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Fox Fork Broken Nut

2435 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  twowheelmotion, 
L
Hi,

I am in the process of doing a full service on my 2020 Fox 34mm. I placed a socket over the rebound nut and air side nut (instead of using Fox's damper removal tool) so that I could hit it with a hammer to break the seal between lowers to remove the oil. In the process, my air side nut got slightly de-formed. The threads are all intacts, however the hexagonal top (outer corners) where a socket would fit are slightly deformed, and as a result I can't properly fit the socket onto it to tighten it back down to the specified 5.7Nm since I finished the oil change.

If I went to a hardware store to get a regular hexagonal nut or a lock nut, would that be fine to use as a replacement for the broken nut? Or should I contact Fox to get a new one?

Also just thinking ahead, do you also tighten the rebound nut to 5.7Nm?

Thanks for the help
Chip
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C
I don't have a 34 but based on having owned 36s, a 38 and a 40, that nut from the hardware store won't work because it won't be able to create a seal and keep the oil from leaking out.
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S
Interesting question... like CR says above the stock Fox nut has a recess for the crush washer that seals things up. You might be able to make something work as long as you fitted the crush washer in there, but I'd be ordering a couple replacement nuts. Also, you can order a cheap set of shaft removal tools that won't set you back nearly as much as the Fox ones.
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L
Thank you guys! I will look online for a replacement nut!

Also, do you torque the reload nut to 5.7Nm as well or only the air chamber side nut?
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phantoj
Christopher Robin said:
I don't have a 34 but based on having owned 36s, a 38 and a 40, that nut from the hardware store won't work because it won't be able to create a seal and keep the oil from leaking out.
Click to expand...
I think there's an o-ring at the bottom of the shaft that is the actual oil seal.

You can probably get a nylon washer at the hardware store for the nut if you want to duplicate the crush washer.
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twowheelmotion
Assuming you are talking about the 10mm nut that holds the lowers on (left side), I would reuse the Fox factory part as long as the crush washer seats correctly. I would no way use anything from the hardware store or other parts not specifically designed to be used with your fork. My advice is to buy the replacement nut via ridefox.com or similar.

Just for reference.

Fox Shox Bottom Nut, Spring-Side, All Forks (+32mm Damper Side) | Bikeparts.Com

Fox Shox Fork Crush Washer and Bottom Nut - Bottom nuts and crush washers for Fox forks Item Specifications model|description: 32mm, 34mm, 36mm, 40mm|bottom...
www.bikeparts.com www.bikeparts.com
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phantoj
I mean, if the whole issue is that the corners of the nut are deformed, you might be able to file off the damage and go with the old nut.
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C
I think that whole crush washer thing is stupid. Keeps getting jammed in the fork.
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W
phantoj said:
I mean, if the whole issue is that the corners of the nut are deformed, you might be able to file off the damage and go with the old nut.
Click to expand...
This here. Before you do that, use a 6-point socket, though. I'm having trouble visualizing what kind of damage could have happened that would prevent a 6-point socket from engaging well [enough].
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L
2
wschruba said:
This here. Before you do that, use a 6-point socket, though. I'm having trouble visualizing what kind of damage could have happened that would prevent a 6-point socket from engaging well [enough].
Click to expand...
It's hard to get a picture, but I hit the nut to break the seal between the lower legs and stanchions. In that process, some of the sides deformed outward at an angle making it slightly larger than the size needed to fit a 10mm socket on.
Hand Gesture Finger Nail Thumb


I found a replacement nut for $4 so I just want ahead and ordered it!

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phantoj
I think those nuts are aluminum, so they don't hold up well to a beating.

On my fork, I put a socket over the nut and hit the socket with a hammer... still not ideal but it won't mush up the nut like that.
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L
phantoj said:
I think those nuts are aluminum, so they don't hold up well to a beating.

On my fork, I put a socket over the nut and hit the socket with a hammer... still not ideal but it won't mush up the nut like that.
Click to expand...
Yeah lesson learned. I was doing the socket but realized I still had a crush washer in there so I removed the washer than forgot to place the socket back on to hammer it off. Big OOOPS but it is what it is
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twowheelmotion
looking_4_dale said:
It's hard to get a picture, but I hit the nut to break the seal between the lower legs and stanchions. In that process, some of the sides deformed outward at an angle making it slightly larger than the size needed to fit a 10mm socket on.
View attachment 1955073

I found a replacement nut for $4 so I just want ahead and ordered it!
Click to expand...

Id run it. For sure 100%
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