6/10/2014

DHX RC4

You are here: Rear Shocks > DHX > DHX RC 4

DHX RC4
Installing Your Shock | General Maintenance | Before You Ride | Setting Sag | Changing
Springs | Measuring Sag | Adjusting Rebound | Dual Speed Compression (DSC) | Bottom-Out
Control | Service Intervals | Important Safety Information

features/adjustments

spring

intended use

Dual speed
high/low
compression
velocity
sensitive
damping
(DSC), forged
eyelets,
increased
shaft size,
positionsensitive boost
valve,
increased oil
flow for
increased
tuning range,
adjustable
bottom-out
control,
adjustable
tuning range
via Schrader
valve, coil
spring preload,
rebound adjust
coil
competition
downhill,
freeride, allmountain

Installing Your Shock

If you are installing your shock on a bike for which the shock is not original equipment:
1. Install the shock with the spring retainer, but without the spring. (To remove the spring, see
Changing Springs.)
2. Carefully cycle the suspension through its entire travel.
3. Check that all parts of the shock are clear of the frame and swingarm as it cycles through the
travel.
http://www.ridefox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/011/Content/Rear_Shocks/DHX_RC4.html#Setting_Sag

1/6

6/10/2014

DHX RC4

4. Properly place the spring back onto the shock.

5. Set sag.

General Maintenance
Some things to consider:
If you ride in extreme conditions, service your shock more frequently. Check the maintenance
schedule for your shock.
Wash your shock with soap and water only.
Do not use a high pressure washer to clean your shock.
Extensive internal service should be performed by FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized Service
Center.

Before You Ride

1. Clean the outside of your shock with only mild soap and water, and wipe dry with a soft dry rag.
Note: Do not use any solvents or de-greasers, as these products can damage the
shock's exterior finish or its anodized parts.
Do not spray water directly on the seal/shock body junction. Do not use a high pressure
washer on your shock.
2. Inspect the entire exterior of your shock. The shock should not be used if any of the exterior
parts appear to be damaged. Contact your local dealer or FOX Racing Shox for further
inspection or repair.
3. Make sure that your quick-release levers (or thru-axle pinch bolts) are properly adjusted and
tightened.
4. Check your headset adjustment. If loose, adjust it accordingly to your bicycle manufacturer's
recommendations.
5. Check that all brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
6. Test the proper operation of your front and rear brakes on level ground.

Setting Sag
To set sag on your DHX RC4:
1. Measure sag, and compare it to the recommended sag setting shown in the Coil Spring Setting
Guidelines table below. Continue if the sag is not to specification.
2. Adjust the preload ring accordingly:
If your sag value is less than the table value, turn the preload ring counter-clockwise.
Always ensure that the spring is secure and does not freely move.
Note: After the preload ring engages the spring, turn the preload ring clockwise one
turn. If the preload ring needs to be turned counter-clockwise from this point to
achieve proper sag, you will need to obtain a lower rate spring.
If your sag value is greater than the table value, turn the preload ring clockwise no more
than two full turns after the preload ring engages the spring.
Note: If after the preload ring engages the spring and more than two full clockwise
turns are needed to achieve proper sag, you will need to obtain a higher rate spring.
http://www.ridefox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/011/Content/Rear_Shocks/DHX_RC4.html#Setting_Sag

2/6

6/10/2014

DHX RC4

3. Refer to bicycle manufactures manual for proper sag setting, for your specific model of bicycle.
If there is no recommended setting available, refer to the Coil Spring Setting Guidelines table
below.
4. If necessary, contact FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized Service Center to obtain a higher or
lower rated spring.

Coil Spring Setting Guidelines

Shock Travel
(in./mm)

Recommended Sag
(in./mm)

2.00/50.8

0.66/16.76

2.25/57.1

0.74/18.79

2.50/63.5

0.83/21.08

2.75/69.8

0.91/23.11

3.00/76.2

1.00/25.40

3.50/88.9

1.16/29.46

Changing Springs
1. Loosen the preload ring until the spring freely moves.
2. Lift up the spring and remove the spring retainer.
3. Slide the spring off the shock body. Depending on your bike model, you may need to remove the
reducers to remove the spring.
4. Orient the new spring correctly (see Spring Orientation below) and slide it onto the shock
body.
5. Place the spring retainer back on the shock and under the spring ensuring that the open slot on
the spring retainer rests on the flat part of the spring end.
6. Tighten the preload ring just until the spring no longer moves.
7. Turn the preload ring one additional full turn.

