Keeping Your Suspension Smooth with Fork Seals
Your mountain bike's suspension is a workhorse, absorbing bumps and keeping your ride comfortable and controlled. But at the heart of this system lies a crucial, yet often overlooked, component: the fork seals. These unsung heroes prevent dirt, grit, and water from entering the delicate internals of your fork, protecting the damping oil and ensuring smooth operation. In this blog, we’ve explored how to keep your fork seals healthy and your suspension working flawlessly.
The Role of Fork Seals
Fork seals are typically made of a rubber or polyurethane material and form a tight seal around the fork stanchions. This seal keeps the damping oil inside the fork lowers, where it separates and dampens the forces during compression and rebound. Without proper sealing, dirt contamination can increase friction, causing a sticky, sluggish feel and hindering your suspension performance.
Signs of Worn Fork Seals
- Increased friction: If your fork feels noticeably stiffer or less responsive than usual, it could be a sign of worn seals.
- Oil leakage: Visible oil on the stanchions or around the seals indicates a breach and requires immediate attention.
- Gritty feeling: When wiping down your stanchions, a gritty feeling suggests dirt has infiltrated the fork.