How do I know if my bike shocks are blown?

If it takes the shock 3 seconds to return to full length when the rebound is set all the way in there is no way it is blown. But it is a Romic so any day now it will blow, oil will leak all over the place when it happens. You will know, fast rebound and some clunking noise.

Why do shocks leak air?

The only way you can lose air from the system is if the shock pump seal or shock valve pin is damaged. Hair, dirt or damage to the pump head seal will allow air to creep out between the valve and pump head and lose pressure.

How do you maintain a fork suspension?

Forks need regular periodic maintenance. We recommend cleaning and lubrication refills (lower leg service) every 25 riding hours, and a full service (strip down, seal replacement and full oil change) every 200 hours. The more frequent lower leg service can be carried out at home, by the experience home mechanic.

What are symptoms of bad shocks?

The Warning Signs Of Worn Shocks And Struts

• Instability at highway speeds.
• Vehicle “tips” to one side in turns.
• The front end dives more than expected during hard braking.
• Rear-end squat during acceleration.
• Tires bouncing excessively.
• Unusual tire wear.
• Leaking fluid on the exterior of shocks or struts.

Can shocks leak air?

Because they are subject to the harsh impacts of the road and weight of the vehicle, the seals in air shocks can eventually go bad and begin to leak, reducing their performance. Bad air shocks can not only reduce performance and handling, they can also compromise the safety of a vehicle.

Should air shocks make noise?

As a rule, your shock should be pretty much silent in operation. If it starts making more noise than usual, it’s definitely unwell. A squelchy noise on compression and rebound is usually a sign that the seal that separates the damping oil from the pressurised nitrogen charge has failed.

Do air shocks leak oil?

No. They are not servicable. If you lose the majority of the oil (e.g. leave them laying on their sides off the bike), they’re done. The minor amount you get when checking/adding the air is of no concern.

Can you use a normal bike pump for shocks?

Due to the small volume of the air chamber in forks and shocks, the amount of air loss a normal tire pump would allow would be unacceptable. You may also have a difficult time reaching the pressures required using a tire pump.

How much air should I put in my air shocks?

The proper pressure of an air shock should be between 35 and 75 PSI. If it is any lower than this, the shocks will need to be filled with air.

How much air should I put in my rear shocks?

For the rear shock, start at about half of your rider weight for air pressure. You will have to adjust from here, but you will want to achieve the proper SAG for your frame, as recommended by your frame manufacturer. Typically this is somewhere between 30-40% of overall travel.