Most riders know they should service their suspension. Very few actually do it on time.
It is easy to put off. The bike still rolls. The fork still moves. The shock still compresses. But underneath the surface, dirt, water, and metal particles are slowly breaking down your seals and damper oil. By the time you notice something feels wrong, you have often already caused the damage.
This guide tells you exactly how often to service your MTB forks and rear shocks, what happens when you skip it, and how to know if your suspension is overdue right now.
Why Suspension Service Matters
Your fork and rear shock are precision instruments. They contain seals, bushings, damper oil, and air chambers that all work together to control how your wheels move over the ground.
Every ride pushes dirt and water past your seals. Damper oil breaks down with heat and use. Bushings wear over time. None of this is visible from the outside, but all of it affects how your bike feels and performs.
Skipping service does three things:
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It degrades your riding experience gradually: so gradually that most riders do not notice until they ride a freshly serviced bike and feel the difference
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It accelerates wear on internal components, meaning parts that should last years fail early
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It turns a simple, inexpensive service into a costly rebuild when the damage finally becomes obvious
The good news: suspension service is not complicated, and it is not expensive when done on time. It only becomes expensive when you wait too long.
How Often Should You Service Your Fork?
The short answer is more often than you think.
Fork service is split into two levels. Each has a different interval and a different job to do.
Lower Leg Service (Basic Service)
This procedure is the most common service and the one most riders skip. It involves removing the lower legs of the fork, cleaning out the old oil and debris, replacing the foam rings and seals if needed, and refilling with fresh bath oil.
How often: Every 50 hours of riding, or once per season if you ride regularly.
What counts as 50 hours? For a rider doing two to three hour rides on weekends, that is roughly four to six months of riding. If you ride more frequently or in wet, muddy conditions, service your bike every three months.
Signs you are overdue for a lower leg service:
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The fork feels rougher than it used to over small bumps
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You can see a dirty ring of oil and grime at the base of the stanchions
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The fork makes a sucking or popping noise on the return stroke
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Oil is visibly leaking from the seals
Full Service (Damper Rebuild)
This is a more involved service that includes the lower leg service plus a full damper rebuild. The damper cartridge is removed, cleaned, and refilled with fresh oil. Seals and O-rings inside the damper are replaced.
How often: Every 100 to 200 hours of riding, or every one to two years for most riders.
If you ride year-round in BC conditions, lean toward the shorter end of that range. Mud, water, and cold temperatures accelerate wear on internal components.
How Often Should You Service Your Rear Shock?
Rear shocks are sealed more tightly than forks and generally require less frequent service. But they still need regular attention.
Air Can Service (Basic Service)
This procedure covers the air spring side of your shock. The air can is removed and cleaned, and the seals and lubricant are refreshed. It also covers the negative air chamber, which affects how the shock feels at the beginning of its travel.
How often: Every 50 to 100 hours of riding, or once per season.
Signs your air conditioner service is overdue:
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The shock feels harsh at the start of its travel
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It is harder to maintain your target sag pressure
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You can hear air escaping when you compress the shock
Full Damper Rebuild
The full service covers both the air spring and the damper cartridge. The oil inside the damper is replaced, seals are refreshed, and the entire shock is inspected for wear.
How often: Every 100 to 200 hours of riding, or every one to two years.
For coil shocks, the service interval is similar, but instead of checking the air can step, the spring and its hardware are checked. Coil shocks are generally more tolerant of missed service intervals than air shocks, but they still need regular damper oil changes.
Service Interval Quick Reference Table
| Component | Basic Service | Full Service |
|---|---|---|
| MTB Fork | Every 50 hours / once per season | Every 100–200 hours / 1–2 years |
| Rear Shock (Air) | Every 50–100 hours / once per season | Every 100–200 hours / 1–2 years |
| Rear Shock (Coil) | Check spring hardware each season | Every 100–200 hours / 1–2 years |
| Wet/muddy conditions | Shorten all intervals by 30–50% | Shorten all intervals by 30–50% |
| Dry conditions | Standard intervals apply | Standard intervals apply |
What Happens If You Skip Service?
This is what the damage timeline looks like in practice.
After one missed season:
Foam rings inside the fork dry out and stop retaining oil effectively. The fork starts to feel noticeably rougher. A simple lower leg service at this point costs around $60 to $100 and resolves the problem.
After two missed seasons:
Dirt has worked past the degraded seals. The stanchions start to show wear. The damper oil is contaminated, and the shock or fork no longer behaves consistently. A full service is now required, typically $150 to $250.
After three or more missed seasons:
Stanchion scoring, bushing wear, and damper damage are likely. At this point, you may be looking at a part replacement on top of a full service, pushing costs above $300 to $500 and potentially requiring new stanchions or a full shock replacement.
A $70 lower leg service done on time every season is the most cost-effective maintenance decision you can make.
Can You Service Your Suspension at Home?
Yes, but with important caveats.
A lower leg service on a fork is within reach for a mechanically confident home mechanic. You need the correct bath oil for your fork model, a seal bullet to protect the seals during reassembly, and a clean workspace. Both Fox and RockShox publish detailed service guides for their products.
A full damper rebuild is more complex. It requires specific tools, a pristine environment to prevent contamination, and familiarity with the particular damper cartridge in your fork or shock. Most riders are better off leaving this work to a professional.
If you are not sure which level of service your suspension needs, bring your bike into Dunbar Cycles. We will tell you honestly what needs doing and what can wait.
Signs Your Suspension Is Overdue for Service Right Now
You do not need to track hours precisely to know when service is due. Your suspension will tell you. Watch for these signs:
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The fork feels stiff or rough over roots and small rocks
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The shock feels harsh at the beginning of its travel, or wallows and does not return properly
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You are losing air pressure between rides without a clear leak
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There is visible contamination around the seals: a dark, greasy ring at the base of the stanchions
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The fork or shock makes unusual noises: popping, sucking, or clunking
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Your sag has changed and you are having trouble hitting your target pressure
If you are experiencing any of these, it is time for a service. Do not wait until it gets worse.
Dunbar Cycles & Corsa Cycles Suspension Service
Our team at Dunbar Cycles handles suspension service for all major brands, including Fox, RockShox, Ohlins, and Marzocchi. We offer both basic lower leg services and full damper rebuilds, with quick turnaround and honest advice on what your bike actually needs.
You can also bring your bike to our Corsa Cycles Squamish: Expert MTB Suspension Service in the Heart of the Trails location if you are based on the North Shore or in Squamish.
For our full range of MTB suspension components, including forks and rear shocks, visit us in store or shop online with free shipping across Canada on orders over $150.