Spring Orientation
When placing the spring back on the shock body, it is important that the spring is correctly oriented.
Essentially, the space in the spring retainer should rest on the flat part of the spring, and not on the
segment of the spring where it starts to coil back under itself. Rotate the spring or spring retainer until
the correct orientation is achieved.
An improperly oriented spring can fail prematurely, causing loss of control of the bicycle, which can result
in serious or fatal injuries. The pictures below demonstrate correct and incorrect spring orientation.
Correct spring orientation applies to all FOX Racing Shox rear shocks that utilize coil springs:

Reading Your Spring Rate

http://www.ridefox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/011/Content/Rear_Shocks/DHX_RC4.html#Setting_Sag

3/6

6/10/2014

DHX RC4

Adjusting Rebound
Rebound controls the rate at which your shock returns after it has been compressed. The proper rebound
setting is a personal preference, and changes with rider weight, riding style and conditions. A rule of
thumb is that rebound should be as fast as possible without kicking back and pushing the rider off the
saddle.
The rebound knob has approximately 15 clicks of adjustment.
For slower rebound, turn the red adjuster knob clockwise.
For faster rebound, turn the red adjuster knob counter-clockwise.

Dual Speed Compression (DSC) Adjust

LSC: (low speed compression)

http://www.ridefox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/011/Content/Rear_Shocks/DHX_RC4.html#Setting_Sag

4/6

6/10/2014

DHX RC4

Turn the LSC adjuster clockwise by hand, to increase low-speed compression damping. The LSC adjuster
primarily affects the compression damping during slow speed suspension movements, such as pedaling, gouts or smooth jump landings. It also affects the wheel traction and harshness (or plushness) of your
bicycle. The LSC adjuster has ~18 clicks of adjustment range.

HSC: (high speed compression)

With a 2.5 mm hex key, you can adjust the HSC adjuster by inserting the hex key into one of the angled
holes. Turn the HSC adjuster clockwise to increase, or counter-clockwise to decrease high-speed
compression damping. The HSC adjuster mainly affects the compression damping during medium-to-fast
suspension movements, such as steep jump faces, flat jump landings and square edge bumps. One of the
best setups is to run with as little high-speed compression damping as possible, before (and without)
bottoming. If you are bottoming out but like the way the shock is feeling, try increasing your bottom-out
control before increasing your HSC. The HSC adjuster has ~12 clicks of adjustment range.

Bottom-Out Control

Bottom-out control affects the final part of the compression stroke. The knob is turned with a 3 mm hex
key inserted into one of the holes around the perimeter. Do not use any other tool to turn the knob use
a 3 mm hex key only!
Turn the knob all the way clockwise for the most bottom-out control and counter-clockwise for the least.
There are four (4) turns of adjustment.

Adjusting the Effective Range for the Bottom-Out Control

Note: The factory pressure setting for bottom-out control is 160 PSI.
For more information about using the Fox HP hand pump to adjust the bottom-out control air pressure,
http://www.ridefox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/011/Content/Rear_Shocks/DHX_RC4.html#Setting_Sag

5/6

6/10/2014

DHX RC4

see Changing the Bottom-Out Control Pressure BUY IT.

The bottom-out control valve provides position-sensitive end stroke damping; this allows for a
seamless transition from small bumps to big drop bottom-outs. The bottom-out valve is not adjusted
directly. Instead, its behavior and performance characteristics are influenced by the air pressure setting
in the reservoir, and by the adjustment of the reservoir bottom-out control knob. To change the range of
bottom-out control damping characteristics of your DHX RC4 shock, attach a FOX High Pressure Pump to
the air valve on the reservoir. For more bottom-out resistance, add 10-15 pounds of air pressure, to a
maximum of 200 PSI. For less bottom-out resistance, decrease the shocks air pressure by 1015 pounds
with the pumps bleed valve, to a minimum of 125 PSI. Ride your bike and verify the settings before
repeating the procedure.
For more bottom-out control, turn the knob clockwise.
For less bottom-out control, turn the knob counter-clockwise.
CAUTION: Never ride your bike with less than 125 PSI, or more than 200 PSI in the
reservoir air chamber. Doing this can cause damage to your shock, requiring repairs that
are not covered under terms of the warranty.

Bushing Technology & Inspection | Seals & Foam Rings | C ontrol Direction | Oil Volumes | Structural Inspection | Dropout
Thickness Inspection | Torque Values | Unit C onversion | Suspension Tuning Tips | Using the Pump | Important Safety
Information | Service Intervals | C ontact FOX Service | Warranty Information | FOXHelp Service Web Site
C opyright 2011
FOX Factory Inc.

http://www.ridefox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/011/Content/Rear_Shocks/DHX_RC4.html#Setting_Sag

6/6