Cane Creek Helm Lower Leg Service - No dust wiper replacement

Cane Creek Helm (Air) Fork: Quick 50h Lower Leg Service (No Dust Wiper Replacement)

Lower leg fluid service for all Cane Creek Helm Air forks. Dust wipers do not need to be removed if they are new. Replace dust wipers only after 100–200 hours. This service keeps the fork smooth and flushes contaminated oil every 50 hours of riding.

 Overview and scope

This service is straightforward and requires no special tools from us. Only standard hand tools and careful handling of the air spring system are needed.

If you plan to do more suspension maintenance later, see our Essential Tools Starter Pack.

Before reinstalling the stanchions, generously grease the inside of the dust wiper seals and the lower leg bushings. This significantly reduces initial stiction.

 What you’ll need
  • 13 mm socket
  • 13 mm and 18 mm open-end or crowfoot wrenches
  • Torque wrench capable of 5–7 Nm
  • Pick for foam rings if cleaning
  • Motorex 15 wt Racing Fork Oil
  • Isopropyl alcohol and lint-free cloths

No tools are included with this service listing.

 How to do it
  • The air system on Cane Creek forks is different from FOX or RockShox. Read the manual carefully. Pressure must be released from the top and the bottom of the fork at the same time.
  • For the foot nuts:
    • Use a long 13 mm socket to gently strike the air side
    • Use an 18 mm wrench to loosen the damper-side foot nut, then gently tap the adjuster knob with a soft mallet
      • The manual advises against this, but there is no alternative method. Cane Creek does the same in the official rebuild video.
      • Thread size is not specified. Likely M8 x 1.0 mm.

Official Service Manual: Helm MKI–II Official Manual

Official Video: Watch here

 Pro tips
  • Grease dust wipers and lower bushings with Slickoleum or SRAM Butter
  • Do not strike damper or air spring shafts with metal tools
  • While pulling the lowers, push gently on the shafts instead of hammering
  • Add about 10 psi in the air spring before reinstalling the lowers to extend the shaft
  • Do not overtighten foot nuts. They seal on O-rings, not torque, and are easy to break
  • Use our Torque Calculator with a luggage scale instead of cheap torque wrenches
 Warnings
  • Only for Cane Creek HELM forks
  • Always depressurize slowly and fully equalize before service
  • Never strike damper or air spring shafts
  • Use correct oil volumes and reinstall dust wipers evenly
 Disclaimer

No tools or products are included with this listing. DIY at your own risk. For full procedures, always refer to Cane Creek official manuals.

See our Terms of Service .