Shock Rebuilds: When to Rebuild, Repair, or Replace Your Shocks

High performance shocks from brands like Fox Shocks, King Shocks, and Ride Shocks are designed to be serviced, rebuilt, repaired, and tuned. That means you do not necessarily need to replace your shocks when they start showing signs of wear or their performance begins to decline.

A professional Fox shock rebuild can restore worn shocks and get them performing like they should again. In many cases, a rebuild is significantly less expensive than purchasing a completely new set of shocks. A rebuild can also be a good opportunity to inspect the shocks for damage and make changes to the valving if your vehicle, weight, tires, or driving conditions have changed.

But what happens when a shock has been neglected or damaged badly enough that the repair cost starts getting close to the price of a new shock?

Let’s take a closer look at when it makes sense to rebuild, repair, revalve, or replace your Fox or King shocks.

Considering a Fox shock rebuild can save you money and extend the lifespan of your shocks.

How Much Does It Cost to Rebuild Fox or King Shocks?

One of the biggest advantages of rebuildable aftermarket shocks is the ability to service them instead of replacing them every time they wear out.

A basic shock rebuild typically involves replacing worn seals, O rings, wear bands, oil, and other service components. The actual parts cost can be relatively small compared to the cost of purchasing a new high performance shock.

For example, a high end shock that originally cost several hundred dollars, or even more than $900, may only require a relatively inexpensive rebuild kit and fresh oil to restore its performance.

Of course, the total cost of a professional Fox shock rebuild or King shock rebuild will depend on the condition and type of shock. Labor, replacement parts, damaged components, and additional tuning or revalving can all affect the final price.

When you send your shocks to a professional shock service shop like AccuTune Offroad, the shocks can be completely disassembled and inspected to determine what they need before additional repairs are performed.

What Is Included in a Shock Rebuild?

A proper off road shock rebuild is more than simply changing the oil.

During a rebuild, the shock should be disassembled and inspected for worn or damaged components. Seals, O rings, wear bands, and other service components can be replaced as needed, and the shock is filled with fresh oil before being reassembled and charged.

The shock shaft and body should also be inspected for damage.

This is particularly important for vehicles that spend a lot of time in the desert or on rough trails. Rocks, dirt, debris, excessive heat, and hard impacts can all contribute to shock wear.

A professional rebuild can identify these problems before they turn into a much more expensive failure.

Can Fox and King Shocks Be Repaired?

Yes. One of the benefits of high quality aftermarket shocks is that many components can be replaced if they become damaged.

Fox shock repair and King shock repair can include replacing damaged shock shafts, seals, wear bands, bodies, or other internal components depending on the shock and the type of damage.

One of the more common problems is damage to the shock shaft.

A chipped, scratched, or damaged shaft can damage the seals as the shock cycles. Once the seals begin to fail, the shock can start leaking oil. Continued use can eventually cause the shock to lose enough oil that its performance is severely affected and additional damage can occur.

A professional inspection can determine whether the shock needs a simple rebuild or whether additional repairs are necessary.

When Should You Rebuild Your Shocks?

There are several signs that it may be time for a Fox shock service or King shock service.

Common symptoms include:

• Oil leaking from the shock
• Damaged or corroded shock shafts
• Worn seals or wear bands
• A noticeable change in ride quality
• Excessive bouncing or poor control
• Increased bottoming
• Inconsistent damping
• Shocks that have seen significant off road use
• Shocks that have not been serviced for an extended period

Even if your shocks are not leaking, they can still benefit from service. Shock oil and internal components experience wear over time, particularly on vehicles that see frequent off road use.

Regular shock service can help maintain consistent performance and identify worn components before they become larger problems.

Should You Rebuild or Revalve Your Shocks?

A rebuild restores the condition of the shock. Revalving or shock tuning changes how the shock performs.

These are two different services, although they can often be performed at the same time.

If your shocks are working properly but you want to change the way your vehicle handles, a Fox shock revalve or King shock revalve may be worth considering.

