Fox 36 setup
Most Fox 36s leave the shop set for someone else. Put in your weight for your starting numbers, straight from Fox’s own charts.
Pump to 86 psi, then measure sag and adjust.
Compression, spacers and limits
- Compression: 10 clicks out on both high-speed and low-speed, counted from fully closed (Fox’s 2027 manual says 5 each).
- Rebound: Turn the dial fully clockwise until it stops, then count the clicks back out.
- Volume spacers at 160 mm: ships with 1, max 6.
- Max pressure 120 psi.
- Source: FOX 2025 36mm/38mm owner’s manual (tech.ridefox.com)
Fix what you feel
Tap what your fork does. Fixes are for your GRIP X. Change one thing at a time, then ride the same section again.
Harsh over roots and braking bumps
Too much air, too much high-speed compression, or rebound too slow.
- Check sag first. Under 15% means too much air.
- Open high-speed compression 2 clicks (counter-clockwise).
Dives under braking and on steep roll-ins
Not enough low-speed compression, or too much sag.
- Add low-speed compression 2 clicks (clockwise).
- Still diving and sag is past 20%? Add 3–5 psi.
Bottoms out hard on drops and big landings
Not enough high-speed compression, or the air spring isn’t ramping up enough.
- Add high-speed compression 1–2 clicks. Still bottoming? Add one volume spacer.
- Stay within Fox’s max spacer count for your travel.
Never uses full travel, even on big hits
Too many spacers, too much air, or too much compression.
- If sag is right, remove one volume spacer.
- Open high-speed compression 1–2 clicks.
Bouncy, or clunks at full extension
Rebound is too fast.
- Add rebound 1–2 clicks (clockwise).
Rides lower and lower through rough sections
Rebound is too slow, so the fork packs down.
- Open rebound 2 clicks (counter-clockwise).
Tell Suspend how it felt and it gives you the exact click to change on your Fox 36. Free for your first bike.
Full Fox 36 reference
For the 2025-and-newer 36 (GRIP, GRIP X or GRIP X2). Fox’s 2026 and 2027 manuals keep the same pressures but list only 140–160 mm and no Rhythm. Older 36s with GRIP2 or FIT4 dampers have different numbers in their own year’s manual on tech.ridefox.com.
Fox 36 air pressure chart
| lb | kg | FLOAT | Rhythm | E-Bike+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| under 130 | under 59 | 66 | 55 | 71 |
| 130–140 | 59–64 | 70 | 59 | 76 |
| 140–150 | 64–68 | 74 | 63 | 81 |
| 150–160 | 68–73 | 78 | 67 | 85 |
| 160–170 | 73–77 | 82 | 72 | 90 |
| 170–180 | 77–82 | 86 | 76 | 95 |
| 180–190 | 82–86 | 89 | 80 | 99 |
| 190–200 | 86–91 | 94 | 85 | 104 |
| 200–210 | 91–95 | 99 | 89 | 109 |
| 210–220 | 95–100 | 105 | 93 | 113 |
| 220–230 | 100–104 | 109 | 97 | 115 |
| 230–240 | 104–109 | 113 | 102 | 117 |
| 240–250 | 109–113 | 117 | 106 | 120 |
psi. Source: FOX 2025 36mm/38mm owner’s manual (tech.ridefox.com).
Fox 36 rebound clicks by weight
| lb | GRIP | GRIP X | GRIP X2 low | GRIP X2 high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| under 130 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 8 |
| 130–140 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 7 |
| 140–150 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 7 |
| 150–160 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| 160–170 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| 170–180 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| 180–190 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| 190–200 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| 200–210 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 210–220 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 220–230 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 230–240 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 240–250 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Turn the dial fully clockwise until it stops, then count the clicks back out. Push the fork down hard and let go. If it clunks at full extension, rebound is too fast.
