Oil Leak

[Snip8r]

Got my new Trek Rail 9 three weeks ago and the rear shock has died already, it’s started to leak oil. Contacted the dealer and they have asked me to post the shock to them, so that they can forward it on to SRAM, for it to be serviced under warranty.

 

[Orangie]

That’s just air can oil. They all do that. It’s no big deal.

 

[steve_sordy]

Leaking a bit of oil, like a dirty residue formed into rings by the O ring that indicates travel used is no problem. But you say the shock "has died already". Apart from the oily residue does it work fine? Yes? No problem then.

If you used the phrase "my shock has died" to the dealer, no wonder he wants to see the shock. I had this on my very first full suss (Fox F&R). I was really worried about it. The dealer told me that it will soon stop. I responded with "it will when all the oil runs out!" But it did stop and the shock continued to be fine for the next three years until I sold the bike. After each service the oily residue restarted for a week or so, then stopped. I've had a similar "problem" with Rockshox shocks too.

Look at it this way, it is an indicator that the shock actually has oil in it!

 

[Snip8r]

Leaking a bit of oil, like a dirty residue formed into rings by the O ring that indicates travel used is no problem. But you say the shock "has died already". Apart from the oily residue does it work fine? Yes? No problem then.

If you used the phrase "my shock has died" to the dealer, no wonder he wants to see the shock. I had this on my very first full suss (Fox F&R). I was really worried about it. The dealer told me that it will soon stop. I responded with "it will when all the oil runs out!" But it did stop and the shock continued to be fine for the next three years until I sold the bike. After each service the oily residue restarted for a week or so, then stopped. I've had a similar "problem" with Rockshox shocks too.

Look at it this way, it is an indicator that the shock actually has oil in it!

Thanks Steve, that makes sense.

I didn‘t tell the dealer that it had died, just that the shock was leaking oil down the shaft and pooling at the bottom. Stating that it had died on here was me clearly overreacting. I took it out for a 20 mile ride yesterday and the shock seemed to work fine, with no funny noises either. So, as you say, no problem ?

Thank you for the replies/advice Orangie and Steve, you’ve put my mind at rest.

Now I just need to find out what’s causing the creaks when pedalling, it’s doing my head in!

 

[Paul Mac]

The brand new demo Rail 7 I tested had the shock fail on me.
This resulted in oil dripping and loss of pressure, we pumped it up again but it went down again immediately.
Dealer swapped the shock over.

 

[steve_sordy]

..............

I didn‘t tell the dealer that it had died, just that the shock was leaking oil down the shaft and pooling at the bottom..............

Your "pooling at the bottom" sounds rather more serious than my "Leaking a bit of oil, like a dirty residue formed into rings by the O ring"! Which is it? If my shock was leaking oil that was forming pools then I would be very concerned.