Check for clearance before riding.

If you are installing your shock on a bike for which the shock was not original equipment, follow the steps below to ensure proper clearance before riding.

1. Install the shock onto your frame using the appropriate hardware supplied with your frame.
2. Remove the air cap, attach a shock pump, then SLOWLY release all air out of the main air chamber.
3. Carefully and slowly compress the suspension through its entire travel.
4. Check that no part of your shock contacts any portion of your frame or linkage as it cycles through its travel.
5. Add air pressure to the main air chamber in ~50 psi (3.4 bar) increments, slowly cycling the shock after every 50 psi (3.4 bar) addition.
6. Set your main air chamber to between 50-300psi to prepare to set sag as described in the "Setting Shock Air Pressure" section below.

Make sure that your shock is ready to ride

1. Clean the outside of your shock with mild soap and water and wipe dry with a soft rag.
   • Do not use any solvents or de-greasers as these products can damage the shock's exterior finish.
   • Do not use a high pressure washer or spray water directly at the seal/shock body junction.
2. Inspect the exterior of your shock. The shock should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged
   • Contact your local FOX dealer or FOX directly for further inspection or repair.
3. Make sure that your quick-release levers (or thru-axles) are properly adjusted and tightened.
4. Check your headset adjustment. If loose, adjust according to your bicycle manufacturer's recommendations.
5. Check that all brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
6. Test the proper operation of your front and rear brakes on level ground.

The EVOL air sleeve is an option on FLOAT DPS and FLOAT X models. The EVOL air sleeve provides an external negative air chamber added to the main air sleeve to significantly reduce the force to initiate travel, providing excellent small bump performance. The system is also more linear in its progression offering improved mid stroke support and better bottom out resistance. It is important to add or remove air from the EVOL sleeve as detailed below to experience the best possible performance.

When adding air to the air chamber, it is important to equalize the positive and negative air chambers by slowly compressing the shock through 25% of its travel 10-20 times after every 50psi addition.

• Adding air to the shock without periodically equalizing the air chambers can lead to a condition in which the shock has more pressure in the positive chamber than the negative. In this condition the shock will be very stiff and can top-out. You can equalize the air chambers by slowly compressing the shock until you feel and hear a transfer of air. Hold the shock at this point for a few seconds to allow the air to transfer from the positive to the negative chamber.

When releasing air from the air chamber, it is important to do this slowly so the shock can transfer air from the negative to positive chamber and then be realeased through the Schrader valve. 

• Releasing the air pressure too quickly can induce a condition in which the negative chamber has more pressure than the positive chamber. In this condition the shock will compress into its travel and not fully extend. You can remedy this by adding air pressure until the shock extends, then slowly compressing the shock through 25% of its travel 10-20 times.

Sag should be set to 25 - 30% of total shock travel

To achieve the best performance from your FOX suspension, adjust the air pressure to attain your proper sag setting. Sag is the amount your suspension compresses under your weight and riding gear. Sag range should be set to 25–30% of total shock travel.

Watch the sag setup video at ridefox.com/sagsetup

Your shock has a 4 digit ID code on the shock body. Use this number on the Help page at www.ridefox.com to find out more information about your shock, including shock travel. 

1. Turn the 3-position lever to the OPEN mode.
   
                                                                                       
2. Start by setting the shock air pressure (psi) to match your body weight in pounds. With the air pump attached to the shock valve, slowly cycle your shock through 25% of its travel 10 times as you reach your desired pressure. This will equalize the positive and negative air chambers and will change the pressure on the pump gauge.
   
   Do not exceed 300 psi (20.7 bar), the maximum FLOAT air pressure!
   
   
3. Remove the pump.
4. Sit still on the bike in your normal riding position, using a wall or a tree for support.
5. Pull the sag indicator o-ring up against the rubber air sleeve seal.
6. Carefully dismount the bike without bouncing.
7. Measure the distance between the sag indicator o-ring and the rubber air sleeve seal. Compare your measurement to the ‘Suggested Sag Measurements’ table.
   
                                                                            
8. Add or remove air pressure until you reach your desired sag measurement.

Rebound controls how fast the shock extends after compressing

The rebound adjustment is dependent on the air pressure setting. For example, higher air pressures require more rebound damping. Use your air pressure to help find your rebound setting.

Turn your rebound knob to the closed position (full clockwise) until it stops. Then back it out (counter-clockwise) to the number of clicks shown in the table below. For FLOAT X shocks, you might need to utilize a small tool (recommended tool is a 2mm hex wrench) to help you turn the red rebound knob.

                               FLOAT DPS:

                               FLOAT X: 

Easy on-the-fly adjustments for unprecedented control and performance

3-Position Lever: The 3-position lever is useful to make on-the-fly adjustments to control shock performance under significant changes in terrain, and is intended to be adjusted throughout the ride. You can use the OPEN mode during rough descending, the MEDIUM mode for undulating terrain, and the FIRM mode for smooth climbing.

