2015 FOX 36 Float lowers compatibility

2014 and 2015 are different.

If you mean the anodised inserts that sit over the axle where the pairs of pinch bolts are then yes, they are replaceable

https://tech.ridefox.com/bike/service-procedures/577/2015-2018-36mm-15mm-and-20mm-pinch-axle-conversion

I probably have a set of each size in my boxes of parts. I'll bet others do too.

No I might be wrong then - it might not be an insert (I'm recounting this from memory) - it's the bit of thread in the fork that the thread on the very end of the axle engages with.  I have the 15 and 20mm options and axle and both are similarly affected.  I think.

It might just be that it's a tiny length of thread and research says it was a ridiculous 2.5Nm  torque which is only 1/2 a nip at best and I've tightened it adequately while the pinch bolt wasn't done up much at all so it's threaded.

It's a sh!te design that they changed subsequently I do believe..

I think you have the same forks as me, if so then the axle threads into a tiny little bit of thread and it's super easy to strip.

I've done a fix on mine which is effective but a wee bit hassly- I took the axle, removed the original thread (which is now useless) and then fitted a bit of aluminium into the open end of the axle with an M6 thread tapped in it. So now instead of relying on the fork lowers' thread I can put a big-headed bolt into the axle and tighten it down that way instead. Kind of like a steerer cap. It does make removing a wheel a little harder but then these forks were already a pain in the arse for that.

I was told when I was looking for a fix that the model immediately after is compatible, but you lose the 20mm compatibility. And it was expensive of course.

@Northwind - thanks for the idea.  I hadn't considered jerry rigging a solution.  I do like a bodge ;o)

I'd rather have new(er) lowers but they're obviously unobtainium now and I can't really stretch to a new set of forks atm.  Will have a look around.

The design is sh!t. I have no idea what they were thinking - there's no reason for the thread to be so short or so fine and it's exacerbated by the pinch bolt effect.  Ie if you try and do it up with the pinch bolts undone the thing just spreads and strips twice as easy. It did have a decent innings but now it's had it.

Anyone got any lowers (or forks) Fox 36 2015-2017 (or thereabout)?

https://suspensionwerx.com/products/fox-36-lowers?variant=45552064528605

I cannot cross reference that pictured lower with a threaded insert though.

2017 lowers are backwards compatible with 2015 forks.

Thanks for the research and link @Bearback - I'll get in touch with SuspensionWerx and work out what's compatible - I have to admit I hadn't thought of looking abroad for one. Just the shipping and import duty to contend with.

If I can get a 15mm QR axle that will be great - would fix the problem, solve pretty much everything I hate about the fork and keep it going for another 10 years.

Yeah that picture Bearback provided is what they did with the later model to fix the obvious problem ours had, while denying there was a problem. Cheers for that Fox.

Disappointingly SuspensionWerx "can't" ship to the UK so I'm back to square 1 and looking at £300+ to replace the lowers!  ****sticks!

They were very nice about it though @BearBack - thanks for trying ;o)

There's a couple of vancouverites on here.

I'm too far to be practical assistance, already did my stw Canada to UK postage service for this year 😉

No worries @BearBack, I did consider asking as I thought you were Canada (I'm aware its quite a big place) ;o) but didn't want to impose. Thanks for the research anyway, much appreciated.

Anyone know Any way of using a 3rd party service from Canada to the UK? Or better still, anyone from Vancouver  able to help forward a package on? I assume that the shop aren't contractually allowed to ship outside their own domain or something like that.

Quick update and a question - If anyone is interested.

I lucked out on lowers - a set came up on eBay the other week from a local charity with a BIN of under £100 - THESE so I snapped them up. Brand new Lower leg assembly with all bushings and seals in place in the original packaging They're still the pinch bolt version so not perfect but they have he newer replaceable axle thread so much better than the ones I had originally.

I've put new graphics on it and just gone to assemble them and they don't want to go together for some reason.  The spacing seems right, they slip into the dust shields no problem but they don't want to go into the bushings. Does anyone know if the bushes need sizing before assembly? I can't see that makes any sense as they come with the seals installed and i assume you'd have o remove those to enlarge the bushings in any way or risk damaging the seals.

