WHITE NYLON (PLASTIC) PLUG AT THE EYELET END OF SHOCK. THE CHARGED PORTION OF THE SHOCK SHOULD NEVER BE OPENED EXCEPT BY AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. IF YOU HAVE AN AIR SHOCK (FLOAT), THE PORTION OF THE SHOCK THAT IS CHARGED WITH NITROGEN DOES NOT NEED TO BE OPENED IN ORDER TO PERFORM CLEANING AND LUBRICATION OF THE AIR SLEEVE CHAMBER. OPENING A NITROGEN PRESSURIZED SHOCK CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAN RESULT IN INJURY. DO NOT DO IT. WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PULL APART, OPEN, DISASSEMBLE OR SERVICE A SHOCK IF IT IS COMPRESSED OR HAS NOT RETURNED (WILL NOT RETURN) TO ITS ORIGINAL NEUTRAL LENGTH (WITH NO LOAD ON THE SHOCK). SERIOUS INJURY CAN RESULT.
Shock Terminology Shock Sag: The amount the shock compresses with the rider on the bicycle in a normal riding position. Compression Damping: The oil damping resistance felt when trying to compress the shock. Rebound Damping: The oil damping resistance which controls the rate at which the shock will extend. Preload: The initial amount of force placed on a spring. Spring Rate: The force needed to compress a spring on inch. FLOAT: The acronym for FOX Load Optimum Air Technology which delivers the performance of a coil spring with the adjustability and light weight of an air shock. Vanilla: Coil spring technology specific to FOX which offers the utmost in bump performance and sets the standard against which all other technologies are measured. ProPedal Damping: Technology that provides pedaling efficiency as well as control and sensitivity for big and small hits.

General Set-Up Instructions Measuring Sag To get the best performance from your FOX Racing Shox, it is necessary to adjust sag. Sag is how much the shock compresses or sags when you sit on the bicycle. Use this procedure to measure the sag on your FOX Racing Shox FLOAT and Vanilla shocks. Measurement #1 1. Before sitting on the bicycle, measure and record the distance from the center of one mounting bolt to the center of the other mounting bolt. This is known as the eye to eye measurement. Measurement #2 2. Sit on the bicycle in a normal riding position. Your weight should be distributed on the saddle and pedals. It may be necessary to hold yourself up against a wall or post to steady yourself. Do not bounce on the pedals or saddle. 3. Have an assistant measure and record the eye to eye distance. Subtract Measurement #2 from Measurement #1. The difference is the sag. General Maintenance Maintenance Schedule
Item N ew Every ride Every 8 hours Every 40 hours Annually and/or every 200 hours
Set sag (All shocks) Set rebound (All shocks w/rebound adjust) C lean shock body (All shocks) Ai r sleeve mai ntenance (FLOAT shocks only) Wet & muddy condi ti ons
D ry & dusty condi ti ons C lean & i nspect bushi ngs & reducers (All shocks) Suspensi on flui d servi ce (All shocks-must be performed by Servi ce C enter)
Other Maintenance Considerations On FLOAT shocks there may be a small amount of air sleeve lubricant residue on the body. This is normal. If this residual air sleeve lubricant is not present, this is an indication that the FLOAT air sleeve should be re-lubed. If you ride in extreme conditions, service your shock more frequently. Wash your shock with soap and water ONLY.
DO NOT USE A HIGH PRESSURE WASHER ON YOUR SHOCK!
Extensive internal service should be performed by FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized FOX Racing Shox Service Center.

FLOAT Shocks

Pump A FOX Racing Shox high pressure air pump is available for your FLOAT shock. It is used to add and release air pressure from your FLOAT shock. FOX Racing Shox part number is 027-00-001-A.
Remove the air valve cap from the shock. Thread the pumps valve chuck onto the shocks air valve until pressure registers on the pump gauge. This takes approximately 6 turns. Do not over-tighten pump on air valve as this will damage the pump chuck seal. Stroke the pump a few cycles. The pressure should increase slowly. If pressure increases rapidly check to make sure the pump is properly fitted and tightened onto the air valve. Note: If shock has no air pressure, the gauge will not register pressure. Pump to desired pressure setting. You can decrease pressure by pushing the black bleed valve. Pushing the bleed valve half way down, and holding it there, will allow pressure to escape from the pump and shock. Pushing the bleed valve all the way down and releasing it will allow only a small amount of pressure to escape (micro adjust). When unthreading the pump from the air valve fitting, the sound of the air loss is from the pump hose, not the shock itself. Note: When you attach the pump to the shock, the hose will need to fill with air. This will result in a lower pressure registering approximately 10 to 20 PSI on the gauge. Note: Average setting range is from 50 to 300 PSI. DO NOT EXCEED 300 PSI. Replace the air valve cap before riding.

