[Elfbkr50]

This may not be in the right forum, but with so much tech talk I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm 6'2'' 220lbs and ride a bunch. I live in AK but travel a few times a year to the cool destinations (Bootleg Canyon, Fruita, Moab, etc) where my 5 spot is self actualized and being used like it should be. I run a 32 Vanilla RLC, and have had the stanchions replaced more times than I can count. Well, 3 times. After the 3rd time, I realized I needed to change my oil once a month during our riding season here as per the recommendation on the user manual. I'm a slow learner I guess. Last year, stanchions survived. This year, looked good until I changed my oil yesterday and they are showing signs of wear. Left leg, like all the other times. Do I bite the bullet and buy a 36 Vanilla, or Float, and say good-bye to this weak and sad fork, or buy another set of expensive stanchions that will fade in a year even with the recommended services performed more often than recommended?

Thanks.

 

[kiwirider]

Changing your oil once a month doesn't sound right.

Have you tried Enduro seals?

 

[swan lee]

Get a rockshox?

Fox shox tend to sometimes come in for criticism here in the UK also for wearing on the stations - I know my F100 have that problem but that is likely to be my fault for not keeping to a service schedule like you.

DT Swiss seem pretty confident of their new sealing, with a 200 hour service interval...

 

[Elfbkr50]

I've tried...

Push seals, Enduro seals, and the stock seals. Changing the oil once a month only because I do ride a lot and in AK it is often a bit muddy.

 

[6thElement]

There's a few other AK riders in here, maybe one of them will chime in with what fork they use.

 

[ignazjr]

Are you putting new bushings in the lowers when you change out the uppers?

 

[Vespasianus]

Fox stanchions are made of paper. Ditch it and buy something else. Jeez, how much have you spent on stanchions? You could have had a new fork I bet and would not have to worry about such nonsense.

 

[Elfbkr50]

$700 in 4 years

For stanchions. Yeah. Raped. But only a little each year, so it doesn't seem so bad. When I change the oil, I change the bushings and seals. So, twice a year really. Pre-season, and mid season. AK riding season is way short, so this seems like plenty. I saw that the new Float will have gold stanchions??? What fork would you guys recommend if not Fox? I thought they were at the top of suspension designs. I'm in the market for a good all-mountain shock if you have any ideas. Thanks.

 

[SSINGA]

Could the wear be caused by flex? Maybe a fork with a through axle and larger stanchions will prevent the wear???

 

[Elfbkr50]

Possibly.

I was going to buy a 36 with a through axle Fox Float possibly. Does anyone have an issue with stanchions on these bigger forks with Fox?

 

[SSINGA]

I didn't with mine - ymmv

 

[ignazjr]

Man, that just doesn't sound right. Stanchions getting scored are generally a result of something getting past the seals. Whenever I see it, it's always on a fork that was too long overdue for seals. Seals should last longer than you're getting unless you're spending 100% of your time riding mud bogs and not cleaning your fork at all (which doesn't sound like it's the case, there was sarcasm there). Have you ever changed out your lowers? Just a thought, but if a lower got damaged, ovalized, or twisted, it could set the bushings and seals to not fit and wear funny.

I also agree that it could be likely that fork flex could be an issue. A flexing fork would also flex seals and allow contaminants in. Possible. Either way, sounds like it's probably time for a new fork vs re investing in what you've got. Might want to call the guys at Push or Luby at Dirtlabs to get them to weigh in on it. When it comes to suspension, those guys have pretty much been witness to all scenarios.

dave

 

[Elfbkr50]

Thanks

I'd like to ride a Fox fork still. The 36 Float seems like a solid thing. Flex is definitely happening when I take the bike to the lower 48 and ride the desert chunk, tech, and drops that we don't have up here. That makes sense. For now, I'll ride this thing the rest of the season and hope it doesn't start to suck too bad.