Air in shocks

[S.A.W]

Hi,

I'm just building my shocks on a B4.1 Team as per the instructions. I'm also using a shock pump to get all the air out but once I've built them if I move the shock shaft in and out a few times it's just putting loads of air into the shock am I missing something.

This is my first off road and Associated but I never had a problem with air getting in on my TC.

Any tips please ?

Thanks.

[MRD]

The 4.1 has bleeder shock caps so they should be easy. This is the way I do it...

Fill them up with oil, work the piston up and down to get the air out then pull the shaft all the way down. Top them up and put the top on without the screw in. Slowly move the shaft upto the top and some oil will come out of the hole. Put the screw in and wipe away the excess oil and you're done.

As long as the seals are in right there should be very little air in there and because when the shaft is pulled down it creates a small vacume the shocks should be less prone to leak (in therory)

Hope this helps

[alexb4]

id first check your seals, you can also build the shocks by pushing the shaft half in and filling to the top with oil and then slowly pull shaft back out, then re top up, screw cap on, push shaft in and then put the screw in works evry time for me

[S.A.W]

still no luck, tired both of the suggestions.

I'm 99% sure there's no air in the shock before I put the top cap on, then push shaft in slowly and then put the small bleed screw in.

Pop the spring on and pump the shock a bit, open the the top cap and there's loads of tiny bubbles there

Driving me mad, I guess there is getting in from the bottom but there brand new O rings which look ok. I also have the spacer in between the O rings.

Where is this air coming from ?

alexb4, your method worked well for getting the air out, do you use a shock pump after you top them up ?

Are the shocks supposed to have some air in ?, as there's no bladders.

[mark christopher]

There supposed to have air in them. That's how they work. There airiating type shocks.

[arransmith27]

I put about 3 or 4 drops of shock oil in the cap before screwing it on, then push the shock shaft in very slowly, then put the the bleed screw in.

Seems to work for me

[MRD]

Have you got the top O Ring on that seals the cap?

[S.A.W]

Originally Posted by MRD

Have you got the top O Ring on that seals the cap?

Yes the one that fit's onto the shock body.

[AndyG]

Originally Posted by arransmith27

I put about 3 or 4 drops of shock oil in the cap before screwing it on, then push the shock shaft in very slowly, then put the the bleed screw in.

Seems to work for me

this.

putting oil in the cap means you're introducing less air from the cap when you put the cap on. Think it will be pretty impossible to avoid air entirely, but this way you've at least got maximum oil in there and you can use the bleed screw to adjust & pair them off.

[rocketrob]

Originally Posted by mark christopher

There supposed to have air in them. That's how they work. There airiating type shocks.

If you're "thinking" you have no air in them after bleeding them, you're only fooling yourself.

[S.A.W]

Ok thanks all, so I was doing them right just never had Associated shocks.

I presume you would need a bladder in there if they were meant to have no air ?

[gnr racer]

If you want rebound i presume you dont push the shaft all the way up to the body before tightening the bleed screw

[TonyM]

After filling the shocks and working the shaft up and down to force out any air bubbles I then leave mine to stand for 5 minutes to allow all the air bubbles to rise to the surface and dissipate. Then, as previously described I put a few drops of oil in the cap, tighten it right up slowly push in the shaft and while keeping it at the top fit the bleed screw and wipe away excess oil.