Mar 2022 orig., Jun 2024 rev.
Please dispose of all waste products and materials through proper channels to avoid contamination of the environment.
Any damage or issues resulting from improper service will not be covered by warranty. If you have a shock still in its original warranty period and do not wish to void your warranty, please contact an authorized Cane Creek service center.
These service instructions cover the basic service procedures using standard service kits. If your suspension requires parts beyond standard replacement parts – shaft, damper tubes, end eyes – please consult your authorized Cane Creek service center or contact us at our Cane Creek Support Center.
The Air IL and Coil IL as well as the Standard and Trunnion variants of both share many service steps. Some images in these instructions may not be identical to the the valve body or outer damper tube on the Air IL Trunnion, but that is only when the process is the same for the shock in the image and the shock on your bench.
BAD1214T – DBInline/DBair IL Damper Rebuild Kit (Trunnion)
BAD2279 – DBair IL Air Spring Rebuild Kit
BCD0344 – Kitsuma/DBair/DBair IL Air Seal Head Tool
AAD1193 – Air Seal Head Bullet – Red (or original AAD1182 – Air Seal Head Bullet – Green)
BAD1459 – Air Piston Funnel
BAD1032 – Gland Nut Wrench
BAD1174 – Oil Seal Head Pin Spanner Wrench
BAD1268 – Inline – Oil Fill Needle Adaptor
DBT016 – DB Gas Fill Needle
AAD0555 – 8mm & 9.5mm Shaft Clamp
AAD1454 – Kitsuma/IL Trunnion CS Bullet
BAD1273 – Inner Damper Tube Install Tool
Torque & Loctite Chart
Part | Torque Spec | Loctite Spec |
Shaft Bolt | 5 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
TSN | 0.6 Nm | 668 (Green) |
Climb Switch Set Screws | 0.2 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
Inner Damper Tube | 17 Nm | 263 (Red) |
Oil Seal Head | 15 Nm | None |
Gland Nut | 52 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
Climb Switch Screw | 0.16 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
Air Piston Screws | 3.2 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
End Eye | 4.8 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
Inner Air Can/Air Seal Head | 22.6 Nm | None (PolyLube) |
Oil Chart
Oil Location | Oil Type | Oil Amount |
Air Can | Royal Purple 10w-30 | 5 mL |
Damper Fill | Motorex 4wt Racing Fork Oil | Fill to 3 Bars |
Nitrogen Chart
Review all related TSBs before performing any service.
No Air IL specific TSBs at this time.
Slide inner air can up shock body to expose shaft. Clamp shaft in 8mm shaft clamp with end eye up. Remove end eye using 1/2″ crows foot. Pinch & remove then discard inner can o-ring and stop shim from end eye. Remove any stroke reduction spacer, shim and bottom out bumper.
Always use extreme caution when using a pick in this step or others to avoid scratching metal parts. Failure to do this can create scratches in the o-ring glands which cause leak paths for oil or gas. When possible, pinch and remove o-rings rather than using a pick.
Using T10 loosen and slowly remove all 3 air piston screws. Use caution as this will release any air trapped in negative chamber. Pull up on inner air can to remove inner air can and piston. Press piston out of inner air can. Remove 2 L-back up rings, quad ring and interior o-ring from piston.
Using Inner Damper Tool Wrench (BAD1273), remove inner damper from valve body. Inspect interior of inner damper tube for piston band wear. Inspect damper tube threads and remove any remaining Loctite with pick. Clean thoroughly. Replace inner damper tube if necessary. Remove valve body o-ring and discard.
Using a 1.5mm Allen, remove 2 set screws located inside of valve body next to inner damper tube purchase. Remove remaining set screw in valve body exposing spring and detent ball. Remove spring and detent ball. Using CS lever, unthread spool valve and remove. Pinch & remove and discard spool valve o-ring.
Using 3mm Allen, dial High Speed adjusters in to gain access to High Speed circlips. Remove circlips. Back High Speed adjusters all the way out. Pinch & remove and discard o-rings on adjusters.
Note that the Compression spring is 20wt (silver), rebound is 30wt (black).
Gently bottom out Low Speed adjuster needles with 3mm Allen. Using a sharp blade, work circlips below retaining shelf all the way to needles. Back needles out 5-7 clicks and then rebottom needles to gain access to circlips. Using pick centered on circlips, pry up diagonally to pull circlips past shelf and remove. Unthread and remove needles. Remove and discard o-rings.
TSN service is not required as part of a standard IL service. However, if the shock exhibits any audible sounds, usually a “chirp”, during use, this could be related to a bent TSN spring. No additional parts are required to do the TSN service.
Reassemble shim stack, flipping face shim if necessary, and reinstall stop washer, shim stack and piston on shaft. Add one drop of blue Loctite (243) on the shaft threads. Install shaft bolt with T25. Torque to 5 Nm.
When installing the piston bolt, keep downward pressure on the piston with your other hand to prevent any Loctite from getting between the piston and face shim.
