Currently stripping my Reverb off the bike to replace with a stealth version, and noticed there is a small amount of fluid on the bottom which feels like oil. Admittedly it hasn’t been as quick to return to height when the button is pressed recently, but I thought there might just be some air in the system.

The post is a couple of years old now, and I was thinking about selling it on – but probably wouldn’t get more than £80-100 for it. But now it needs a possible repair, the cost of having that done wouldn’t be worth the second hand value I’d get for the post.

Would it be worth having a go at fixing myself and doing a basic seal change? I’m quite confident at being able to do the job, but wondering if the basic seals are likely to fix the problem.

Is there sag at the saddle when you sit on it? If not, then it shouldn’t be internal fluid as any loss would probably lead to sag. Best check the post has the proper amount of travel too.

If not then it may still be the internal circuit but I would hazard a guess it’s something like moisture and a bit of grease.

A basic service involves taking off the lower, cleaning up/replacing the bushes and outer seals. It’s pretty straightforward and IIRC the most ‘specialist’ tools you’ll need are circlip pliers and a fairly substantial spanner.

If you’ve got sag and want to do a full strip then its a more complicated job involving special tools and a lot more swearing. It’s not hard but it is involved and fiddly and has probably been the job I’ve found most frustrating.

Cheers – from what I recall there’s no sag. But the post is a little slower to return to full height than it used to be.

Slow return speed I would say probably just needs a remote bleed, which is a separate hydraulic circuit to the main one in the post, so that shouldn’t be causing any leaks at the bottom.

mine failed after 6 months. sags about 2 inches wen you sit on it. oil pissed out the bottom and down the seat tube. was replaced without question, and they didn’t take the old one back. Im considering getting git serviced and repaired to keep as a spare, but can’t decide if its worth the outlay….?

Just checked – there is sag, and a small amount of oil around the post shaft (stanchion bit). Not much oil at bottom, in fact that could even be a bit of the grease and a drop of water, as last time I rode it was pretty wet!

Not sure what to do really.

M6TTF- what size is it? I might take it off your hands for spares/repairs if you don’t want it and can’t be bothered doing anything with it.

prezet- sag also happens just in general use, it comes from picking up by the saddle with post down, pulls air into the oil system. It might just need a bleed. I can’t think of a reason you should be seeing too much oil around the stanchion as there isn’t really any oil near there.

@swanny853 – hmm, ok, I’ll try a bleed first. Thanks for all your help on this!

Sorry, by ‘bleed’ I mean ‘internal bleed’ by which I mean ‘take the whole thing apart and put it back together again’. I’m working on a way to bleed the internal circuit without taking the entire thing apart but my normal reverb is currently in bits as it’s not holding air, so a little difficult to check….

No problem by the way, I’ve suffered it enough and would rather no-one else had to!

Ah ok – so in that case should I do the basic seal change at the same time? I’m guessing I’ll need the Rockshox special tools for oil levels etc? Or is a internal bleed easier, without having to take it all apart?

A bit of oil around the valve & slow to return?

Worth checking there’s still air in it before you pull it to bits.

Worth checking there’s still air in it before you pull it to bits.

That’s actually a very good point. It’s unlikely to cure the sag but it’s worth checking.

The internal bleed is essentially part of a full strip down rebuild Si it wouldnt hurt to swap the seals at the same time. Definitely the bushes if they’re worn. SRAM have the videos.

I would say though, it is a massive pain- if I hadn’t already done it a couple of times, and if I only had the one reverb to look after, I would probably just stump up the cash to get someone to do it- its about the only job I’d say that for, its a pain.

just seen this swanny – will mail you