Warning: If your FLOAT shock has not returned to its original neutral length (eye to eye position), DO NOT attempt to disassemble the outer air sleeve or any other part of the shock. Air has become trapped in the Air Negative chamber and can cause serious injury if the shock is disassembled. This condition is known as stuck down. If the shock is stuck down, return it immediately to FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized FOX Racing Shox Service Center for service. (see Service / Warranty for details) Procedure to check for a stuck down shock: 1. Release air pressure from the shock. 2. Using a FOX Racing Shox high pressure pump, pressurize the shock to 250 psi. 3. If the shock does not extend it has become stuck down. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PULL APART, OPEN, DISASSEMBLE OR SERVICE A SHOCK THAT IS STUCK DOWN. SERIOUS INJURY CAN RESULT. Contact FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized FOX Racing Shox Service Center for assistance. Note: While a stuck down shock is a serious condition and should only be serviced by FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized FOX Racing Shox Service Center, it is also rare.
Adjusting Sag To get the best performance from your FLOAT shock, it is necessary to adjust sag. On your FLOAT shock this is done by adjusting the air pressure. The air pressure needed is determined by the riders weight and riding conditions. Sag is how much the shock compresses when you sit on the bicycle. Increasing air pressure will make the shock stiffer. Decreasing the air pressure will make the shock softer. (Note: It might be necessary to change air pressure to achieve the proper sag setting). The smoothest ride will be attained by running the air pressure low enough to occasionally bottom out. 1. 2. 3. 4. Locate the Schrader air valve on the shock and remove the valve cap. Screw your FOX Racing Shox pump onto the air valve until the pump shows pressure on the gauge. Do not over tighten. Add air pressure by pushing on the pump handle until desired pressure is shown on gauge. (See Pump Section) Unthread pump from air valve; measure the sag.
Repeat step 1-4 until proper sag is achieved. Replace valve cap after sag is set.

FLOAT Sag Table

C ommon Shock Lengths (inches)
5.500 6.000 6.500 7.250 7.875

Shock Travel

R ecommended Sag

(millimeters)

139.7 152.4 165.1 184.2 200.0

(inches)

1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00

25.4 31.8 38.1 44.4 50.8

.25.31.38.44.50

6.4 7.9 9.5 11.1 12.7

Shock Features Adjustable Air Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping - Self Adjusting Air Negative Spring Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping

FLOAT R

Shock Features Adjustable Air Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping - Self Adjusting Air Negative Spring Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping - Externally Adjustable Rebound Damping Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack
Rebound Adjustment Rebound damping controls the rate at which the shock returns after it has been compressed. The red adjuster dial can be turned clockwise for slower rebound and counter-clockwise for faster rebound. There is a wide range of adjustment enabling the rider to tune the shock to any air pressure and riding condition. The proper rebound setting is a personal preference and varies depending on rider weight, riding style and riding conditions. As a general rule, rebound should be as fast as possible without kicking back and pushing the rider off the saddle when riding the bicycle in rough terrain. If rebound is too slow the suspension will not function properly and the wheel will not follow the changing terrain. Determining the proper rebound setting may take a number of rides. Use the curb test to start dialing in your rebound setting. Do this test on flat ground where there is little auto traffic and plenty of room. Ride at normal cruising speed and stay seated. Ride off a curb and monitor the rebound. If the bike oscillates a few times after landing the rebound is too fast. If the shock does not return promptly it is too slow. Start with the dial in the middle (about 12 clicks from full slow) and adjust 4 clicks in the direction needed. Single clicks of adjustment can be used to fine tune the rebound damping. During the first few rides, adjust the rebound damping and note the different ride characteristics. Your rebound damping setting may change with different riding conditions.

