DHX 5.0

Installing Your Shock  |  General Maintenance  |  Before You Ride  |  Setting Sag  |  Changing Springs  |  Measuring Sag  |  Adjusting Rebound  |  ProPedal  |  Bottom-Out Resistance  |  Boost Valve  |   Service Intervals  |  Important Safety Information

 

weight

0.82 lbs./371g
(8.75" x 2.75" No reducers or spring)

features/adjustments

position-sensitive Boost valve, adjustable ProPedal Technology that provides pedaling efficiency as well as control and sensitivity for big and small hits., adjustable bottom-out resistance, adjustable tuning range via Schrader valve, coil spring preload, rebound adjust

spring

coil

intended use

downhill A style of riding defined by steep descents down insanely steep mountains, hills or, in some cases, buildings. Downhill bicycles and their components are generally the strongest available. Hence, the 40 and DHX 5.0., freeride A style of riding that is defined by short course technical acrobatics and athletes that defy gravity. Generally, the bikes and components required for freeriding are stronger and heavier than their lightweight cross-country brethren. Combine the aerial pyrotechnics of freeriding with some longer trails and courses, as is typical of cross-country riding, and now you're looking at all-mountain riding., all-mountain A style of bicycle riding that melds the stamina and conditioning required of cross-country with the technical abilities of freeriding.

Installing Your Shock

If you are installing your shock on a bike in which the shock is not original equipment:

  1. Install the shock with the spring retainer, but without the spring. (To remove the spring, read Changing Springs.)

  2. Carefully cycle the suspension through its entire travel.

  3. Check that all parts of the shock are clear of the frame and swingarm as it cycles through the travel.

  4. Properly place the spring back onto the shock.

  5. Set sag.

General Maintenance

Some things to consider:

Before You Ride

  1. Clean the outside of your shock with soap and water and wipe dry with a soft dry rag. Do not use a high pressure washer on your shock.

  2. Inspect entire exterior of shock for damage. The shock should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged. Please contact your local dealer or FOX Racing Shox for further inspection and repair.

  3. Check that quick-release levers (or thru-axle pinch bolts) are properly adjusted and tightened.

  4. Check headset adjustment. If loose, adjust according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

  5. Check that brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.

  6. Check that the front and rear brakes operate properly on flat land.

Setting Sag

You can also view a Flash video on Setting Sag.

To set sag Amount a shock or fork compresses with the rider sitting on the bike in a normal riding position. Best measured with an assistant holding your bike up and with the rider in full riding gear. On a fork, it is helpful to place a ZIP tie around one of the upper tubes. on your DHX 5.0:

  1. Measure sag, and compare it to the recommended sag setting shown in the Coil Spring Setting Guidelines table below. Continue if the sag is not to specification.

  2. Adjust the preload ring accordingly:

If sag is lower than on the table, turn the preload ring counterclockwise. Always ensure that the spring is secure and does not freely move.

After the preload ring engages the spring, turn the preload ring clockwise A motion that proceeds from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top, like the clock's hands. one turn. If the preload ring needs to be turned counterclockwise from this point to achieve proper sag, you will need to obtain a lower rate spring.

If sag is higher than on the table, turn the preload ring clockwise no more than full two turns after the preload ring engages the spring.

If after the preload ring engages the spring and more than two full clockwise turns are needed to achieve proper sag, you will need to obtain a higher rate spring.

  1. If necessary, contact FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized Service Center to obtain a higher- or lower-rated spring.

coil SPRING SETTING guidelines

Shock Travel
(in./mm)

Recommended Sag
(in./mm)

2.00/50.8

.50/12.7

2.25/57.1

.56/14.2

2.50/63.5

.62/15.7

2.75/69.8

.69/17.5

3.00/76.2

.75/19.0

Changing Springs

  1. Loosen the preload ring until the spring freely moves.

  2. Lift up the spring and remove the spring retainer.

  3. Slide the spring off the shock body. Depending on your bike model, you may need to remove the reducers to remove the spring.

  4. Orient the new spring correctly (see Spring Orientation below) and slide it onto the shock body.

  5. Place the spring retainer back on the shock and under the spring ensuring that the open slot on the spring retainer rests on the flat part of the spring end.

