Mountain Bike Suspension Fork Service Intervals
Standard 50-hour and 200-hour service intervals for Fox and RockShox suspension forks.
Before you start
Fork lower-leg service renews lubrication and foam rings; a full service includes air-spring and damper work. Exact oils, volumes, seals, and intervals vary by model, so the current manufacturer manual is essential.
Release all air pressure before opening an air fork. Damper cartridges and high-pressure air-spring systems must be serviced only with the specified tools and procedure.
What you'll need
Use the manual for your exact fork year and damper.
Viscosity and volume are model-specific.
Use a kit matched to your fork model.
For recording and restoring air pressure.
View on AmazonFor top caps, foot nuts, seals, and air valves.
View on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, TorqueStack earns from qualifying purchases. These links help support our free guides at no extra cost to you.
Recommended interval
Mileage and time are useful reminders, but inspect sooner after wet, dusty, or especially hard riding.
Step-by-step instructions
- 1
Identify the exact fork and interval
Record the model, year, travel, serial number, and damper. Check the brand’s current service chart. The common 50-hour / 200-hour schedule is a baseline, not a substitute for the model-specific manual.
- 2
Inspect before servicing
Clean the stanchions and check for scratches, worn coating, oil rings after riding, bushing play, loss of travel, and inconsistent damping. These symptoms may require more than a lower-leg service.
- 3
Prepare a clean, documented workspace
Use a stable stand, clean containers for old oil, and a way to record settings such as rebound clicks, compression, and air pressure. Have the correct oils, volume measures, and replacement seals ready before disassembly.
- 4
Follow the manual exactly for lower-leg work
The general sequence is to release air, remove the lowers, clean the parts, replace foam rings and wiper seals as needed, add the specified lubrication oil, and reassemble at the stated torque. Do not substitute oil volume, grease, or torque values from another fork.
- 5
Function-check before riding
Reset pressure and damping settings, cycle the fork, check for leaks, then perform a gentle test ride. Stop if there is air loss, an oil leak, unusual noise, binding, or loss of damping.
When to use a professional
Stop the DIY work and book a qualified mechanic if any of these apply.
- The fork needs damper, air-spring, or 200-hour service.
- There is stanchion damage, bushing play, persistent oil leakage, or lost damping.
- You do not have the manufacturer-specific tools, oils, and torque data.
Find a qualified local bike shop
This service benefits from the right tools, torque specifications, and an experienced inspection. Search nearby shops that can help with suspension fork lower-leg service or full rebuild.
Never miss your next service
Connect Strava and let TorqueStack track your suspension fork use automatically. Get a reminder before maintenance becomes a problem.
Start tracking for free