Tech Tip: Adjusting or Checking Bladder Pressure in your Shock

Here's a tech tip for properly checking or adjusting the bladder pressure in your shock. It's a common question we've had so Ronnie's here to help!

[BengLang]

Great! Thank goodness I stumbled this video because this was my dilemma yesterday. I am happy that nothing is wrong with my shock. 😊 By the way I just got my dvo onyx and topaz installed! Love them! 🙌😊

[daveaufradern]

Guys, please do a service video for your Jade damper. I know there is a service manual on your site, but seeing it in a video would be super helpfull for a lot of people including me.

[bonedale]

whew, was about to call on this issue lol

[striker]

Could you expand on how the bladder pressure effects the shock characteristics? I’ve got a Topaz on my Giant Reign and I’ve played with different bladder pressure and haven’t been able to hammer out what I like. I’m a heavier rider which I believe means I need more pressure in the bladder correct?

[Gmullin]

A bit of a tech tip.. the air pressure will change alot with air temp changes.. like if you set it at 195psi at 45 degrees f ill be like 220 when it gets to 60 degrees

[DQridesbikes]

I did this and now it leaks oil from the bladder seal. Can you just change the bladder without a full service?

[Larpy]

Here’s a method to prevent losing pressure into the pump (when attaching the hose to shock):

Title: “How to PreCharge your Air Pump for the best Shock Adjustment”.


Here’s what I do: When the shock pump connector is threaded on a few turns, I try adding air with 1 pump stroke. If the pressure climbs, good. If not, I turn the pump connector another half-turn onto the shock. Test again by stroking the pump.

The pump will be fully sealed onto the shock surprisingly early into its engagement. It’ll require another whole turn or two before the shock’s Schraeder valve opens.

As the video presenter suggests, pump the hose up to what you expect the shock pressure to be, then thread on the pump hose all the way, which opens the Schraeder valve. Then, as we say up here: “Bob’s your uncle”. And you’ll be able to tell what the shock’s internal pressure _was_ (approximately) before attaching the pump.

I’m in Eastern Ontario. DVO products are superb. Thanks for all the great work there at HQ.

[patrixdan]

Hi! Thanks for the video. I have another issue regarding the jade x and I am not sure, it's related to the bladder pressure. I use the jade x with the ripmo af and I find it hard to setup the rebound damping. It feels like it kicks if I don't set it very slow. But then the bike feels a little too numb. By reducing the bladder pressure to 170 psi the issue got better but not prefect. Any suggestions? Your help is appreciated. Thanks and cheers.

BTW I weigh around 80 kg.

[NorminkoDH]

So are you saying that if my gauge reads 200 and I unplug the pump to plug it back in right away it reads 150 because that 50 psi is in gone into the pump and it just needs to be pumped back in?

[DatabaseGirl]

Most people dont have a clue about this.

[mosesbeaver]

what affect does changing the bladder air pressure have on the Jade X? I looked on the website and there was a description of what pressure range to run but nothing on what affect this air pressure has on the shocks kinematics

[chris.s]

Soo, does the bladder pressure chance the ramp up/ progressiveness of shock or does it chance the whole stroke? Im really confused. So on my Giant Reign with the Topaz T3 I have 30% sag but I am using quite a lot of the travel on the large jumps. Do I add bladder pressure?

[two_broberni]

I cant get my diamond 2 fork smooth like a fox 34 from 2016 is that any normal ? My fork feel pretty stiff even with 85 psi i wonder if the ott is my ptobleme because my rebound is pretty good

[doubleAronsvlog]

My bladder reads 150 or less after every ride, I ride at 190-200 lbs. I kinda find it hard to believe 50 psi is going into the pump when I attach it, my fork doesn't read 50 psi less, neither does the main air can of my Topaz...so I guess my question is....this is normal for the Topaz? If so than should I be refilling the bladder halfway through a long ride?

[SmileyBoy]

And I thought my Jade was broken😂sold it so cheap because of that issue🤷🏼‍♂️

[goride]

How much is max lbs of pressure? Thx🤘🏼