 By MikeG on 4/30/2007 Regarding play in my forks: If I see movement between the upper and lower part of the fork when the brakes are on, it is to me a good sign that I need a new fork. Is this condition at all dangerous? Or can I take my time in finding a replacement? |
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Play in my forks |
Forum: Ask Walker
Tags: Fork
NVMtBiker says:
not clear from your post where the play is. do you mean that there is play between the lowers (the colored portion that you clamp your wheel to) and the stanchions (the legs that are attached to the crown and the steer tube)? or is the play actually in your headset? or possibly the crown, either where the steer tube or the stanchions are attached? |
MikeG says:
definitely between the stanchions and the lowers. You can rock the bike back and forward when standing still and applying the front brake, and you can see that there is play there. MikeG Either riding or Thinking of Riding... The madness of MTB, I love it! |
NVMtBiker says:
bummer. play in the headset or crown would likely be an easy fix. i'm not a mechanic, but play in the stanchions says to me that at the very least you need a full rebuild because the bushings are shot. you're probably leaking oil around the seals as well. consider it a good excuse to get new forks. a rebuild is not particularly cheap, even if you're willing and able to do it yourself, and most bike shops won't do it either -- they ship them off to the factory, meaning you're SOL for several weeks while they mess with them, lose them, and finally ship them back. as for dangerous, i'm not sure that anything catastrophic (like the legs suddenly coming apart) would happen to the forks, but consider that your steering and most of your braking depend on the integrity of your forks. i wouldn't ride them before a rebuild. |
walker says:
 I agree... Buy a new fork, if necessary... Walker T Off the road, on the mind... |
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