[cbc]

I'm hoping someone with a similar setup can help out. But, I don't know how many people out there are still riding such an old bike!

I've got a 2002 Santa Cruz Super 8, with a Monster T front and Fox Van RC rear (original). I have had to piece together this bike, and ended up with a 900# spring on that shock.

Myself, I'm about 150 pounds, with maybe 20 pounds of camelback water & tools etc. Santa Cruz (using archive.org) recommended a 700# spring no matter what your weight was. I'm nearly bottoming the 900# spring right now on bigger hits (nothing extreme mind you), but the ride is pretty rough.

Should I purchase the 700# spring to see how it handles? Considering that's what Santa Cruz recommends, I would hope that gives me a smoother ride over the rocks, but I'm concerned about bottoming still. Not that I see any heavier springs offered though!

Has anyone else ridden this bike, and have any input on spring rate? That would be awesome.

Thanks,
Clay

 

[mtnbiker72]

Is the damper actually functional?

 

[blcman]

Take the shock off the bike and remove the spring....
back out the blue (compression) knob counter-clockwise all the way..compress...
now turn the same knob about 8 turns in...compress.
any difference?
now turn the knob all the way in...compress ..if you can!.

Also there should be very noise if any while doing this!

If there is not a noticable diference doing that then you need a rebuild. Send it to Push! :thumbsup:

There's no way at your weight you should be bottoming out a #900 lbs spring, or even a #700 spring.

 

[cbc]

Alright, next time I have some time I'll pull the shock off to see if the damper is functioning. I have heard that the Super 8 was pretty harsh on dampers... the leverage is insane!

I've ordered the 700# spring as well. Keeping my fingers crossed If the damper is jacked, I'll be sure to send it to Push. I've heard nothing but good things about them!

Thanks,
Clay

 

[cbc]

I received my spring the other day, so yesterday afternoon I pulled the shock off the Super 8 and tested it out.

Surprisingly the damper works! Compression adjustment works (although I run it wide open), and rebound works as well. The new Fox spring is a little larger in diameter than the old Fox spring, and well it does kiss the piggyback but I'm looking forward to seeing how the bike handles with the new spring.

The issue I guess with the old Super 8 is the leverage on the shock; it's like a 2.3" or 2.25" travel shock (I forget exactly) with 8" of rear wheel travel, so they tend to kill dampers. Also, that's why it uses such a heavy spring...

I can't wait to ride it again, however I'm in need of a caliper adapter so it's going to have to wait a while, until I find the correct mount.

Clay

 

[blcman]

Man, that is a high leverage rate that bike has!
You might have ordered the wrong spring if it touches the piggyback.
You might have gotten a DHX spring that is wider than the older Van RC springs.
Keep an eye on it under compression because the spring might expand abit.
Does the spring fit on the collars well? :eekster:

 

[cbc]

Surprisingly, the spring does indeed fit the collars just fine. The spring I had ordered said it fit the DHX or Van, and I was just hoping that it would fit OK.

I haven't even found any listings that would fit the old Van RC shocks. Maybe one of these days I'll get a new (modern) shock for this bike. Costs less than a new or used V10 at least!

Clay

 

[blcman]

I just did a quick check at Jenson's for springs and they list a DHX/VAN spring and also just a VAN spring.
I have both shocks and the DHX spring is larger than the older Van spring. Jenson didn't have the size you needed tho.
I don't know if I'd run that spring!

 

[keen]

There are newer Fox Vanilla shocks that use the same spring as the DHX . An older Van RC does not use the same spring. DHX / Newer Van RC 35.5mm ID, older Van RC 32mm ID.

 

[gatorgrizz27]

Why are you running the compression wide open? Its job is to slow the large hits so that the spring doesn't compress as far. You will probably get a much better ride as well as the ability to absorb bigger hits with a softer spring and turning the compression damping up a bit. The damping cartridge is what you are actually paying for with a quality shock versus a Wal-Mart bike that has a spring around a metal sleeve.

Try running a typical section of your trail, pushing it pretty hard, and keep turning the compression damping in until you feel the back end starting to hop up or buck a bit, then go back out a click or 2.

 

[TNC]

There are newer Fox Vanilla shocks that use the same spring as the DHX . An older Van RC does not use the same spring. DHX / Newer Van RC 35.5mm ID, older Van RC 32mm ID.

keen I'm running an old Fox Van RC that came on a Bullit and got it PUSH'd for my Nomad. I use the springs off of the DHX models and they fit perfectly. The DHX coils fit the retainers and shock body just like they did on my DHX. Maybe there were 3 models/versions of Van RC? Mine is definitely the old style, but maybe there was one before the one I have. Mine isn't the newer generation RC.

cbc, that old Fox RC can be PUSH'd with a race tune, and it will be tons better than the original setup. In fact I'd say you'll have a hard time get a perfect shock match on that particular SC with just an off-the-shelf purchase. If you talk to Darren about your application, I'll bet he can set up that shock to work better than anything you can buy off-the-shelf. That high leverage ratio is going to be tough.

 

[Dougal]

Honestly, keep the shock and change the frame. It's one of those bikes that makes a better wall ornament than mountainbike.