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May 2022 orig., July 2022 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 DBair CS and Coil CS share many service steps. Additionally, the Standard and Trunnion variants of both models have identical service procedures other than where to clamp the cylinder head. Some images in these instructions may not be identical to the the valve body or outer damper tube on the Coil CS, but process is the same for the shock in the image and the shock on your bench.
Additionally, running changes happened throughout the lifespan of the Coil CS. Many of those are addressed in the Technical Service Bulletins below, but always take note of the way the shock is originally built and replicate that during reassembly to maintain the original performance, tune, set up, etc.
8mm Shafts
In 2018, all Coil CS shocks transitioned from 8mm to 9.5mm shafts to be more compatible with modern higher leverage ratio bikes. Factory service support is no longer available for 8mm shafts outside of 9.5mm shaft upgrade kits. If you are interested in maintaining an 8mm shaft on a shock, please consult your authorized Cane Creek service center.
BAD2376 – DBcoil CS Complete Rebuild Kit
If 8mm shaft present, ONE of the following 9.5mm shaft upgrade kits is required (plus any stroke reduction clips needed from full stroke):
BAD1599 – 9.5mm Shaft Assembly – 200x57mm
BAD1600 – 9.5mm Shaft Assembly – 216x63mm
BAD1601 – 9.5mm Shaft Assembly – 222x70mm
BAD2322 – 9.5mm Shaft Assembly – 230x70mm
BAD0356 – 9.5mm Shaft Assembly – 240x76mm
BAD1603 – 9.5mm Shaft Assembly – 267x90mm
DBT018 – DB Seal Head Pin Spanner Wrench
AAD1361-01 – DBCoil/ DBAir – Oil Fill Needle Adapter
DBT016 – DB Gas Fill Needle
AAD0555 – 8mm & 9.5mm Shaft Clamp
AAD0756 – DB Valve Seat Tool
BAD1298 – DBcoil Seal Head Bullet
DBT012 – DB IFP Setting Tool
Torx wrenches – T20
Sockets – 13mm
Crowfoot wrenches – 1/2″
9.5mm Shaft Bullet
Torque wrenches
Pick
Pin Spanner
Needle Nose Pliers
Strap wrench
Suspension Grease
PolyLube Grease
Motorex 4wt Racing Fork Oil
Vacuum Oil Fill Machine
Nitrogen Fill System
Torque & Loctite Chart
| Part | Torque Spec | Loctite Spec |
| Shaft Nut | 13.5 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
| Climb Switch Plate Cover | 0.16 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
| Outer Damper Tube | Tight | 263 (Red) |
| Valve Seat | 4.8 Nm | None |
| Climb Switch Screw | 1.2 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
| Oil Seal Head | 15 Nm | None |
Oil Chart
| Oil Location | Oil Type | Oil Amount |
| Damper Fill | Motorex 4wt Racing Fork Oil | Fill to 3 Bars |
Nitrogen Chart
| Nitrogen Location | Nitrogen Pressure |
| Valve Body | 11-12 Bars |
Clean shock. Record tune if desired. Remove hardware. Remove bushings if replacing. Unthread spring preload. Remove spring clip. Remove spring. Note and remove any stroke reduction clips.
TSB018 – DBair CS & DBcoil CS Eyelet Change
Depress reservoir end cap to expose circlip. IFP setting tool may be used. Remove reservoir tube circlip. Remove end cap with IFP setting tool (DBT012). Pinch & remove and discard res end o-ring.
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.
Thoroughly inspect damper tube and res tube. Replace if necessary. Test tightness of outer damper tube and reservoir tube. If either comes loose without much force, remove completely. Otherwise, only remove if replacing.
With outer damper tube and/or res tube removed, remove and discard o-rings. Thoroughly clean all Loctite residue from cylinder head threads.
Using 3mm Allen, remove High Speed adjusters. Take note of the Rebound adjuster (0.8 with port) and spring (red, 30wt weight) and Compression adjuster (0.0 without port) and spring (20wt). Spring color may have worn off. Pinch & remove and discard High Speed adjuster o-rings.
Using 6mm socket, thread spool valve closed (clockwise) and note location of the indicator dot. Then open (counterclockwise) the valve at least half a turn and then onto indicator dot at the 6:00 position. This is the default setting for reassembly. Make note of this postion from fully closed. Unthread and remove spool valve assembly. Pliers may be necessary to remove assembly once completely unthreaded. Remove and discard spool valve o-ring. Remove and clean detent balls and spring.
Using 3mm Allen, remove Low Speed needles. Pliers may be necessary to remove assembly once completely unthreaded. Take note of labeling on needles for reinstallation back into same circuit. Remove and clean detent balls and spring. Pinch & remove Low Speed needle o-rings.
If replacing an 8mm shaft with a complete 9.5mm shaft assembly, this step section can be skipped and the complete 8mm shaft assembly can be discarded.
Using shaft clamp, secure shaft between end eye and bottom out bumper. Using 13mm socket, remove shaft locknut. Remove piston, shims and stop washer, noting orientation. Some Coil CS shocks use a single sided Air CS shim stack.
TSB034 – DBcoil CS Oil Piston Change
If replacing an 8mm shaft with a complete 9.5mm shaft assembly, this step section can be skipped. The replacement 9.5 shaft assembly comes ready for installation.
Remove bullet and install stop washer, shims and piston. Note shim stack orientation. Flip face shim if needed. Apply blue (243) Loctite to threads of locknut. Install and torque shaft locknut to 14.5 Nm using 13mm socket.
TSB034 – DBcoil CS Oil Piston Change
Lightly grease the walls of the spool valve and adjuster housing on valve body. Lightly grease and install high speed adjuster outside o-ring (AAD0032). Install high speed adjuster poppet o-ring (.DB11101). Install spring and poppet on high speed adjuster.
Replicate the original set up from disassembly. Take note of the Rebound adjuster (0.8 with port) and spring (red, 30wt weight) and Compression adjuster (0.0 without port) and spring (20wt). Spring color may have worn off.
Lightly grease and install low speed needle o-rings (.DB11102). Using grease, install detent ball, spring and second detent ball. Using 3mm Allen, install low speed needles into valve body. Be sure to match needle to original circuit. Thread needles below cover plate surface. Test for detent clicks at this time.
Lightly grease and install spool valve o-ring (.DB11102). Lightly grease spool valve opening on cover plate. Using grease, install detent ball, spring and second detent ball.
Install spool valve. Repeat removal process of threading spool valve all the way closed (clockwise) then opening (counterclockwise) 1/2 turn and onto indicator dot at 6:00.
Apply blue (243) Loctite to internal threads on spool valve. Install Climb Switch with lever pointing towards the Rebound adjusters (in the climb switch “on” position). Install Climb Switch screw and torque to 1.2 Nm using a T10 wrench. Back out both low and high speed adjusters until gently touching the cover plate.
Coat piston with shock oil and insert shaft assembly into inner damper tube. Note location of holes on seal head end. Install inner damper tube/shaft assembly into outer damper tube. Thread oil seal head into outer damper tube and torque to 15 Nm using Oil Seal Head wrench.
Thread IFP tool into IFP until bottomed. Push into reservoir tube until bottomed. Slide plunger into res tube. Install res end circlip. With IFP bottomed, slide the plunger out until contacting circlip. Lock plunger in place. Lock spacer in place onto top of plunger. Loosen plunger and pull IFP out 5mm. Relock plunger in position to set IFP depth.
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 in gas fill port on reservoir end cap. 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. Install fill screw.
If mechanic dyno equipment is available, run shock on dyno at this point.
Set adjusters to factory neutral. 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.
