SERVICE PROCEDURES
2026 36SL FLOAT NA3 Glidecore Air Spring Rebuild
Required Parts
- 803-04-351 Seal Kit: 2026 36SL FLOAT NA3 Glidecore Air Spring Rebuild
Required Tools
- 398-00-657 Tooling: Bullet, Sealhead To Shaft, FLOAT NA 2
- 398-00-681 2002-017 32 Damper-side and ALL 32-34-36-40 Spring-side Removal Tool
- 398-00-682 2005-017 34-36-40 Damper-side Removal Tool (needed only for 34mm forks)
- 398-00-702 Tooling: Fork Topcap Socket, 26mm, 3/8 Drive
- 803-01-324 Kit: Tooling: 2019 Clamps, Grip Damper, Body and Shaft
The following procedure guides you through the rebuild of the FLOAT NA3 Glidecore air spring found in 2026 36SL forks.
WARNING: Always wear safety glasses and protective gloves during service to prevent potential injury. Failure to wear protective equipment during service may lead to SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
WARNING: FOX products should be serviced by a trained bicycle service technician, in accordance with FOX specifications. If you have any doubt whether or not you can properly service your FOX product, then DO NOT attempt it. Improperly serviced products can fail, causing the rider to lose control resulting in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
WARNING: Never attempt to modify air volume spacers or air shaft assemblies, as this can damage your fork causing a loss of control of the bicycle leading to SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH.
WARNING: FOX suspension products contain pressurized nitrogen, air, oil, or all 3. Suspension misuse can cause property damage, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. DO NOT puncture, incinerate or crush any portion of a FOX suspension product. DO NOT attempt to disassemble any portion of a FOX suspension product, unless expressly instructed to do so by the applicable FOX technical documentation, and then ONLY while strictly adhering to all FOX instructions and warnings in that instance.
WARNING: Modification, improper service, or use of aftermarket replacement parts with FOX forks and shocks may cause the product to malfunction, resulting in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. DO NOT modify any part of a fork or shock, including the fork brace (lower leg cross brace), crown, steerer, upper and lower leg tubes, or internal parts, except as instructed herein. Any unauthorized modification may void the warranty, and may cause failure or the fork or shock, resulting in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Step 1
Remove the blue air cap then use a shock pump to slowly release the air pressure.
Step 2
With the fork slightly inverted (the bottom of the fork up past horizontal), remove the black cover, then use a 2mm hex wrench to remove the red rebound knob.
Step 3
Use a 15mm socket to remove the damper side bottom nut. Make sure to remove and discard the original crushwasher which may be stuck to the bottom nut.
Step 4
Use a 10mm socket to unthread and remove the air side bottom nut. Remove and discard the original crushwasher.
Step 5
Use Damper Removal Tools 398-00-681 and 398-00-682 to dislodge the shafts from the lowers. Make sure that you have approximately half of the available threads engaged with your tool before striking with your mallet. Remove the damper removal tools, then bring the fork upright over an oil basin to drain. After oil stops draining from the lowers, pull the lowers off of the upper tubes and set them aside.
WARNING: Please verify that all air has been released from the air chamber by pushing down on the Schrader valve core. Failure to release all air pressure before further disassembly may cause parts to eject causing SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
Step 6
Use a Park Tool FR-5 or FR-5.2 Cassette tool to unthread the air chamber topcap by turning it counter-clockwise. Pull straight up to remove the entire topcap assembly from the left side upper tube.
Step 7
Carefully remove the retaining ring from the bottom of the air side upper tube, taking care not to scratch the upper tube.
Step 8
Thread the damper removal tool (PN: 398-00-681) onto the air shaft and pull out from the upper tube to remove the air shaft assembly.
Step 9
Wipe grease off of the air shaft assembly to make it easier to handle, then slide the neg plate toward the base stud, leaving enough space to access the base stud wrench flats.
Step 10
Clean the shaft with Isopropyl alcohol then clamp it in your 10mm shaft clamps (PN: 803-01-324). Remove and discard the o-ring from the base stud then carefully apply heat to the shaft at the base stud with a propane torch for 5-10 seconds to break down the Loctite.
Step 11
Unthread the base stud counter-clockwise with a 12mm wrench, then lift up to remove. Remove the remaining o-ring on the base stud and replace with a new greased one from the kit.
Step 12
Lift up on the neg plate to remove it from the shaft. Remove the internal o-ring and replace it with a new greased one from the kit. Remove the two seals on the ourside of the neg plate and replace them with new ones from the kit.
Step 13
Remove the air shaft assembly from your shaft clamps, then remove the blue Topout bumper. Install the new o-ring (029-11-110) from the kit then reinstall the blue Topout bumper. Clean the shaft with Isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free paper towel, then carefully reclamp in your shaft clamps with the open end of the shaft facing up.
Step 14
Insert the bullet tool (PN: 398-00-657) into the shaft, then coat it with a thin film of Slick Honey. Reinstall the neg plate with it's flat side down. Remove the bullet tool.
Step 15
Apply 1-2 drops of red Loctite 262 to the threads inside the shaft, taking caution not to get Loctite in the area of the shaft where the base stud o-ring will seat. Insert the base stud and thread it in clockwise, tightening to 50 in-lb (5.7 Nm) torque with a 12mm crow's foot.
Step 16
Install a new greased o-ring from the kit onto the base stud.
Step 17
Remove the Q-Ring from the piston with a lint-free paper towel. Clean the Piston and install ne grease Q-ring form seal kit.
Step 18
Apply a thin film of Slick Honey to the inside of the upper tube. Apply a thick film of Slick Honey to the air shaft assembly in the areas of the piston, neg plate, and shaft above the neg plate.
Step 19
Insert the air shaft assembly into the end of the upper tube. Push the air shaft assembly into the upper tube far enough to allow you to start the neg plate into the upper tube. Push the shaft into the upper tube to pull the neg plate into its installed position.
Step 20
Replace the retaining ring making sure it is fully seated in its groove by pulling on the air shaft. (32mm version shown)
Step 21
Inject 3cc of FOX 20wt. Gold oil into the main air chamber through the top of the upper tube. Reinstall the topcap into the fork crown and tighten clockwise to 220 in-lb (24.8 Nm) torque with your 6-point chamfer-less 26mm socket.
Step 22
Add air pressure to your desired setting using a FOX high pressure pump. See the Setting Fork Air Pressure section for more information. Reinstall the blue air cap.
Step 23
Install the Lower Leg Assembly onto the upper tubes. Inject the approprate amount of bath oil into each leg through the bottom hole. Please reference the bath oil chart for your fork:
Step 24
Install a new crushwasher on each side followed by the appropriate bottom nut. Torque both bottom nuts to 50in-lb (5.7 Nm).
Step 25
Use a 2mm hex wrench to install the red rebound knob. Make sure that the set screw lines up with the depression in the rebound adjuster shaft. Clean the exterior of your fork.Replace the black rebound knob cover and clean the exterior of your fork.
