Below is the installation procedure we follow in our shop:

• REMOVE THE AIR, remove the lower legs, and remove the current air spring.
• Clean the inside of the air-side stanchion and lower legs like you normally would during a fork service.
• The new air shaft's seals are not lubricated from the factory, and there will be enough stiction in the seals to stop you from compressing the new air shaft by hand.
• Hold the air shaft upright by the upper tube, pour 3cc's of Fox 20wt Gold Oil into the upper tube to lubricate the top of the inner piston, lightly apply the same oil to the lower seal where the lower shaft inserts into the upper tube, and then smack the bottom of the air shaft on a soft rag on top of a firm bench top to break the initial stiction.
• Next, pull the lower shaft away from the upper tube and hold it fully extended for about 10 seconds so the oil can drizzle down into the piston. Then, slowly move the shaft inward and outward between being 100% extended and 90% extended to allow both chambers to equalize. You may hear air hissing during this equalization process which is normal.
• Lightly lubricate the outer portion of the upper tube's upper and lower seals with Fox 20wt Gold Oil. This is to ensure smooth insertion into the fork stanchion.
• Depress the air valve (or remove the upper air cap) and carefully insert the air shaft assembly into the stanchion.
• You may feel a tight spot around 80% of the insertion. If so, back out the shaft to around 50% insertion, and then push quickly and firmly in one swift motion to fully insert the shaft.
• Install the new snap ring and reassemble the fork as you usually would during a normal fork service.

You do not need to pay any attention to your damper because the damper will just extend to accomodate for the increased travel, or compress to accomodate for the decreased travel. Yes, you can even decrease your 180mm Fox 38 all the way down to 150mm and your damper will simply compress to the new travel without any negative effects. Any Fox 38 GRIP or GRIP2 damper has a maximum travel of 180mm, and since 180mm is the longest air shaft they make for this chassis, there is no way to run into compatibility issues with the damper or air shaft lengths.

Besides the air shaft, you would need all of the supplies required to do a lower leg service. You would need the following parts to do that yourself:

1. Fox 20wt Gold Oil for the air-side lower leg bath,
2. Fox 5wt PTFE Oil for the damper-side lower leg bath
3. Slickoleum to lubricate the dust wipers
4. Syringe to get the oil in the fork
5. Fox Damper-Side Crush Washer to finish installation. The new air shaft includes a brand new crush washer, so there is no need to purchase one separately.