Nitrogen shocks vs air shocks

[socket17]

I got a set of Fox shocks yesterday there old ones ill take a pic soon. i put them on my blaster and it lowered prolly 1.5 inches just about where i want it.. my question is whats the different between air shocks and nitrogen shocks and does air work in nitrogen shocks and vs versa. the shocks i got are a good 12+ years old and seem to be a little soft.. got them for free off a friend. the shocks came off the rear end of a flat track bike so i dont expect them to me super hard. but i think if i can get a little more into them they would make a prefect ride out of the blaster.

[socket17]

anyone??? just a little bump for my self.

[bfulton620]

well.... not sure what the difference is in feel, or ride.... but i do know that nitrogen shocks will not hold air..... i tried it twice.... and once i ruined my shock..... it was bouncy, wore my seals very quickly, then started to leak.... i duno why... but they just wouldnt hold air..... i wouldnt do it if i were you! its allllll bad!

[quadracer12]

Some fox shocks literally just work on air, while most normal shocks have a certain weight oil with nitrogen in a bladder in the reservoir or emulsified in the oil with no reservoir. The nitrogen stays much more consistent when pressurized and when it is heated and cooled than air does, this is the reason to use nitrogen. Air expands easily and can damage your seals. The air shocks use the air as the spring (when it gets compressed the pressure builds up and pushes back).

It sounds like that shock really needs a rebuild! I would just send it to a shop and they will have nitrogen to refill the shock and replace/rebuild the valves as long as the cylinder walls are still in good shape.

[socket17]

ehhh alright.. not sure if i wanna put that much money into it ill have to look around.. might just put a spacer on the spring still alot better ride then stock thats for sure..

[bfulton620]

Originally Posted by quadracer12

Some fox shocks literally just work on air, while most normal shocks have a certain weight oil with nitrogen in a bladder in the reservoir or emulsified in the oil with no reservoir. The nitrogen stays much more consistent when pressurized and when it is heated and cooled than air does, this is the reason to use nitrogen. Air expands easily and can damage your seals. The air shocks use the air as the spring (when it gets compressed the pressure builds up and pushes back).

It sounds like that shock really needs a rebuild! I would just send it to a shop and they will have nitrogen to refill the shock and replace/rebuild the valves as long as the cylinder walls are still in good shape.

nice! thanks for the explanation! that was awsome! i new it didnt work, but had no idea why!

[MX86]

Nitrogen has slightly denser molicules that wont leak past the shock seals, also nitrogen wont break down in extreme weather conditions like Air would.

drawbacks to nitrogen, you can't just pump em up with say a bike pump, you have to have them serviced by someone with a nitrogen tank and valving to fill the shocks with the correct PSI levels.

[socket17]

170psi.... i think thats what i read

[MX86]

what year shock?