I have 2009 130mm Fox Float Forks on Trek EX8, do any of you knowledgable souls know if you can swap the fork lowers with the normal quick release skewer to a new fork lower to take the new 15QR?

Many thanks.

Yes but its not cheap

Yes – the lowers cost £140 from Mojo, then you either fit them yourself (brave), or pay Mojo/TFT to do it.
You're looking at over £200 unless you can DIY.
Even if you can stretch to that – you could probably sell your existing forks and buy some brand new QR15's for (at the most) £200 more than you manage to sell the old ones for!
Only if the lowers were £100, or if you're brave enough to dismantle yours and DIY, is it worth doing, IMO.

then you either fit them yourself (brave), or pay Mojo/TFT to do it.

How hard can it be?
Then your front hub has to be compatible – thats what puts me off.

DezB – have you ever taken apart a set of decent air sprung forks? holysh*t there's a lot in there! plus – you'd be silly not to replace the bushings and seals whilst changing the lowers, as well as the suspension fluid…so you're soon making the cost up to £200.
I know there are Vids on Fox etc., but one false move can mean you've stuffed £400 worth of kit!

I think TFT quoted me under £200 without a service, or £220 including full service and custom set up. Give them a call.

Thanks for the advice guys.

dismantled my fox 32s and 36s easy peasy.

So the new lowers don't include bushings? Seems a bit tight

toys19 – i could dismantle anything easy-peasy!
…it's putting it back together where it'd go wrong! 😆

The facts are, even if this is not a recipe for mechanicide – at £140 plus seals kit, plus fluid, plus your time (and in my case blood/sweat/tears/angst), I reckon TFT will come out cheaper and easier!

I also suspect a new set altogether, selling the old ones will come in even cheaper (progressive bikes' Si was advertising a set of white Float qr15 150's for £450 today, a bargain!) – and you have brand new forks out of the deal!

el_creedo I think your analysis is pretty sound.

It depends on which side of the "am I a competent mechanic" question you fall on.

I guess the other question is: What does a 2nd hand set of 32's go for these days? For example I have 2008 vanilla 32. I reckon I'd be lucky to get £140 for them, but for £144 and another £30 for seals etc then I effectively have new forks.. I personally do not doubt my own mechanical skills to do this job. I've rebuilt countless motorcycle forks and have serviced these twice since may 08, another one due, I am in exactly the same position as the op..

The other cost is the converters to change my hope pro 11 to 15mm but I would need those even if I bought a new fork..

DIY could be a pain if the seals and bushes ARENT included

otherwise it would be pretty simple

There isn't much inside a pair of fox floats, or at least there shouldn't be if they aren't knackered. Two bolts/nuts drain oil, reassemble with new oil have pint.

I've also thought about the middle ground – a 9mm solid qr thingy. I bought one of these for my pace fighters and 9mm converters for my superstar front hub, but have yet to ride it. I think hope do 9mm spacers for the pro 11 too. Although I wonder if this really makes much difference over normal qr.

Only reason I asked was that I've just come back from Afan this morning and after taking my bike and trying one of demo bikes from Sklyine fitted with the QR15 there was a real difference in the front end stiffness rattling over the rocks.

Only trouble is the QR forks I have are brand new as i've just brought the 2009 Trek EX8 as new from a shop for a nice price, so am reluctant to try and sell them on fleabay and try and buy 2nd hand QR15 forks.

Thanks again all for the advice

you could try a 9mm bolt thru depending on your wheels thats what i run ive dt hubs and hope pro2 hubs both with adaptors running dt rws and i found it stiffer . Superstar do cheap 9mm bolt thru qr and hope adaptor kit was 16.50 iirc worth a thought

Cheers Mick, i'll look into that, you can't beat Superstar Components, i've just bought 4 pairs of Kevlar brake pads for £25 from them.