FLOAT L

Shock Features Adjustable Air Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping - Self Adjusting Air Negative Spring Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping - Factory Tuned Rebound Damping Compression Lock-out with High Speed Blow-off

Compression Lock-out The compression lock-out is the blue lever. There are two options for lever position. For one option, the lever is at a 45 angle counter clockwise to the shock in the normal position. Moving the lever clockwise 90 increases compression damping which locks-out the shock. For the other option, the lever is in line with the shock in the normal position. Moving the lever 180 in either direction increases compression damping. The increased compression damping setting will be firm but will blow-off under a big hit or heavy load.

FLOAT RL

Shock Features Adjustable Air Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping - Self Adjusting Air Negative Spring Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping - Externally Adjustable Rebound Damping Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack - Compression Lock-out with High Speed Blow-off
Rebound Adjustment Please refer to Rebound Adjustment for FLOAT R. Compression Lock-out Please refer to Compression Lock-out instructions for Float L.
Enduro FLOAT R & FLOAT RL
The Enduro FLOAT R and Enduro FLOAT RL shocks feature a switch that adjusts travel. When the switch is in line with the shock, it is in Long Travel mode and has 1.875 inches of travel. When the switch is turned 90o in either direction the shock changes to short travel mode and has 1.375 inches of travel. Spring Rate is also stiffer in short travel mode. Important - All air pressure adjustments, adding or releasing air pressure, must be done in the long travel mode. Sag should be set in the long travel position. (See page 8 for instructions on Adjusting Sag) If pressure is released when the shock is in the short travel mode it must be switched to long travel mode and pressurized to at least 10 psi greater than the starting pressure. For example, if the shock has 150 psi and the pressure is released in short travel mode, the shock must be switched to long travel mode and then pressurized to at least 160 psi. Pressure can then be released as long as the shock remains in long travel mode. The Enduro FLOAT R and Enduro FLOAT RL also feature a Rebound Adjuster Dial. Turning the dial clockwise slows the rebound. Counter-clockwise rotation speeds the rebound. Move the dial one click at a time until desired rebound is achieved. Travel Adjustment Switch Rebound Adjuster
Switch in Short -Travel Position Switch in Long-Travel Position
Air Volume Adjuster - AVA
Some FLOAT shocks feature an Air Volume Adjuster or AVA. AVA technology affords a new level of fine tuning adjustment for mountain bike rear shocks. Turning the AVA ring increases or decreases the volume of the positive air spring chamber allowing the rider to alter the shape of the spring curve. The AVA system creates a shock that, in its smallest setting, is up to 30% more linear spring rate than a standard FLOAT shock. AVA allows as much as 200 lbs of adjustment in spring rate from fully closed to fully open when fully compressed. AVA is a pre-ride tuning feature. The AVA system is not intended to be used on the trail or on the fly. It is important to clean your shock, especially the threads of the AVA air sleeve prior to adjustment. In most cases, maximum air volume will be desired. Rotation of the AVA ring requires near complete deflation of the shock. Using a shock pump, let most or all of the air from the shock so that the AVA ring can be easily turned. Turn the ring until it just touches the wire ring which is snapped onto the air sleeve. This is the maximum volume setting. Pressurize the shock and set sag as normal. AVA does not affect sag. If the shock seems to bottom out too easily or too often, deflate the shock, rotate the ring to the next setting on the air sleeve. Pressurize the shock, set sag and test again for full stroke performance. Repeat this process until the setting that best fits your riding style and terrain is determined. Air sleeve service can be performed as on other FLOAT shocks. Clean AVA seals after every other normal FLOAT seal service, especially if riding conditions are muddy or dusty. Carefully remove wire rings and air sleeves. Clean and inspect seals and parts for damage or wear. Relubricate and carefully re-assemble. Refer to diagram for areas with critical sealing and lubrication needs. Critical Sealing Areas

