Rockshox Monarch RL... Doesn't fully extend?

[Gionnirocket]

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I'm a fugazi!

The issue returned. I got a few rides and that's it... so I swapped it out again with my spare. In doing so I noticed something.... With no air in the shock if I lean on it.. it doesn't budge. When doing the same with the spare I get some movement. It hadn't done this before.
My hypothesis now is the damper is intermittently binding... So a full rebuild is in order.
This is recommended annually or every 100 miles so again still on borrowed time.. but still annoying. I can make the vice gigs out of wood so that is a big savings but I need to purchase a new RockShox pump as mine is rated at 300psi and the damper rebuild requires 500psi. Also need a $10 air adapter for the damper.
So first rebuild will still be over $100. I'll double check but I believe an LBS charges near $200 for the service. The shock new is <$300.

Is there any other vehicle shock that requires this level of maintenance?
I've purchased Bilstein struts for my car for less which are tasked with a much more demanding load, the build is regulated, the performance and ride are better and last 10x longer without issue.
This seems like planned failure and a built in revenue steam for Sram. I fuckin hate higher_end proprietary s*it! Yes it's a decent shock but there's absolutely no reason for this much required maintenance.

So to rebuild or not to rebuild... That is the question.

I'm seriously contemplating downgrading to a similar DNM shock like @PCeBiker posted just to see the difference and then to have a spare to my spare. A friend has one on his bike and it ain't that bad. He likes it and I don't hear any bangs and rattles when we ride over rough road.
For me it might be worth $100 bucks and it's more than a reasonable price for a bicycle shock when compared to what you pay for a shock for every other vehicle on the planet.

I'm just curious,..

If you don't have the bandwidth for a detailed rebuild thread, is that a speed or data thing?

Is your connection too slow for pictures, or would you use up your data?

Put another way,..
Is it like a maximum Watts thing or a maximum Watt-Hours kinda thing?

The bandwidth comment refers to my patience and state of mind at the moment. I have a full plate at home and there's not much left to dick around with.

 

[PCeBiker]

Well that sucks.
I'm hoping that greasing up my shock might help it last longer but my shock might be half used up?

It still feels like a new ebike to me.

 

[Gionnirocket]

My shock was working fine until I let all the air out. Not sure why that would cause something to fail, but it did. Might have pulled dirt into itself somehow. But like I said the shock is well protected in the frame and I often wipe it off with a wet rag.... smh...