WebreaderShopNewsletterTop dealers & workshops

Do you need to service your MTB fork and shock regularly?

Stefan Frey

 · 16.07.2019

Do you need to service your MTB fork and shock regularly?Photo: Robert Niedring
Do you need to service your MTB fork and shock regularly?

In this article, we use so-called affiliate links. With every purchase through these links, we receive a commission from the merchant. All relevant referral links are marked with . Learn more.

The myth has been around for a long time: Do suspension forks and shocks on mountain bikes always need to be serviced by a specialist? BIKE clarifies.

The problem

"This point is often concealed during sales talks. However, it's not just the bike itself that needs regular attention, but also the suspension fork and shock. The reason: no seal is perfect, and so even with good care and a clean mountain bike, around one per cent of the dirt collected always ends up inside the suspension elements. As a result, the fork bushings wear out, which leads to increased play and poorer response behaviour.

Abrasion on the seals eventually leads to leaks, and ageing additives in the damping oil result in ever-decreasing fading resistance and lubricating effect. For this reason, practically all manufacturers recommend having the suspension elements completely overhauled once a year or every 100 to 200 driving hours.

The answer: Yes, forks and shocks need a regular professional service.

However, a small service to "freshen up" during the year can easily be carried out at home by experienced hobby mechanics and prevent major damage from the outset. At best, however, this can only delay a comprehensive service at the dealer. Major servicing often requires expensive special tools that are not worthwhile for the hobby workshop. Spare parts are often not even sold to the end customer.

As I have enough "horror pictures" of worn stanchions, burst dampers and foam rings dripping with dirt in my drawer, I wouldn't call this a myth. So if you don't feel confident enough to carry out a regular service yourself, you can get competent help from an authorised specialist dealer. In addition to the service, tuning parts are often installed or the suspension is optimally adjusted to the rider."

The right Service kits for Rockshox or Fox suspension forks and the right accessories for a suspension fork service can be found here in the Rose online shop.

How do you like this article?

TIPS FOR SUSPENSION FORK SERVICE ON MOUNTAIN BIKES

Here we show you the most important tips for a small fork service at home. Formal note: The manufacturers of suspension forks and rear shocks may refuse to accept liability for damage that can be proven to have been caused by oil changes or maintenance work carried out by the rider. So if you want to be on the safe side, take your fork and rear shock to a professional.

You can find the complete service instructions for the Rockshox Reba HERE

Gloves and safety goggles: For safety reasons, you should always wear gloves and safety goggles when servicing forks and dampers, as shown here when changing the oil. Because the suspension elements are under high pressure, you must also remember to deflate them before servicing! Caution: Improper disassembly can be very dangerous!Photo: Robert NiedringGloves and safety goggles: For safety reasons, you should always wear gloves and safety goggles when servicing forks and dampers, as shown here when changing the oil. Because the suspension elements are under high pressure, you must also remember to deflate them before servicing! Caution: Improper disassembly can be very dangerous!Loosening the dip tube unit: Oil can escape from the fork when loosening the dip tube unit. You should therefore place a tray under the work surface. Then loosen both sides of the immersion tube unit only halfway at first. Otherwise you will not be able to separate the immersion tubes from the upright tubes.Photo: Robert NiedringLoosening the dip tube unit: Oil can escape from the fork when loosening the dip tube unit. You should therefore place a tray under the work surface. Then loosen both sides of the immersion tube unit only halfway at first. Otherwise you will not be able to separate the immersion tubes from the upright tubes.Knocking out the dip tube unit: The dip and standpipe units are still firmly pressed together. To loosen the connection, you need to tap the nut on the left-hand spar firmly from below with a rubber mallet and the Allen key on the right-hand side. Only then can you loosen the screws completely.Photo: Robert NiedringKnocking out the dip tube unit: The dip and standpipe units are still firmly pressed together. To loosen the connection, you need to tap the nut on the left-hand spar firmly from below with a rubber mallet and the Allen key on the right-hand side. Only then can you loosen the screws completely.Bathe the foam rings: The foam rings that sit under the dust seals are responsible for lubricating the stanchions. The new rings should be sufficiently soaked with 15W fork oil. It is best to soak the rings for a short time in a small bowl or the lid of the oil bottle.Photo: Robert NiedringBathe the foam rings: The foam rings that sit under the dust seals are responsible for lubricating the stanchions. The new rings should be sufficiently soaked with 15W fork oil. It is best to soak the rings for a short time in a small bowl or the lid of the oil bottle.Our mechanic expert Florian Ohnesorg: The two-wheeler mechatronics technician has already been European mechanic champion and owns a bike shop in Ingenried near Schongau. There is hardly a bike problem that he cannot solve. Florian can tell how many kilometres the bike has covered just from the smell of the fork oil.Photo: Robert NiedringOur mechanic expert Florian Ohnesorg: The two-wheeler mechatronics technician has already been European mechanic champion and owns a bike shop in Ingenried near Schongau. There is hardly a bike problem that he cannot solve. Florian can tell how many kilometres the bike has covered just from the smell of the fork oil.

You can find this article in BIKE 10/2018. You can read the entire digital issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the print issue in the DK shop reorder - while stocks last:

Read in the Apple App Store
Read in the Google Play Store
Order in the DK-Shop

Stefan Frey

Stefan Frey is from Lower Bavaria and loves the mossy, loamy trails of the Bavarian Forest as much as the rugged rock of the Dolomites. For technical descents, he is prepared to tackle almost any ascent - under his own steam. As an accessories specialist, he is the first port of call for questions about equipment and add-on parts, while as head of copywriting he sweeps the language crumbs from the pages of the BIKE print editions.

Home

Most read in category Components