REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Fox Float DPS replacement options?

6595 Views 48 Replies 13 Participants Last post by _CJ, Dec 28, 2021

_CJ

Discussion Starter · Dec 8, 2021 (Edited)

My Fox Float DPS rear shock has been leaking oil since day one, and now the damping adjustments have quit "adjusting", so I'm guessing it ran out of oil. Funny thing is, the suspension still works well, maybe better than it did when the damping was working, even though I kept the damping set at it's minimum.

I've never much cared for air shocks, so I'm thinking about replacing it with a coil of some sort. Anyone here have any suggestions on a plug and play option? From what I've gathered, the Fox shock is 200mm eye to eye with 57mm travel (7.875 x 2.25). I have no idea what spring pressure on a coil shock will get me in the neighborhood. Is there a calculation of some sort with shock travel, suspension travel, and riding weight? Like suspension travel / shock travel x rider weight?

1 - 20 of 49 Posts

FrankS29

· #2 · Dec 8, 2021

_CJ said:
My Fox Float DPS rear shock has been leaking oil since day one, and now the damping adjustments have quit "adjusting", so I'm guessing it ran out of oil. Funny thing is, the suspension still works well, maybe better than it did when the damping was working, even though I kept the damping set at it's minimum.

I've never much cared for air shocks, so I'm thinking about replacing it with a coil of some sort. Anyone here have any suggestions on a plug and play option? From what I've gathered, the Fox shock is 200mm eye to eye with 57mm travel. I have no idea what spring pressure on a coil shock will get me in the neighborhood. Is there a calculation of some sort with shock travel, suspension travel, and riding weight?

I replaced my DPS with a DVO Topaz and couldn't be happier.

Reactions: 1

_CJ

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 8, 2021

FrankS29 said:
I replaced my DPS with a DVO Topaz and couldn't be happier.

Probably should have mentioned....I'm not racing or anything, so something that's not too expensive, and I don't think my bike has room for a remote reservoir.

Steel-Onions

· #4 · Dec 8, 2021

My Fox DPS leaked oil from day one, warranty returned it and they did a air can service, has not leaked since, hope i havent just jinxed myself there :S fingers crossed

Reactions: 1

_CJ

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 8, 2021

Steel-Onions said:
My Fox DPS leaked oil from day one, warranty returned it and they did a air can service, has not leaked since, hope i havent just jinxed myself there :S fingers crossed

I could have warrantied it, but I waited too long. I got a quote of $200 to have it rebuilt, but might as well just buy something else at that point. I always thought Fox was supposed to one of the best, but I haven't been impressed with the shock or fork (36 Rythm air) on this bike at all. Thinking about going coil on the fork too.

Thus far, Cane Creek looks like the only top shelf manufacturer with a coil shock that doesn't have a remote reservoir, but holy $moke$. Other options seem to be misc used shocks on ebay, or a new DNM. Too bad there isn't some middle ground option, but maybe that's what air shocks are for?

Hexsense

· #6 · Dec 8, 2021 (Edited)

Light option:
Probably Manitou Mara or the discontinued Manitou Mcleod which you can probably find it at a bargain price.
That's what people recommend to me as replacement to Fox Float DPS/ Rockshox SidLuxe.

Better performing and heavier option:
Manitou Mara Pro

Reactions: 1

_CJ

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 8, 2021

Hexsense said:
Light option:
Probably Manitou Mara or the discontinued Manitou Mcleod which you can probably find it at a bargain price.
That's what people recommend to me as replacement to Fox Float DPS/ Rockshox SidLuxe.

Better performing and heavier option:
Manitou Mara Pro

Those aren't coil shocks.

Also, I don't care about weight.

Hexsense

· #8 · Dec 8, 2021

Well if DVO Topaz recommendation is liked. Manitou Mara Pro is another equivalent too.

funks

· #9 · Dec 8, 2021

Manitou Mara Inline - requires a lot less pressure for the same sag than the DPS specially if your frame has fitment issues.

_CJ

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 8, 2021 (Edited)

Coil shock preferred.

Top contender:

bikerumor.com

Cane Creek follows in line w/ new DBcoil IL shock and VALT light weight springs

Leave bike geeks alone long enough with the right tools and raw materials, and they’re bound to come up with something awesome. That seems to be…

bikerumor.com

Top budget contender (rumored to be 70% as good as a $500 shock at 10% the price):

www.dnmshock.com

DV-22AR

BIKE,Bike Fork ,Bike Seat Post ,Bike Shock ，Scooter，ATV，WHEELCHAIR，Motorcvcle,DIRT BIKE，Motocross -DNM Suspension Technology.

www.dnmshock.com

.

funks

· #11 · Dec 8, 2021

_CJ said:
Coil shock preferred.

.

You say you want a coil shock, did you check if your frame has enough progression to allow for a coil shock?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_CJ

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 8, 2021

funks said:
You say you want a coil shock, did you check if your frame has enough progression to allow for a coil shock?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

No. How do I do that?

.

funks

· #13 · Dec 9, 2021 (Edited)

_CJ said:
No. How do I do that?

.