Wire Ring

AVA Ring
Travel Adjust Linear Air Spring - TALAS
Some bicycles are equipped with FOX Racing Shox TALAS technology. TALAS stands for Travel Adjust Linear Air Spring. Travel can be adjusted changing the geometry of the bicycle to adapt to a wide variety of riding conditions and styles creating a versatile bicycle. To optimize the performance of the shock, it is important to set it up correctly. Take the time to tune the spring rate (air pressure), rebound damping (rate at which the shock returns) and become familiar with the performance of the shock. To set the air pressure on your TALAS equipped shock, see page 8 about setting sag. Sag should be set with the shock in the EXTEND position. The TALAS shock has three (3) settings - EXTEND, -1/4 and 1/2. The -1/4 and -1/2 settings shorten the eye-to-eye length of the shock which will change the geometry of the bicycle. Rotate the lever to EXTEND for full extension. Rotate the lever one(1) click to the -1/4 position. The next time there is input into the shock, it will shorten 1/4. Rotate the lever one(1) more click to -1/2. The overall eye-to-eye length of the shock will be 1/2 shorter. To fully extend the shock, rotate the lever to EXTEND, stand up and unweight the back of the bicycle. This will allow the shock to return to full extension. Contact FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized Service Center regarding service and repairs for TALAS equipped shocks.
TALAS R ear Shock Adjustments
EXTEND to -1/4 -1/4 to -1/2 -1/2 to EXTEND -1/2 to -1/4 Yes Yes Yes No
Three Positions EXTEND -1/4 -1/2
Air Sleeve Maintenance See www.foxracingshox.com for downloadable video instructions. Release all air pressure from Air Valve. Cycle shock a few times to release pressure from the air negative spring. Release all air pressure from Air Valve again. Remove shock from bike Remove aluminum reducers. Clamp shaft eyelet in a vise with soft jaws being careful not to crush the air valve, lock out lever, or rebound knob. Slide a screwdriver or punch through the body eyelet to keep the air sleeve from coming off the body. Loosen air sleeve by turning counter clockwise and slide it down the body. Remove screwdriver or punch.

DAMPER ASSEMBLY

REDUCER
THREADS FOR AIR SLEEVE GREASE LIBERALLY SHAFT REDUCER
SHAFT EYELET BODY EYELET SHOCK BODY BODY BEARING BODY SEAL BODY BEARING GREASE LIGHTLY AIR VALVE SHAFT EYELET O-RING

GREASE BEARINGS, SEAL, & WIPER
AIR SLEEVE WIPER AIR SLEEVE BEARING
AIR SLEEVE BEARING AIR SLEEVE SEAL
Cleaning and Inspecting Clean inside of the air sleeve with parts cleaner. Inspect the seal and bearing inside of the air sleeve. Replace if damaged or worn. Clean body, body seal, body bearings and shaft with parts cleaner. Inspect body seal and body bearings for wear or damage. Replace if damaged or worn. Greasing and Reassembling Lightly lube the shaft eyelet O-ring and shaft eyelet threads with FLOAT Fluid or Multi-purpose Lithium based grease (NLGI #2). Liberally lube the body seal and body bearing, leaving a reservoir of lube above the body bearing. Lightly grease the air sleeve seal, air sleeve bearing, and air sleeve wiper. Slide the air sleeve over the body until the air sleeve wiper is at the end of the body. Leave the air sleeve unthreaded at this time. (The air sleeve will be very difficult to compress because there is pressure trapped in the air negative chamber. Waiting until after the shock is mounted in the bike will allow the leverage of the bike to easily compress the shock.) Dry bushings and reducers. Install reducers in eyelet bushings. Install shock in bike. Carefully compress shock until you can screw on the air sleeve. Do not let the air sleeve slip off the body. Thread air sleeve onto shaft eyelet. Inflate shock using inflation instructions listed in the Pump Instructions. Note: If needed, the Air Sleeve Seal Kit part number is 803-00-050-B. 12 FLOAT Fluid part numbers: 025-03-002-A 5 cc Pillow Pack 025-03-003-A 8 oz. Bottle
Specialized Bicycles with Brain and Brain Adjust Technology Your Specialized bicycle features a FOX Racing Shox FLOAT R with Brain Technology. This technology senses bumps in the trail and activates the suspension as necessary giving the rider the efficiency of a hardtail with all the benefits of a full suspension bicycle. To optimize the performance of the shock, it is important to set it up correctly. Taking the time to tune the spring rate (air pressure) and rebound damping (rate at which the shock returns) will greatly enhance the riding experience. Setting Air Pressure Set the air pressure according to the air spring chart below. 1. Find the riders weight in the left column and set air pressure per the middle column. 2. Set the rebound dial per the column on the right of the air spring chart. With the air pressure set appropriately, go out for a ride. The shock should achieve full travel (bottom out) once or twice during a normal ride. If the shock bottoms excessively, increase air pressure by 5psi. If it doesnt reach full travel decrease air pressure by 5psi. Setting Rebound Rebound damping controls the rate at which the shock returns after it has compressed. The red adjuster dial is used to speed up or slow down the rebound damping. 1. Turn the Rebound Adjuster Dial clockwise until it stops. This is the slowest setting. 2. Consult the air pressure chart below and find the riders weight in the left column. Read across to the column on the right and find the corresponding number of clicks and set the Rebound Adjuster Dial accordingly by turning the dial counter-clockwise and counting the number of clicks. See page 9 for further information about setting rebound. Bump Threshold Adjustment Some Brain-equipped shocks feature a bump threshold adjustment. This changes the Brains sensitivity to bumps allowing a firmer (race) or softer (comfy) ride. Not all Brain shocks feature this adjustment. 1. Rotate the blue lever at the base of the Brain away from the wheel to increase the bump threshold. This will make the Brain less sensitive thus requiring a larger bump to activate. 2. Rotate the blue lever towards the wheel to decrease the bump threshold. This will increase the sensitivity of the Brain. Smaller bumps will now activate the suspension.

