If a customer called and discussed a similar situation I as well would recommend a sleeve replacement because it sounds like you might have a negative air chamber leak pulling the shock down into a compression stroke. However based on the age and the last time the gas charged damper was serviced, you might actually have a damper related issue as well. Keep in mind fox air shocks require air sleeve maintenance at 25 to 40 hour intervals. While in southern california you will get about 70-100 hours in the nitrogen gas damper. Regardless it is service at least once a year or hourly which ever one is first you will always have to service suspension at one time or another ,you wait too long and its expensive.