Fox 36 sag in millimetres
| Travel | 15% (firm) | 20% (plush) |
|---|---|---|
| 130 mm | 20 mm | 26 mm |
| 140 mm | 21 mm | 28 mm |
| 150 mm | 23 mm | 30 mm |
| 160 mm | 24 mm | 32 mm |
| 170 mm | 25 mm | 34 mm |
Measure with the compression adjusters fully open, dressed to ride, weight spread across saddle, bars and pedals.
Fox 36 compression settings
| Damper | Start at |
|---|---|
| GRIP X2 | 5 clicks out high-speed, 10 clicks out low-speed, counted from fully closed. |
| GRIP X | 10 clicks out on both high-speed and low-speed, counted from fully closed (Fox’s 2027 manual says 5 each). |
| GRIP | Lever fully Open for descending. For more support, move it toward Medium (Performance) or sweep it a little toward Firm (Rhythm). |
Fox 36 volume spacers
| Travel | Ships with | Max |
|---|---|---|
| 170 mm | 0 | 5 |
| 160 mm | 1 | 6 |
| 150 mm | 2 | 7 |
| 140 mm | 4 | 8 |
| 130 mm | 5 | 9 |
| Travel | Ships with | Max |
|---|---|---|
| 160 mm | 3 | 6 |
| 150 mm | 4 | 7 |
| 140 mm | 4 | 8 |
| 130 mm | 5 | 9 |
| Travel | Ships with | Max |
|---|---|---|
| 170 mm | 1 | 6 |
| 160 mm | 2 | 7 |
| 150 mm | 3 | 7 |
| 140 mm | 4 | 8 |
| 130 mm | 5 | 8 |
Spacers change how hard the fork ramps up at the end of its travel, not its sag. Add one if you bottom out too easily, remove one if you never get near full travel.
Which Fox 36 damper do I have?
- GRIP X2: Two dials on top of the right leg (the one without the air valve) and two at the bottom.
- GRIP X: Two dials on top of the right leg (the one without the air valve), one at the bottom.
- GRIP: One lever on top of the right leg, one dial at the bottom. On Performance the lever clicks into Open, Medium and Firm; on Rhythm it sweeps smoothly from Open to Firm.
GRIP X2 comes on Factory forks, GRIP X on Factory and Performance Elite, GRIP on Performance and Rhythm.
Fox 36 service interval
Fox recommends a full service every 125 hours of riding or once a year, whichever comes first.
Questions
What air pressure should I run in my Fox 36?
Start from Fox’s chart for your riding weight with gear. A 170–180 lb rider starts at 86 psi on a 36 FLOAT, 76 psi on a Rhythm, and 95 psi on an E-Bike+. Then set sag to 15–20%. Fox says up to 10 psi off the chart is normal. Never go over 120 psi.
How much sag should a Fox 36 have?
15–20% of travel: 24–32 mm on a 160 mm fork. Measure with the compression adjusters fully open, dressed to ride, with your weight spread across saddle, bars and pedals.
How many clicks of rebound on a Fox 36?
It depends on your weight and damper. From fully closed, a 170–180 lb rider starts at 8 clicks out on GRIP or GRIP X, or 7 low-speed and 5 high-speed on GRIP X2. Lighter riders run more clicks out.
Does this work for my older Fox 36?
No. These numbers are for the 2025-and-newer 36. Older 36s with GRIP2 or FIT4 dampers have different charts in their own year’s manual on tech.ridefox.com.
Related guides
Sources · last checked 2026-10-09
- FOX owner’s manual: FORK 2025 36mm/38mm (tech.ridefox.com)
- FOX: 36 product page (dampers by series)
- FOX serial records: 36 Rhythm “Grip, Sweep-Adj”, 36 Performance “Grip, 3Pos”
- FOX owner’s manual: FORK 2026 36mm (tech.ridefox.com)
- FOX owner’s manual: FORK 2027 36mm (tech.ridefox.com)
- Flow Mountain Bike: suspension service intervals guide
Starting points from the manufacturer’s charts, not a substitute for your fork’s manual. Always confirm with a sag measurement and stay under the max pressure.