Grease the bushing and quad ring of oil seal head. If available, slide shaft cover (.DBT010 – discontinued) on shaft to cover threads only. Trim shaft cover to length if necessary. If cover not available, you can use tape to cover threads or simply take care installing seal head. Install new (AAD1090) top out bumper and new oil seal head (AAD1804). Remove any shaft thread covering.
Apply blue Loctite (243) to the three CS set screws. Reinstall 2 CS set screws into bottom of valve body. Note approach angle. Torque to 0.2 Nm using 1.5mm Allen. Install lightly greased detent and spring into threaded detent capture hole on top of valve body. Reinstall remaining CS set screw to capture detent and spring. Torque to 0.2 Nm using 1.5mm Allen. Test CS function. If binding, back off set screw half turn.
Apply grease to entire bladder surface, focusing on edges where gland cover will contact. Place gland cover on bladder. Install gland nut using an inch feed of blue Loctite (243). Set correct gland cover orientation and allow gland nut to self seat cover. Clamp valve body in vise. Hand thread gland nut tight. Using Gland Nut Wrench torque gland nut to 52 Nm.
Apply thin layer of shock oil to piston band on shaft assembly. Use piston to apply layer of shock oil to inner surface of outer damper tube. Insert shaft assembly into inner damper tube, threading oil seal head into outer damper tube. Using Oil Seal Head Wrench, tighten oil seal head to 15 Nm.
Use non-threaded holes and ensure all three pins are properly seated and even pressure is applied to tool to prevent damaging tool pins.
Install new o-ring (AAD0532) on fill plug screw. Temporarily install end eye on shaft. Secure shock in horizontal position with fill port facing up. Back all adjusters to fully open and open Climb Switch. Thread Inline oil fill adaptor (BAD1268) into fill port. Fully compress damper. Attach oil fill machine per your manufacturer’s instructions.
Vacuum system to (4) mbar. Pressure with Oil to (3) bar. Slowly cycle shaft finishing with shaft fully out. Cut fill and equalize pressure. Vacuum system to (4) mbar, leaving shaft out. Pressure again with Oil to (3) bar. Slowly cycle shaft finishing with shaft fully out. Cut fill.
Insert gas fill needle (DBT016) and pressurize to 11-12 bars of nitrogen. Compress shaft and ensure proper gas by observing shaft return to full extension. Submerge valve body in water to check for gas leaks.
If mechanical dyno equipment is available, run shock on dyno at this point.
Ensure inner and outer air cans, end eye, and piston are thoroughly cleaned. Grease piston quad ring channel. Thoroughly grease all sides of quad ring (AAD1928). Install quad ring on piston channel. Pre-compress back up L-rings (AAD1098) to improve fit on piston. Install back up L-rings on either side of quad ring, ensuring that flat side contacts quad ring. Lightly grease and install piston o-ring (AAD0955) on bottom side of piston.
Grease lower channel on interior of inner air can. Install first L-ring (AAD1134) on lower shelf with flat side toward interior of channel. Thoroughly grease all sides of quad ring (AAD1846). Install quad ring into channel. Install second L-ring (AAD1134) on top of quad ring with flat side against quad ring.
Install dry wiper seal (AAD0415) into top groove of inner air can. Thoroughly grease upper inner assembly of air can. Grease and install inner air can outer o-rings (AAD2142) on exterior of air can in the two grooves. Lightly grease the lower interior inner air can. Excess grease can clog charge port.
Thoroughly grease the exterior of air piston. Apply blue Loctite (243) to three air piston set screws. Place Air Piston Funnel (BAD1459) on inner air can. Set inner air can halfway on outer damper tube to allow for space to install air piston. Install piston with set screw holes facing out. Gently work piston past funnel into inner air can. Bottom piston onto seal head. Once flush with seal head, rotate inner can and piston to align screw holes with seal head threads.
Install piston set screws. Torque to 3.2 Nm with T10.
Reinstall bottom out bumper, shim and stroke reduction (if present). Apply blue Loctite (243) to shaft threads and end eye threads. Thread end eye onto the shaft. Clamp shaft into vise with shaft clamp allowing space for end eye to clear vise when tightened. Using 1/2″ crowsfoot, torque end eye to 4.8 Nm. Clean any extra Loctite from shaft and end eye.
Clamp valve body end into vise. Work outer air can gently past o-rings. Note correct orientation of air can and reinstall any volume reduction. Final o-ring will be tight. Strap wrench may be necessary. Engage Climb Switch to aid installation. Ensure valve is oriented away from Climb Switch. Install outer air can retention clip.
Set adjusters to factory neutral: HSC & HSR 2.5 turns from full bottom (or 2 turns from full open); LSC 11 clicks from full bottom; LSR 13 from full bottom. Using hand dyno, test shock for function. Ensure Climb Switch engages and operates properly. Turn individual adjusters to test each one. Set back to original tune if desired.
Install any bushings and hardware.
Monday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday – Sunday: Closed