I don't want to force them as I don't want to damage anything. Any advise? Am I going to have to wait a bit and take them to Sprung to get them assembled?

Trying them individually, the Spring side will go on but bush is tight and damper side simply won't go on to the stantion.

Looks like it's going to require a trip to Sprung for sizing the bushes.

That sounds like it will be needed, I would have suggested removing the seals to check how the stanchions and bushes interact

Didn't want to remove the seals as I don't have an insertion tool but the single leg test seems to have figured it out.  Put the old lowers back on and even they felt pretty tight.

A trip to Sprung require in the new year for some fresh serviced fork goodness. ;o)

Do they make the replacement lowers with deliberately oversized bushings and the intention that tey have to be resized to fit, do you think? I wouldn't have been surprised if they were over right, but really surprised that the leg just won't fit

I’ve the frame fork and shock of a 2013 Lapierre Zesty 214 in the garage. The Forks are old Fox’s but I can’t remember their full specs.

i’ll dig them out in a bit and check. But they’re for a 26” wheel, 140 travel, bolt through (not pinch) with tapered steerer etc.

i think they’re the CTD version also.

Northwind
Do they make the replacement lowers with deliberately oversized bushings and the intention that tey have to be resized to fit, do you think? I wouldn’t have been surprised if they were over right, but really surprised that the leg just won’t fit

I'm also surprised.  If I had a bore tool I'd measure it but my verniers won't reach far enough in to get to the bushing so I can't say for certain.  I'm certainly not going to try and force it in there as that way certain wallet damage could occur.  I can't recall when I last had the fork serviced anyway so it's probably due a refresh. At least they'll be able to tell me if "they all do that" or if something's actually wrong.

The design is sh!t. I have no idea what they were thinking

A design that's last 10 years can't really be described as "sh1t" IMO

and hate boost.

Odd comment as boost enables a stronger wheel for the same weight.

intheborders
Free Member

A design that’s last 10 years can’t really be described as “sh1t” IMO

It is a fundamentally terrible bit of design, a tiny nonreplacable thread in aluminium. A lot of them didn't last a year, which is why they rushed out a design change so quickly and never used it again.

intheborders
Free Member

Odd comment as boost enables a stronger wheel for the same weight.

Well kinda. But in practice, not so much- it's true that a wider flange gives better triangulation and a marginally stronger wheel, but in practice the benefit is so small that it's never been something that wheel or hub manufacturers have put much effort into maximising, either before or after. There are Boost hubs that like with some old dh hubs are basically just the old standard but with extra width outside the flange, meaning that you get an equal strength wheel that's heavier. There are Boost hubs with little tiny flanges (especially direct pulls) that actually give less triangulation than a typical nonboost hubs.

In the end the actual change was very small and other than for marketing reasons not something manufacturers have ever showed much interest in.

intheborders

A design that’s last 10 years can’t really be described as “sh1t” IMO

There's no question that it's an awful design for a component that requires frequent assembly. The thread is built into the pinch, so as the pinch bolts are loosened to enable the axle can be removed, the female thread grows and becomes less tight (ooh-err). This means that it's far easier to strip the thread than it should be.  The 2.5NM torque setting is only 1/2 a "nip up" on my hand tight scale so barely registers as anything.

It's obvious from the solution which is a separate encapsulated nut, that the original design was a sub standard and as @Northwind said, it should have been a recall, if not an easy warranty fix.

Much happier with the new version - just got to get it fitted.

I lucked out on lowers – a set came up on eBay the other week from a local charity with a BIN of under £100 – THESE so I snapped them up. Brand new Lower leg assembly with all bushings and seals in place in the original packaging

Im looking for the same thing in 29" size.

Picked up a set of factory 36 in 27.5", and if i can find a set of lowers at 29" i can simply swop them over as actual lengths look to be the same and the only difference between 27.5 and 29 is the actual dropouts/axle is placed slightly differently, but the lower legs themselves are exactly the same length.

(As far as I can see)

So if anyone knows of a set of 29er lower legs that isnt going to cost 300 quid, please point them out- I think the fork is 2021

@dyna-ti - have a word with the Gloucester Bike Project and see where they got the ones I bought from.  I guess they have a source - my guess would be Mojo having  a stock clear-out but that's just a hunch.