Servicing Shock Body w/ brain

[stumpy6]

Hello forum, I have been researching and reading on how to service a shock body that has a brain attached. I've been wanting to service the shock without tampering with the brain because as we all know it would need access to a special tool to refill nitrogen. But, what I would like to do is service the shock itself, much like what you would do with a regular shock: unscrew, clean, replace seals, and re-lube.

According to the fox website, we can unscrew the air sleeve to check for ware and re-lube the internals. It does not mention to replace the seals rather to inspect for damage and send it in if there is any damage.

My question is, since I am going to take it apart and re-lube, can i still manage the take off the seals and replace them? Or will the brain and noodle get in the way of being able to remove and replace the seals? Has anyone successfully replaced the seals without removing the brain?

Last question, if the seals can be replaced with the brain and noodle still attached, whats the part number for the seal kit?

Here's a link to Fox's service for a shock with brain.
Air Sleeve Maintenance

Thanks guys!

[00XJCO]

I've pulled the air sleeve on mine ('12 StumpJumper Expert) quite a few times to clean and re-lube just as the service guide you linked to illustrates, by sliding the sleeve down over the noodle. I try to be diligent on my regular service, and so far have avoided needed to replace the seals, w/close to 2k miles on the bike now. As easy as it is to pull the sleeve, it might be worth just seeing if you can slide the seals down the noodle and over the brain? If that doesn't work, I'm not sure how you would do it without removing it.

[RustyIron]

It depends. On my Epic, the seals are smaller than the Brain, so there is no chance of replacing the seals.

I've worked on a friend's older Stumpjumper, and thought I would do as you suggested, sliding the seals over the Brain. The job looked like a no-Brainer

However, the seals for the air canister are *slightly* smaller than on the standard Fox shock.

I had to put it all back together with the old seals.

It appears that Specialized has done a stellar job at forcing us to send our parts back to the factory for minor, routine service.

When I did have to send my shock in for warranty repair, it was six weeks before I got it back. Because of this serious inconvenience, I'll not buy another bike with proprietary suspension.

[stumpy6]

Thanks for the input guys. I agree about the inconvenience. I wish that 1) I would've never bought a bike with a brain or 2) would've sent it in during the winter when I was enjoying snow sports more than mtb. Now that MTB is almost in full swing because the higher elevation trails are beginning to become ride-able, I would hate to take it off and send loose 2-6 weeks of riding.

[stumpy6]

Only if they'd allow me to purchase an rp23 with no problems... then I could have a replacement shock. LOL! But that's an entirely different subject that I've already read up on.