Dictatorsaurus

I'm trying to take my Rockshox Tora 318 fork apart to decrease the travel from 100mm to 80mm.

I am not able to remove the right bolt for the lower which is for the damper.

The bolt rotates both clockwise and counter clockwise but does not come out. It simply rotates in it's place.

I removed all the air from the fork and completely compressed and tried tightening the bolt thinking maybe the damper shaft was not seated with the lower. Same thing, the bolt just spins in it's place. I am not able to pull the bolt out with my hand either. Almost feels like something might be stripped but I never applied any considerable force to the bolt.

Any ideas?

The manual pic shows how the bolt should come out when loosened:



See how mine just sits flush with the lower:

Dictatorsaurus

Here's a quick video I made showing what's going on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdo2cEpMepk

Severian

Remove the cap from the fork crown over the damper leg (the one you're working on) per RockShox recommended method. The damper cartridge will come with it. Pour out the damper oil.

Here's the part that you won't see in the manual.

Take a wooden dowel (it must be wood) under 3/4" wide. Press it down on top of the damper piston while tightening down that bolt TO RECOMMENDED TORQUE SPEC.

Then attempt to remove the bolt again using the approved method.

If any of this isn't up your alley take your fork to a dealer and ask them to do the service.

Dictatorsaurus

What's the point of using the wooden piece to depress? Can I just depress the fork using the brake brace?

I don't know why I'm the only having such a hard time removing this bolt.

Severian

Wood so you don't damage metal and plastic parts. And you need to press down onto the damper piston to oppose the twist of the piston. The piston is not seated in the bottom of the fork lowers. And the bolt for the bottom of the piston can't be unscrewed because your attempts to loosen and tighten that bolt are just turning the piston.

So you're pushing the piston end down into its press-fit point in the fork lowers while you tighten it into place. Then you may be able to crack that bolt free.

Dictatorsaurus

Thanks I'll try that. I'll go and buy a pair snap ring pliers tomorrow to remove the damper cap.

Severian

You're going to need more than that. The damper cartridge underneath the lockout knob is screwed into the fork crown. You will need a large bore socket (22mm to 26mm depending, I don't remember which on the Tora), and flatgrind it to remove the beveling at the surface of the tool. This is so you don't chew up the damper cartridge.

And you do have a torque wrench... right?

Dictatorsaurus

You guys were a great help. I managed to remove the bolt using the dowel.

Now the next question, where can I get a 50mm spacer for the fork?

cambiabike.com has it listed but is not in stock. My LBS will take weeks if I order it from them.

Any quick way I can buy one?

Severian

call SRAM directly, they may send you one.

Dictatorsaurus

I called them. they told me to find a distributor.