How to do a 50hr service on your RockShox shock

50-Hour Air Can Service: RockShox Super Deluxe — DIY with S4’s Kit

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Like any shock, regular care and maintenance is crucial to keeping it functioning properly and consistently.. A 50-hour air can service keeps seals fresh, air pressure consistent, and small-bump sensitivity buttery smooth. This guide walks you through the air can(50-hour) service in a step by step process to insure your success. This process can be done with minimal tools that you can typically source around the house.

Pro tips from the bench

Don’t scratch anything. Any nick on the body or seal bore can cause chronic leaks.
Clicks & PSI log. Noting your settings in your phone can help in future tuning.
A question? If you have questions or concerns, stop and address them first. Confidence in your process will produce better results.

When to stop and call S4

If you see metallic glitter in the oil, notice any scratching or wear marks, if your parts don’t match the description we have laid out, pause and bring it to S4 for inspection or a damper/air-spring rebuild.

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What you’ll need

From the S4 DIY kit

Tools

Shock pump
Strap wrench
O-ring pick(plastic preferably)
A vice with soft jaws to prevent scratching
Isopropyl alcohol + lint-free rags
Nitrile gloves
A drain pan

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Pre-service Setup

Note your settings. Record rebound and compression clicks along with your air pressure.
Remove the mounting hardware. For help on that process check out our blog here on how to do that.
Deflate your shock. Slowly release the pressure in your shock by breaking the valve core loose. Once the pressure is fully released

Step-by-step procedure

1) Loosen and remove air can

Position the shock horizontally in the vice.

*Shocks with Linear XL air can or other oversized air cans that utilize a secondary air chamber located within an ‘air sleeve’ on the exterior of the air can. With the valve core fully removed, disengage the retaining O-ring at the base of the sleeve. Use your strap wrench to twist the air sleeve and push it towards the lower eyelet of the shock to remove.
Remove any O-rings located under the sleeve, clean the surface, and install the new O-rings.
Set the air sleeve aside.

With the valve core fully removed, use the strap wrench to loosen the air can. It will spin in a counterclockwise rotation while viewing the shock from the lower eyelet. (For the purpose of this procedure the ‘Lower Eyelet’ will refer to the eyelet opposite the shock of the air valve and the ‘Upper Eyelet’ will refer to the eyelet connected to the shaft.
Once the air can is completely unthreaded, slide it off of the shock to separate from the body of the shock. (Do this over some form of pan to catch any oil that leaks out)
If your shock has any negative springs or negative volume spacers(they will rest between the air can seals and the main seal head) remove them, clean them, and set them aside.

2) Remove old air can seals(this process can vary depending on your shock)

*2023+ Rockshox Super Deluxe and Super Deluxe Ult:

Use the plastic pick to remove the old wiper seal and rubber quad seal. Do not remove the plastic glide ring, this part is pre fitted to the shock and does not get replaced on this shock model with the purple sealhead.
Use the plastic pick to remove the air can seat o-ring(located at the base of the threads on the air can)
Thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of the air can.

*2018-2022 Rockshox Super deluxe and Super Deluxe Ult:

Use the plastic pick to remove the old wiper seal, rubber quad seal, and plastic glide ring.
Use the plastic pick to remove the air can seat o-ring(located at the base of the threads on the air can)
Thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of the air can.

3) Install new air can seals(this process can vary depending on your shock)

With your finger, install the quad seal by inserting one end into the deepest groove in the air can, then push the remainder of the ring into the groove.
*2018-2023 - With your finger, install the plastic glide ring by inserting one end into the air can, then push the remainder of the ring into the can, so that it rests on top of the quad seal.
Orient the new wiper seal step side up. Install it into the wiper seal groove at the top of the air can.
Set the prepped air can aside.

4) Remove seal head seals

*2023+ Rockshox Super Deluxe and Super Deluxe Ult:

Use the plastic pick to remove the first plastic guide ring and rubber quad seal.
DO NOT remove the secondary, larger plastic glide ring. This larger ring(closer to the upper eyelet)is pre-fitted to the shock and does not get replaced.
Thoroughly clean and inspect the shock for scratches to the shock body or shaft. If visible wear is present please call us to discuss options to move forward.

*2018-2022 Rockshox Super deluxe and Super Deluxe Ult

Use the plastic pick to remove the two plastic glide rings and the rubber quad seal.
Thoroughly clean and inspect the shock for scratches to the shock body or shaft. If visible wear is present please call us to discuss options to move forward.

5) Install new seal head seals

Use your fingers to install the replacement quad seal on to the seal head.
Use your fingers to install the replacement glide ring(s) onto the seal head.

6) Replace upper eyelet to air can O-ring

Slide the bottom out bumper and bottom out plate away from the upper eyelet towards the seal head.
Remove any volume spacers within the upper eyelet. (Note the orientation of the volume spacers to ensure proper reinstallation)
Remove the O-ring within the upper eyelet.
Clean any volume spacers removed, and the interior and exterior upper eyelet assembly.
Clean and inspect the shaft for wear marks or scratches.(If any scratches or damage is present please contact us to discuss further actions needed)
With your fingers, install the new O-ring into the upper eyelet.
Replace the bottom out bumper and bottom out plate towards the upper eyelet assembly.

7) Reassembly of shock

Reinstall any negative spring or negative volume spacers you removed in step 1.
Apply a thin layer of suspension grease to the contact surfaces on the shock. This includes the seal head(rubber quad ring and plastic glide rings), the air can seals(the rubber quad ring, plastic glide rings, and wiper), and the threads that connect the air can to the upper eyelet assembly.
With the shock upper eyelet clamped horizontally in your soft jawed vice, hold the air can horizontally and add a few drops of air can oil into the air can. Then slide the air can onto the shock body until the wiper and seals are fully intact with the body creating an air tight seal on the lower portion of the air can.
Add air can oil into the air can oil to act as a lubricant during use.(Apx 2cc)
Thread the air can into the upper eyelet assembly. To help with this you can preload your wrist by rotating it slightly counterclockwise, pushing the air can towards the upper eyelet, and rotating clockwise as far as possible to engage the threads.
Thoroughly clean the exterior surface of the air can and the contact surface of your strap wrench to prevent slipping.
Use the strap wrench to fully tighten the air can. It does not need to be crazy tight, simply tightened until it binds with the upper eyelet assembly. Then a slight snugging after.(Apx 10nm) If possible, to avoid damage to the decals or stickers, use the strap wrench on a portion of the air can that does not have a decal or sticker.

*Shocks with Linear XL air can or other oversized air cans that utilize a secondary air chamber located within an ‘air sleeve’ on the exterior of the air can. Lightly grease the O-rings and reinstall the air sleeve.
Reinstall the retaining O-ring at the base of the air sleeve.
Slide the air sleeve towards the lower eyelet to engage the retaining ring.

With a small dab of grease on the valve core, reinstall into the shock and partially pressurize the shock. (Apx 50 psi)
Reinstall any mounting hardware you removed from the shock in ‘Pre-service and Setup’. For help with this process check out our blog on mounting hardware.
Now it’s time to reset your SAG because the fresh service can cause your shock to function slightly differently. For help with the process check out our blog on setting your SAG.

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