Blue Lever

More sensitive Less sensitive
Air sleeve service can be performed as on other FOX Racing Shox FLOAT rear shocks. See page 12 for details. The strut on Epic shocks must be removed before removing the air sleeve. A 22mm open end wrench is required to remove the strut. Torque to 175-200 in-lb (19.5-22.5 N-m) when reinstalling. A 22mm crowfoot attachment and a torque wrench are required to install the strut. Note: Repairs and warranty issues related to the FOX FLOAT R shock with Brain Technology must be performed through an Authorized Specialized Dealer in your country. Please contact your Specialized Dealer for service, repair or warranty issues regarding your Specialized bicycle.
Air Pressure PSI 60-62 62-65 65-68 68-71 71-74 74-79 79-84 84-89 89-94 94-99 99-104 104-114 114-124 124-134 134-144 144-154 154-169 169-184 184-199 R eb o u n d clicks from closed 21-20 21-20 20-18 20-18 18-16 18-16 18-16 16-14 16-14 16-14 14-12 14-12 14-12 12-10 12-10 10-8 10-8 8-6 6-4
Rider lbs and (kg) 90-100 (41-45) 100-110 (45-50) 110-120 (50-54) 120-130 (54-60) 130-140 (60-64) 140-150 (64-68) 150-160 (68-73) 160-170 (73-77) 170-180 (77-82) 180-190 (82-86) 190-200 (86-91) 200-210 (91-95) 210-220 (95-100) 220-230 (100-104) 230-240 (104-109) 240-250 (109-113) 250-265 (113-120) 265-280 (120-127) 280-295 (127-134)

