All Forks Service Tools

 Fork Service Tools - All You Need for DIY Maintenance

This is your one-stop collection for lower leg service, air spring maintenance, and damper work on most suspension forks. You won’t need much, just the right basics, and you’re good to go.

 What You’ll Likely Need:

⚠️ Very Important: Fork dampers and stanchions are narrow and fragile. Do not clamp them in a vise. Always use shaft clamps and clean the shaft with isopropyl alcohol.

Read this guide for small shafts: How to Use Shaft Clamps.

Read this guide for damper bodies: How to Use Shaft Clamps on big diameters.

Never touch damper or air shafts with tools or metal things, even micro-scratches can cause permanent air leaks. Bubbles coming out from dust wipers mean your negative chamber is leaking into the air side lowers.

 Lower Leg & Air Spring Tips:

  • Remove dust wiper spring during install. Slide the lowers on first, then reinstall the springs after.
  • Don’t forget the sag ring!
  • 3–5 ml of oil goes in the positive air chamber, you can add the oil directly from the top air-assembly.
  • Grease the inside of dust wipers and the fork lower legs bushings with Slickoleum or SRAM Butter for buttery feel.
  • Do not over-grease the air shaft.
  • Inflate the air spring to ~10 PSI or more before reassembly to extend the air shaft. 
  • After inflation, stroke the fork through ~30% travel slowly. You’ll hear equalization (a hiss). Do this in small 15–20 PSI steps until you reach you desired pressure.
Tech Insight: Most forks don’t top out because the air piston is already sitting inside the stanchion slightly. A few mm (10mm) of “pull-up” slack is normal, it means the chambers are balanced. If it’s fully extended, your fork will feel terrible.

 Bleeding Fork Dampers:

  • Fox GRIP dampers self-bleed by design. Nothing special needed.
  • Open bath dampers (older RockShox, Marzocchi) often need precise measured oil levels during reassembly. Kitchen measuring stuff works fine.
  • If your fork has a bladder and it’s not leaking, leave it alone, it's easy to mess up.

 Lower Leg Cleaning:

  • Wipe old oil out with paper towels or clean rags.
  • Optional: rinse with soft brushes + hose to remove debris.
  • Use a long 1/8” wood dowel (3-4$ in any hardware store) to push rags through stanchions and lower legs.

 Instructions & Best Practices

  • Always depressurize the fork while still on the bike to help equalize the negative chamber or it’s gonna be very hard.
  • Lightly re-grease air shaft cylinder (under air cap) if you're doing a full air spring service.
  • Air shafts are usually easy to remove, but 2021+ Fox 38 NA-2 forks require a 10mm shaft clamp and a bullet tool to acces the air chamber.
  • Torque spec: most lower bolts should be 6 Nm. Don’t over tighten or you can break the shafts.

 Optional But Useful

  • SKF or OEM seal kits every ~200 hours
  • 60ml+ syringe for bath oil (see volume charts)
  • M8 Bolt for pulling RockShox air/damper shafts (DIY) or just the original foot screws work well.

⚠️ Pressurization & Safety

  • Never use Vaseline on seals : it breaks them down.
  • Only the air spring is pressurized : never open it unless fully deflated.
  • Don’t over-grease the negative chamber or your fork will feel harsh and very terrible.
  • If your fork has bleed valves, you can press them to release trapped air.
  • Read our MTB Jargon Guide to better understand air shafts, base valves, volume spacers, and more.

 Must-Have Tools (Amazon Quick Picks)

We don’t sell these directly, they’re just useful if you don’t already have them.

Disclaimer: These tools are for home mechanics only. Don’t attempt damper rebuilds unless you're confident and well-prepared. Always work clean, wear gloves, and refer to official service manuals. By purchasing from us, you agree to our Terms of Service.