Fork seals install dry?

cadedutt
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cadedutt

Hi all, thanks in advanced. I’ve don’t my own fork seals always, one thing I’ve never been certain on. For the dust seal, and oil seal. On the inner part of the seals, do you install dry as they come. Or do you put either a little bit of fork oil or slick honey on either?


 

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Vet57
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Vet57 10/30/2024 12:53am
10/30/2024 12:53am

Installing them use a little bit of grease on the lip. Other than that you're good.

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Factor E
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Factor E 10/30/2024 1:24am
10/30/2024 1:24am
grease seal and light film oil to install
Nairb#70
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Nairb#70 10/30/2024 10:59am
10/30/2024 10:59am

Light coat of Simons seal grease on the oil seals only, leave the dust seals alone.

Rickyisms 10/30/2024 11:25am
10/30/2024 11:25am

A smidge of grease around the outside of the seal and coating the tube with a little bit of oil is my method. 

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YZed250
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YZed250 10/30/2024 11:43am
10/30/2024 11:43am
71m3D9YDH2L. AC SX300 SY300 QL70 FMwebp %5B1%5D
4
Rickyisms 10/30/2024 2:16pm
10/30/2024 2:16pm Edited Date/Time 11/1/2024 9:56pm
YZed250 wrote:
71m3D9YDH2L. AC SX300 SY300 QL70 FMwebp %5B1%5D

That shit ain’t cheap, so I’ve never had the opportunity to try it. Same with the PC assembly grease they offer. Is it really that big of a difference?

YZed250
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YZed250 10/30/2024 2:25pm
10/30/2024 2:25pm
YZed250 wrote:
71m3D9YDH2L. AC SX300 SY300 QL70 FMwebp %5B1%5D
Rickyisms wrote:
That shit ain’t cheap, so I’ve never had the opportunity to try it. Same with the PC assembly grease they offer. Is it really that big...

That shit ain’t cheap, so I’ve never had the opportunity to try it. Same with the PC assembly grease they offer. Is it really that big of a difference?

TBH, I don't know. There's too much going on inside after a fork rebuild to tell. 

It's for my own personal bike and I don't want/need friction or to have to do fork rebuilds any more often than what's necessary. I've had the same tub for 5 years or more and I use it every time. It probably only costs me 10c per fork seal to add ... seems worth it to me. 

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RockyRider
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RockyRider 10/30/2024 2:29pm
10/30/2024 2:29pm
YZed250 wrote:
71m3D9YDH2L. AC SX300 SY300 QL70 FMwebp %5B1%5D
Rickyisms wrote:
That shit ain’t cheap, so I’ve never had the opportunity to try it. Same with the PC assembly grease they offer. Is it really that big...

That shit ain’t cheap, so I’ve never had the opportunity to try it. Same with the PC assembly grease they offer. Is it really that big of a difference?

For the everyday guy.. no not really. It's less "sticky" then normal grease so the slide action is better and less chance for stiction to hurt your new seal lips. If you can find a small squeeze tube of RockShox seal grease, its an inexpensive way to have the proper grease. Some bike shops will have them for $2 a tube, or on amazon only $14 for a small tub of it.
1
cadedutt
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cadedutt 10/30/2024 3:28pm
10/30/2024 3:28pm
YZed250 wrote:
71m3D9YDH2L. AC SX300 SY300 QL70 FMwebp %5B1%5D

Curious if this is comparable to slick honey. Which is used for seals in MTB. 

Rider 5280
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Rider 5280 10/30/2024 6:34pm
10/30/2024 6:34pm Edited Date/Time 10/30/2024 6:42pm

I've been digging this relatively new seal grease from Maxima (have tried Race Tech grease, too - very good as well):

https://maximausa.com/products/assembly-grease-copy?srsltid=AfmBOop5PzyX-rQctdJLbqdRKu68_L_DBVvqLieTlzL0Ng97RtbasYkm

These greases are quite a special formulation - worth the price for IMHO.

1
TheGetFresh 10/31/2024 8:55pm
10/31/2024 8:55pm

Classic white lithium will keep ‘em squeezing. 

1
Rickyisms 11/1/2024 9:57pm
11/1/2024 9:57pm
YZed250 wrote:
TBH, I don't know. There's too much going on inside after a fork rebuild to tell. It's for my own personal bike and I don't want/need friction...

TBH, I don't know. There's too much going on inside after a fork rebuild to tell. 

It's for my own personal bike and I don't want/need friction or to have to do fork rebuilds any more often than what's necessary. I've had the same tub for 5 years or more and I use it every time. It probably only costs me 10c per fork seal to add ... seems worth it to me. 

Sorry, I should have implied I wasn’t asking if there was a difference in performance, but moreso for assembly. 

FilthyGrungy 11/2/2024 6:06am
11/2/2024 6:06am

Rubbing a little fork oil on the seals like you would a new oil filter gasket helps. Not saying the greases are not better, just a minimum level treatment before the assembly 

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lumpy790
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lumpy790 11/3/2024 11:45am
11/3/2024 11:45am

I have built several hundred sets of forks using the the same little tub of Noleen SF3 silicone grease. A little bit goes a long way.

Reduces stiction so forks move smoother.

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