Cane Creek DB Inline Air (DB IL-AIR) 2014–2022 DIY Rebuild Kit

All the custom 3D-printed tools you need to fully service and rebuild your Cane Creek DB Inline Air rear shock (2014–2022) at home, no pro shop required.

Compatible With:

• Cane Creek DB Inline Air (2014–2022)
• Not compatible with Gen 2 (2023+). Contact us for support.

What’s Included:

• Shaft Clamp to unscrew the eyelet
• Inner Air can and Bladder Nut wrench
• Custom Assymetric Shock body 2 sided Clamp
• 3-Pin DB IL OLD Air Sealhead Custom Socket
• Low Torque Pellet Retainer Tool (2x)

What You Still Need:

This kit excludes common service items used across many shocks. See our Essential Tools page for details.

Does your shock have a trunnion style mount? (An M10 Screwed on each side of the damper body instead of a standard eyelet?. See our Trunnion Torque tool page for details but you might need one to not mess up the damper body.

• Bench vise or soft jaws
• Syringe + bleed tube (brake bleed kit)
• Needle fill adapter (for bladder pressurization)
• Shock oil & seal kit (model-specific)
• Torque wrench or luggage scale
• Our custom pin sockets wrench with zero play (fits all our pin sockets, 16 cm holes for luggage scale use) - view product

 Special Notes

• ⚠️ Do NOT insert the 3-pin tool into the threads: always align the pins with the actual holes made for that.
• ⚠️ Only dismantle the adjusters if they are externally leaking: they are extremely well-tuned and easy to mess up.
• The bleed screw is located under the climb lever plate you’ll need to disassemble the lever to access it.
• The shock has a screw-in inner tube, unlike Fox and others. Cane Creek uses a special wrench, but you can gently rotate it using a screwdriver through the cross-holes.
• Use red Loctite on the threads of the inner tube, but do not over-tighten if you did open it.

 How to Bleed This Shock

This is a twin-tube damper with no piggyback reservoir, so you must use both the glove technique and a final syringe bleed. There is no cheap bleed fitting that works well (I tried all the break bleed fittings), but here’s what we found works:

• Use a standard bleed syringe with a rubber tube
• OPEN THE ADJUSTERS FULLY IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY
• Gently push the tube into the bleed port, get help holding it steady
• Pull vacuum gently, then let oil flow back into the system
• Stroke the shock while pressurizing the syringe.
• Repeat a few times and tap the shock to release bubbles
• Stroke the shock while doing that

Once complete, the damper should stop making sloshing noises. Do not skip this step, glove technique alone is not enough for this shock!

About Our Tools:

Printed in PETG or Nylon to ±0.01 mm tolerances. Designed for home use under 20 Nm torque. Learn more.

Additional Resources:

• How to Use Shaft Clamps
• Needle Fill Tool Guide

Disclaimer

⚠️ Designed for skilled DIY users in a safe workspace. Always depressurize fully before service, follow torque specs, and confirm proper tool engagement. Misuse can damage your shock or cause injury. By using this kit, you agree to our terms of service.