You need to look for your frames leverage ratio, your bike's manufacturer should have that info.

Basically, if your frame is progressive, you can use a coil shock (bikes frame ramps up), if it's linear, then you ought to use an air shock. If it's regressive, then you'll have to use an air shock and fill in some volume spacers.

seitenryu

· #14 · Dec 9, 2021

The premise of this request is a bit flawed. You had issues with it from the beginning(can't be sure if the leak is typical weeping or a defect), and somehow it lost more oil and got better? There's a lot of assumption being made here, and certainly not enough information to jump straight to "air shock bad, coil shock good".

If you're unsure of frame clearance, don't know what the leverage ratio is, and have a limited budget, then it sounds like an inline air shock could be a good fit. At least with an air shock you have huge adjustability. You don't need to spend a fortune, but DNM isn't quality.

Can you give more details on what you're running?

Bike model, your weight with gear, last settings that you liked, tune code from shock air can

Where was the leak happening? Did you have it since new? Are we talking months of riding or a lot longer?

Reactions: 1

coachxtaylor

· #15 · Dec 9, 2021

do you actually have a reason for wanting a coil shock instead of air?

_CJ

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 9, 2021 (Edited)

Bought the bike new. Shock was leaking from day one. Shop said, it might be normal, give it some time and see if it goes away. The leak never went away, but the damping adjustments did recently (after approx 600 miles, less than a year), and now with seemingly no damping the ride and action of the shock are better than when it was new with the damping turned all the way down. Air pressure / sag were set to spec for rider weight.

In my 30 years of experience riding all sorts of bikes, coil shocks have always been better than air. I had hoped that things had improved with air shocks in the past few years that I got away from full suspension, but sadly, I just haven't been impressed with this one.

Clearance issues with a shock that has an external res are primarily because I like to run a water bottle, and it's fairly close to the shock.

Not finding anything about linkage design or ratio, but wheel travel / shock travel gives a 2.63:1 ratio, if that means anything to anyone.

The bike: E-STREAM EVO AM 3 (S MAG)

See less See more

Hexsense

· #17 · Dec 9, 2021

I don't know that bike either. Nor do I see linkage design for it.
But Bulls' another e bike model's linkage design would work very well with shock that is linear like coil shock.

linkagedesign.blogspot.com

Bulls Sonic EVO AM 2020

En esta entrada voy a analizar a la nueva Bulls Sonic EVO AM, un buen ejemplo en el que vemos como una marca aprovecha la llegada del nuevo...

linkagedesign.blogspot.com

So, there is a hope that your bike also works with coil, if it design similarly.

Reactions: 1

_CJ

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 10, 2021

Hexsense said:
I don't know that bike either. Nor do I see linkage design for it.
But Bulls' another e bike model's linkage design would work very well with shock that is linear like coil shock.

Bulls Sonic EVO AM 2020

En esta entrada voy a analizar a la nueva Bulls Sonic EVO AM, un buen ejemplo en el que vemos como una marca aprovecha la llegada del nuevo...

linkagedesign.blogspot.com

So, there is a hope that your bike also works with coil, if it design similarly.

The design is similar, and from what I've seen Googling around, it seems to be one of the more progressive out there, so it looks like I'll give a coil shock a try. Probably the DNM, which may be hot garbage, but it's either that or the Cane Creek, which is 10x the cost. If there was something available in the $200-$250 range, I'd probably give that a shot, but I haven't seen any.

minimusprime

· #19 · Dec 10, 2021

That dnm stuff is absolute, hot, garbage. Do not waste your time, money or support that crap. Buy a marzochi bomber cr and a black, non sls fox spring. That should get you a new shock for under 350... the DNM crap wouldn't be worth it at half the cost of what they charge.

Reactions: 3

seitenryu

· #20 · Dec 10, 2021

_CJ said:
Bought the bike new. Shock was leaking from day one. Shop said, it might be normal, give it some time and see if it goes away. The leak never went away, but the damping adjustments did recently (after approx 600 miles, less than a year), and now with seemingly no damping the ride and action of the shock are better than when it was new with the damping turned all the way down. Air pressure / sag were set to spec for rider weight.

In my 30 years of experience riding all sorts of bikes, coil shocks have always been better than air. I had hoped that things had improved with air shocks in the past few years that I got away from full suspension, but sadly, I just haven't been impressed with this one.

Clearance issues with a shock that has an external res are primarily because I like to run a water bottle, and it's fairly close to the shock.

Not finding anything about linkage design or ratio, but wheel travel / shock travel gives a 2.63:1 ratio, if that means anything to anyone.

The bike: E-STREAM EVO AM 3 (S MAG)

That should be covered under warranty. I'd recommend having them submit it. At the very least you can recover some $$$, if you get it taken care of. Sounds like you simply got a bad one and they should have encouraged you to send it in much earlier. I think Fox would be understanding, given the situation.

Many people complain of leaking when they encounter typical weeping from the air seals. A little is normal, but if it's thin oil, or more than a slight film, that's an issue.

Is there any room to move the bottle cage up a bit with an adapter? If so, you might open up some different shock options.

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 49 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.