Travel Indicator O-ring

Schrader Valve Rebound Adjuster Dial

K2 Razorback Pull Shock

The K2 Razorback is equipped with a FOX Racing Shox FLOAT RL Pull Shock. Follow the instructions below to properly adjust the shock. Air Spring Pressure Adjustment To get the best performance from your K2 Razorback, it is necessary to adjust the suspension. The first step is to adjust the air pressure. The proper air pressure is a personal preference and varies upon your weight and riding style. During the first few rides you may want to adjust the air pressure to find your personal preference. Set air pressure (psi) equal to your body weight as a starting point. If necessary, adjust in 5psi increments to suit your personal preference. The valve closest to the bike is the air spring valve (Fig. 1). The valve that is located near the red rebound adjuster knob is a bleed valve (Fig. 1) and should always be set to 0 Psi. Do not use the spring chart on the chainstay of your bicycle. The air pressures listed may be too low and your suspension will not function properly. Rebound Adjustment All K2 Razorbacks have a shock with rebound adjustment. Rebound damping is adjusted by the red rebound adjuster knob. Rebound damping controls the speed at which the shock returns to its original position after the shock is compressed. The shock has 12 clicks of adjustment from fully closed. Turning the knob clockwise will cause the rebound to be slower. The proper rebound setting is a personal preference and varies upon your weight and riding style. Experts agree that rebound should be as fast as possible without kicking back and pushing the rider off the saddle when riding the bike in rough terrain. If rebound is set too slow, the suspension will not have the time to extend before hitting the next bump Note: When the red rebound wheel is advanced to positions towards full in, or full clock-wise, the blue lock-out lever will feel slack or such that minimal or no force is applied by the adjuster rod. This is not a functional fault. Bleed Valve Lockout lever All Razorbacks come with a shock that has a lock-out lever (Fig. 2). The purpose of the lockout lever is to eliminate suspension movement when desired by the rider. The shock comes with a safety blow-off valve. If the bump force on the rear wheel is high enough the blow-off valve will open and the shock will compress.

Rider Weight 90-100 100-110 110-120 120-130 130-140 140-150 150-160 160-170 170-180 180-190 190-200+
Air Pressure (psi) 90-100 100-110 110-120 120-130 130-140 140-150 150-160 160-170 170-180 180-190 190-200+

Air Fig. 1

Spring ValveAir Spring Valve
Rebound Adjuster Lockout Lever

Fig. 2

Remote Lock-Out Instructions
Clean eyelet and air sleeve with degreaser. Set shock lock-out to locked-out position. Fig. 2 Remove lever with a 5/64 (or 2mm) hex key. DO NOT REMOVE CAM. DO NOT LOOSEN SET SCREWS. Place adapter plate on the eyelet and over the cam (M.Y. 2000 & 2001 only). Fig. 1
New Remote Lever Torsion Spring Adapter Plate Cam
Fig. 1 Adapter Plate, Spring and Lever Installation
Insert torsion spring in corresponding hole on plate or eyelet. Fig. 1 Position new remote lever over cam onto torsion spring arm. Fig. 1 Rotate remote lever counter-clockwise to preload the spring and align the flat. Tighten set screw onto the flat of the cam. Fig. 3 Attach cable stop collar onto air sleeve flange. Orient cable stop just off center. (Fig. 3) Overtightening the collar can crush the air sleeve. Tighten collar only until it is secure and does not rotate on air sleeve. Let air out of shock and cycle to full bottom out. Check clearances of all parts in compressed and extended positions. Cut cable and housing to length. Use only derailleur cable and housing. (1.1mm stainless cable is recommended) Run cable around radius on remote lever and through the hole. Push cable through housing and route along frame to cable stop collar and around remote lockout lever. Apply tension on cable and tighten set screw to hold the cable Compression DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN. Fig. 3 DampingClosed o Adjust cable tension with the barrel +/-45 Levers Eyelet adjuster at handlebar mounted lever. Compression DampingClosed Compression Damping Open Compression Damping Open 1/8-5/16 3.0mm-8.0mm Air Sleeve Cable Stop Collar

0 / 180 Levers

Remote Lock-Out Lever Installation Instructions The remote lock-out lever can be installed above or below the handlebar on either the left or right side. The lever comes pre-assemled to be mounted on top of the handlebar on the right side. To re-orient the lever, remove the lever assembly from the clamp assembly with a 2mm (or 5/64) hex wrench. Mount clamp assembly in desired location and re-mount lever assembly. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN mounting screws. To adjust lever friction, use a 3mm hex wrench to tighten or loosen the button head screw in the middle of the lever housing. Use an 8mm (or 5/16) socket to hold the nut on the bottom of the lever housing.