  6. Tighten the preload ring just until the spring no longer moves.

  7. Turn the preload ring one additional full turn.

Spring Orientation

When placing the spring back on the shock body, it is important that the spring is correctly oriented. Essentially, the space in the spring retainer should rest on the flat part of the spring, and not on the segment of the spring where it starts to coil back under itself. Rotate the spring or spring retainer until the correct orientation is achieved.

An improperly oriented spring can fail prematurely, causing loss of control of the bicycle, which can result in serious or fatal injuries. The pictures below demonstrate correct and incorrect spring orientation. Correct spring orientation applies to all FOX Racing Shox rear shocks that utilize coil springs:

Reading Your Spring Rate

Adjusting Rebound

Rebound controls the rate at which your shock returns after it has been compressed. The proper rebound setting is a personal preference, and changes with rider weight, riding style and conditions. A rule of thumb is that rebound should be as fast as possible without kicking back and pushing the rider off the saddle.

The rebound knob has approximately 15 clicks of adjustment.

For slower rebound, turn the red adjuster knob clockwise.

For faster rebound, turn the red adjuster knob counterclockwise.

ProPedal

The ProPedal adjustment knob allows the rider to adjust the amount of ProPedal damping. ProPedal damping affects the initial part of the compression stroke and is designed to control pedal-induced suspension bob. Since suspension designs vary, not all bicycles require the same degree of ProPedal damping.

There are 15 clicks of adjustment.

For lighter ProPedal damping, rotate the ProPedal knob (shown below) counterclockwise.

For more ProPedal damping, rotate the ProPedal knob clockwise.

Bottom-Out Resistance

Bottom-out resistance affects the final part of the compression stroke. Bottom-out should be adjusted with a maximum of 125 psi in the Boost Valve. The knob can be turned by hand or with a 4mm hex key inserted into one of the holes around the perimeter. Do not use any other tool to turn the knob—a 4mm (or 5/32”) hex key only!

Turn the knob all the way clockwise for the most bottom-out resistance and counter-clockwise for the least. There are three (3) rotations of adjustment and three (3) corresponding adjustment indicator lines on the reservoir.

For more bottom-out resistance, turn the knob clockwise.

For less bottom-out resistance,, turn the knob counterclockwise.

If the knob feels gritty during rotation, set the knob to maximum volume (full counterclockwise) and then use a 2mm (or 5/64") hex key to loosen the set screws in the perimeter holes then remove the knob. Clean the knob thoroughly. Lightly grease then re-install the knob.

Boost Valve

The Boost Valve creates a position-sensitive damping scheme that allows for a seamless transition from efficient ProPedal to square-edge bump absorption to a bottomless end-of-stroke feel. The Boost Valve also decouples the ProPedal and bottom-out adjustments, enabling ProPedal platform adjustments to be made without affecting the changes made to the bottom-out adjustment.

The Boost Valve is not adjusted directly. Instead, its behavior and performance characteristics are influenced by the air pressure setting in the reservoir and by adjusting the ProPedal knob.

To change the compression damping Oil or air damping resistance felt when trying to compress a shock or fork. characteristics of your DHX 4.0 shock, attach a FOX High Pressure Pump to the air valve on the reservoir:

For a firmer ride, add 10 – 15 pounds of air pressure.

For a softer ride, decrease the shock’s air pressure 10 – 15 pounds by using the pump’s bleed valve.

Ride your bike and verify the settings before repeating the procedure.

Never ride your bike with more than 200 PSI or less than 125 PSI in the reservoir air chamber.
Doing so can damage your shock and require repairs that are NOT covered under warranty.

ProPedal + Boost Valve Interaction

Certain aspects of the Boost Valve can influence the ProPedal adjustment.

If the ProPedal adjustment knob is fully counterclockwise (lightest ProPedal damping position) and the compression damping is still too strong, attach a shock pump to the Schrader valve on the reservoir and reduce the pressure 10 – 15 psi. Repeat to achieve the desired compression damping.

If there is not enough compression damping with the ProPedal knob fully clockwise, add 10 – 15 psi to the Boost Valve until desired compression damping is achieved.

eng046