FOX recommends beginning with the 3-position lever in the open mode.

*Open Mode Adjust: Open mode adjust is useful to control shock performance during rider weight shifts, G-outs, and slow inputs. Open mode adjust provides 3 additional fine tuning adjustments for the OPEN mode. Lift the open mode adjuster, rotate it to the 1, 2, or 3 position, and press it in to lock the position. It is recommended to make these adjustments with the 3-position lever in the Medium or Firm mode. Setting 1 will have a more plush feel and setting 3 will have a firmer feel.

FOX Recommends beginning with the open mode adjust set to 1.

*Factory and Performance Elite Series non-remote shocks only.

iCD Pre-Installation Guide Download »

FLOAT iRD elevates cross country and trail riding to the next level. FLOAT iRD integrates an electronic actuated system into proven FOX FLOAT fork and shock designs, to quickly and optimally adjust between Open, Medium, and Firm modes.

This system offers fast activation and almost effortless operation. FLOAT iRD shares features with the Shimano E-Tube electronic shifting technology. FLOAT iRD uses Power-Line-Communication (PLC) that facilitates data and power flow through a single wire, permitting minimal wiring and ease of setup.

For a full suspension setup, both fork and rear shock are actuated simultaneously. The switch can be operated by rotating it with your thumb using the thumb actuation indentation, or with the index finger actuation lever.

Firm Mode: 

Rotating the switch down fully actuates the Firm mode for a right-mounted switch; if you have the switch mounted on the left side, rotating the switch up fully actuates the Firm mode. Firm mode is a very firm low-speed compression setting. This setting is most useful for climbing and sprinting.  

Medium Mode: 

Rotating the switch to the middle position actuates the Medium mode. Medium mode offers less compression damping than Firm mode. Use this setting when pedaling on undulating terrain, and for preventing excessive travel in technical riding situations (such as low-speed drops). Medium mode is a great all-around setting for most terrain types and riding styles.

Open Mode:

Rotating the switch up actuates the Open mode for a right-mounted switch; if you have the switch mounted on the left side, rotating the switch down actuates the Open mode. Open mode has the lightest low-speed compression damping of the three modes. Open mode offers the most plush ride to ensure optimal traction over varied terrain.

The Optional PC linkage device can be used to connect a PC to the bicycle (system or unit), and an E-tube Project* can be used to carry out tasks such as, problem diagnosis of single units and the whole system, updating firmware*, and customizing.

• * E-tube Project: the PC application
• * Firmware: the software inside each unit

The E-tube project application download can be found here: http://e-tubeproject.shimano.com

Easy on-the-fly adjustments for unprecedented control and performance

The 3-Position Remote lets you to switch between the Open, Medium, and Firm modes while riding. Each mode is optimized for a specific type of terrain, providing best performance and riding enjoyment. The 3-Position remote allows for complete rider control by using different modes on different types of terrain.

Firm Mode:

• Push the silver lever down to its lowest position to set the fork to Firm mode.

Firm mode is a very firm low-speed compression setting. This setting is most useful for climbing and sprinting. 

Medium Mode:

• From Firm mode, push the black release lever once and then push the silver lever down one click to the middle position to engage Medium mode.
• From Open mode, push the silver lever down one click to the middle position to engage Medium mode.

Medium mode offers less compression damping than Firm mode. Use this setting when pedaling on undulating terrain, and for preventing excessive travel in technical riding situations (such as low-speed drops). Medium mode is a great all-around setting for most terrain types and riding styles.

Open Mode:

• Push the black release lever in any setting to set the fork to Open mode.

Open mode has the lightest low-speed compression damping of the three modes. Open mode offers the most plush ride to ensure optimal traction over varied terrain.

Changing volume spacers in the shock is an internal adjustment that allows you to change the amount of mid stroke and bottom out resistance. 

• If you have set your sag correctly and are using full travel (bottoming out) too easily, then you could install a larger spacer to increase bottom out resistance. 
• If you have set your sag correctly and are not using full travel, then you could install a smaller spacer to decrease bottom out resistance.

• FLOAT DPS (9mm shaft) Air Spring Volume Tuning Kit: PN 803-00-802
• FLOAT X (1/2in shaft) Air Spring Volume Tuning Kit: PN 803-00-827

The Video below shows basic instructions for installing or removing air volume spacers from FLOAT and FLOAT X based shocks.

To best maintain the performance and durability of your product under normal use, FOX recommends that you have regular fork and shock maintenance performed according to the service intervals listed below.

*Suspension product will require more frequent servicing the harder they are worked. For those who ride lift-accessed DH, Park, or Extreme Freeride or in extremely wet/muddy or dry/dusty environmental conditions where trail debris is sprayed onto the fork or shock while on the trail, or e-mtb's, FOX encourages riders to perform maintenance earlier than recommended above as needed. If you hear, see, or feel something unusual, stop riding immediately and contact a FOX Authorized Service Center for proper servicing.