Vanilla Shocks

To get the best performance from your Vanilla shock, it is necessary to adjust sag. On the coil-over shocks this is done by adjusting the spring preload or changing springs. Sag is how much the shock compresses when you sit on the bicycle. Increasing spring preload will make the shock compress less. Decreasing the preload will make the shock compress more. The smoothest ride will be achieved with one turn of preload. (Note: it might be necessary to change spring rate to achieve the proper sag setting.) Adjusting sag setting is easiest with two people, the bike rider and an assistant. Adjusting Sag

Vanilla Sag Table Shock Travel (inches)
1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75
R ecommended Sag (inches)

.25.31.38.44.50.56.63.69

If more than 2 turns of preload are required to achieve the correct amount of sag, it is recommended that a higher rate spring be installed.
25.4 31.7 38.1 44.4 50.8 57.1 63.5 69.9
6.4 7.9 9.5 11.1 12.7 14.3 15.9 17.5
To set the preload, you need to adjust the spring preload ring. FOX Racing Shox recommends no more than 2 turns of preload. Adjust preload by turning the preload ring onto the body. Clockwise turns increase preload, which decreases the sag. Counterclockwise turns decrease preload, which increases sag. If desired preload cannot be achieved with the preload ring, change the spring (See Installing and Removing Springs). A stiffer spring (higher spring rate) decreases sag. A softer spring (lower spring rate) increases sag. Springs are available from FOX Racing Shox as well as authorized dealers and service centers. Numbers are printed on the outside of the spring coils indicating the rate (in pounds) and travel (in inches). Example: 550-1.95 is a 550 pound-per-inch spring rate with 1.95 inches of travel. Please note this number when ordering replacement springs. Also be prepared with the make, model, and year of bicycle, shock travel, rider weight and riding style. Installing and Removing Springs To remove the spring from your shock, follow these steps: Vanilla, Vanilla R & Vanilla RL Loosen and remove the preload ring from the body. Note: It might be necessary to remove the reducers from the body end of the shock to remove the spring. Slide the spring over the shock body. Install your new spring by sliding the spring over the shock body. Tighten the preload adjuster one full turn to keep the preload ring from shaking loose.

(SLIDE OVER BODY)

SPRING

(REMOVE FROM BODY)

PRELOAD RING
SPRING Vanilla RC RETAINER Back off preload ring to loosen the spring until the slotted spring retainer can be removed from the shock. Note: It might be necessary to remove the reducers from the shaft end of the shock to remove the spring. Slide the spring over the eyelet. Slide the new spring on over the eyelet, and re-install the SHAFT EYELET spring retainer. Note: The slotted spring ring retainer slot must rest on the flat side of the spring. If the slot is straddling the gap caused by the end of the spring wire the slotted spring retainer may bend. Tighten the preload adjuster one full turn to keep the spring retainer from shaking loose. Align the slotted spring retainer so that the rebound knob is in the middle of the slot.

SLOTTED

REDUCER SPRING
(SLIDE OVER SHAFT EYELET)
(LOOSEN TO REMOVE SPRING)

Vanilla

Shock Features Adjustable Spring Preload - External Coil Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping One Piece Aluminum Body - One Piece Eyelet - Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping

Vanilla R

Shock Features Adjustable Spring Preload - External Coil Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping One Piece Aluminum Body - One Piece Eyelet - Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping Multi-Valve Piston - 12 Click Externally Adjustable Rebound Damping - Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack
REBOUND ADJUSTER KNOB (RED)

Vanilla RC

Shock Features Adjustable Spring Preload - External Coil Spring - Internal Floating Piston - Oil Damping One Piece Aluminum Body - One Piece Eyelet - Nitrogen Charged - Speed Sensitive Compression Damping Multi-Valve Piston - 12 Click Externally Adjustable Rebound Damping - Speed Sensitive Rebound Valve Stack Piggy Back Remote Reservoir - 12 Click Externally Adjustable Compression Damping
Rebound Adjustment Please refer to Rebound Adjustment for Vanilla R. Compression Damping Compression damping on the Vanilla RC is adjusted by turning the blue knob. To make the shock harder to compress, turn the knob clockwise. Turn the knob counter-clockwise for easier compression. Adjust the compression on the first few rides and note the different characteristics. Your settings may change with different conditions. The smoothest ride will be attained with the compression adjuster in the softest setting.
605-00-028-A 2003 FOX Racing Shox. 2004 Rear Shock Owners Manual. The information herein is provided as a guide. FOX Racing Shox reserves the right to change all or part without notice.