For example, your vehicle may have gained significant weight from bumpers, armor, a winch, larger tires, or camping equipment. Your driving style or the terrain you regularly drive may have also changed.

In these situations, simply rebuilding the shocks with the original valving may not provide the performance you are looking for.

Custom shock tuning allows the valving to be adjusted around the vehicle, suspension setup, weight, and intended use.

When Does It Make Sense to Replace Your Shocks?

Not every damaged shock should automatically be rebuilt.

If a shock has extensive damage to the body, shaft, reservoir, or internal components, the repair cost can eventually approach the cost of replacing the shock.

This is where having your shocks inspected by an experienced shock service shop can be valuable.

At AccuTune Offroad, we can inspect your Fox, King, or Ride Shocks and help determine what makes the most sense based on the condition of the shocks and the cost of the required repairs.

In some situations, rebuilding the shocks is the obvious choice. In others, purchasing new shocks may be a better option, particularly if the repair requires several expensive components.

Fox and King Shock Rebuild and Tuning Services

AccuTune Offroad has been tuning shocks since 2001 and provides Fox shock rebuilds, King shock rebuilds, shock repair, and custom shock tuning.

Our team can inspect your shocks, identify worn or damaged components, and determine what is needed to get them back into service. When appropriate, we can also update the valving to better match your current vehicle setup and intended use.

If you are trying to decide between rebuilding your existing shocks and purchasing new ones, contact the AccuTune Offroad team. We can help you compare the options and determine which direction makes the most sense for your suspension setup.

Need to rebuild or tune your Fox or King shocks? Contact AccuTune Offroad to get started.

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Shock Rebuild FAQs

Is it cheaper to rebuild my shocks or buy new ones?

It depends on the type and condition of your shocks. Most factory shocks are not designed to be rebuilt, so replacement is usually the only option. Aftermarket shocks from brands like Fox, King, and Ride Shocks are designed to be serviced, rebuilt, repaired, and tuned.

The cost of a shock rebuild will depend on the parts and labor required. If you are unsure whether your Fox or King shocks can be rebuilt, contact the AccuTune Offroad sales team. We can confirm whether they are serviceable and provide an estimate for the required work, helping you compare the cost of rebuilding your shocks versus buying new ones.

My shocks are leaking oil. Do they need to be rebuilt?

Not necessarily. A small amount of oil around the area where the shock shaft enters the body can sometimes be residual oil from assembly or normal operation.

We recommend cleaning the shock thoroughly and checking it again after driving. If oil continues to accumulate or you see an obvious leak, a seal may be damaged and the shock should be inspected.

In most cases, we recommend a complete shock rebuild rather than replacing a single seal. A rebuild allows the shock to be fully inspected, serviced with fresh oil, and checked for other worn or damaged components.

When should I rebuild my shocks?

As a general guideline, many aftermarket shocks can go 50,000 miles or more before needing a rebuild. However, service intervals can vary significantly depending on how the vehicle is used.

For example, 50,000 miles of daily highway driving is very different from 50,000 miles of racing or aggressive off road driving in Baja.

If you notice changes in ride quality, damping performance, suspension control, or increased bottoming, it may be time to have your shocks inspected. A fresh shock rebuild with new oil and seals can restore performance and help identify other components that may need attention.

What is included in a shock rebuild?

A standard shock rebuild typically includes replacing the seals and shock oil. Additional parts may be needed depending on the condition of the shock.

When you send your shocks to AccuTune Offroad, our technicians thoroughly inspect them for wear or damage and will identify any components that should be addressed. This can include damaged shock shafts, worn components, or damaged reservoir hoses.

For example, a chipped or damaged shock shaft can damage the seals and cause the shock to leak. A cut or kinked reservoir hose can also affect shock performance.

A professional Fox shock rebuild, King shock rebuild, or Ride Shock rebuild gives you the opportunity to address these issues while the shocks are already disassembled and being serviced.