How to install volume spacers in your shock
What are volume spacers and why are they important?
Volume spacers are small objects that are placed inside of your suspension’s air chamber to change the overall volume of air available for your shock to utilize. They can be added or removed to adjust the rate of pressure change within your fork or shock.
In short, adding volume spacers will increase the rate of pressure rise or ramp up in your suspension while removing them will have the exact opposite. This adjustment can help to prevent bottom out, add support in your mid stroke, and even give a lighter initial stroke to help offset the effects of stiction.
What is needed to install volume spacers?
- Valve core remover (Shop Here)
- A pick to remove circlip if needed
- A strap wrench or oil filter wrench with a long handle for leverage and control
- Something to hold your bike or suspension while you work to prevent falling over
- Shock pump (Shop Here)
- Notepad
- Rag to clean parts
- Correct volume spacers (Shop Here) for you application
Step 1: Prep your tools and find a support for you bike
Steo 2: Clean up and note your pressure settings
You want to clean your shock thoroughly to prevent dirt and grime from falling inside. Dirt inside your air chamber can lead to major issues in the future. Dirt belongs on the trail, not in your suspension.
While you will want to reset sag after modifying your volume spacer amount, it is still a great idea to note the before pressure settings so you have a starting point for your further tuning.
Step 3: Depressurize your shock.
Slowly loosen your valve core by unscrewing it counter clockwise. Keep this process slow to help prevent your shock from sucking down(when the positive and negative chambers are not able to equalize).
To do this you will hold the shock in the extended position while releasing positive chamber pressure. For a shock you can pull up on the seat tube(avoid pulling upwards on a dropper post that is compressed)
Step 4: Time to remove the air sleeve or air can
A- Air Sleeve style (slide on):
After double checking the valve core is removed from your shock and noting the orientation of your air valve in relation to your stationary eyelet you can carefully use a pick or your tool of choice to remove the lower circlip that retains the air sleeve.
Pull down on the air sleeve toward the stationary eyelet side of your shock
For some volume spacers on shocks with air sleeves you do not need to fully remove the air sleeve in order to install them, for others you will have to entirely remove the air sleeve.
If you have to entirely remove the air sleeve you will need to disconnect your lower shock mount from the bike in order to remove the air sleeve and install the volume spacer.
B- Air Can style(thread on):
After double checking the valve core is removed from your shock you can carefully use a strap wrench or oil filter wrench to loosen the air can.
Be careful here to not wrap the wrench over a small sticker that might get pulled off or torn. I like to do it on a clean piece of the shock with no sticker or over the large main decal of the shock.
A trick is to clean the portion of the can you will use the wrench on with isopropyl to get the most grip and least possibility of slipping
Now that you have loosened the air can from the upper eyelet you can use your hand to finish unthreading the can.
We recommend using your hand when possible to avoid damaging any of the decals or stickers on your shock.
Step 5: Adjust your volume spacers to the desired amount
Step 6: Reassemble your shock be reversing step #4
Be careful here to not pinch any o-rings or glide rings when reinstalling the air can or air sleeve.
Add 1 to 2 cc’s of lubricating fluid like Fox 20wt gold or Rockshox Air Can Lube to replace what was lost when disassembling the shock.
If you removed any mounting hardware reinstall it now
Reinstall valve core
Step 8: Make mental notes during your first few rides
You may experience some new sensations in your riding. Make mental notes of the good and bad.
Potentially go through the process again with further adjustments until the bike feels comfortable for you.
Enjoy the ride!
