Forum menu
Allo,
I've got a 2016 bossnut (no cable routing for stealth dropper post) and my current dropper post has just died. I'm looking for reccomendations. I'd prefer one that uses a suspension style (serviceable) air spring. the dead dropper was an RSP plummet and I'd been happy with it until it broke, it had survived my 16 stone carcass smashing on it round a few trail centres every year. What killed it was the little pin that actutates/opens the piston port on the sealed cartridge spring has broken meaning there is no way to disengage the spring pressure. Looking at the model number on the cartrige it is a WDF AH1635-1 made by WDF in Tiawan
https://www.wdf-gasstrut.com/webls-en-us/product-AH16%E6%9F%94%E6%80%A7%E5%A4%96%E7%89%99-AH16%E6%9F%94%E6%80%A7%E5%A4%96%E7%89%99.html
I know everyone seems to be raving about the brandX droppers at the moment but I beleive they are based on similiar Sealed cartridge spring unit. I like the look of the Merida expert TR dropper as it is a serviceable spring, but I think it is steath routing only. The only option appears to be a PNW coast but I don't know anyone who has one. I don't mind spending £150-250 on a new post if I can expect it to last 4 or 5 years rather than 2 years.
What does everyone think? Has anyone drilled a hole in their bossnut seat tube? Should I stop worrying and buy a brandX like everyone else?
Happy new year all.
I was one of the people who raved about the cheap brand x ones. Until it died. Along with one of my friends one. All the sealed cartridges.
However, it is worth taking into account they do sell the cartridges for £30 and all the other bits and bobs you would need like new brass keys to reduce play etc and I've stripped mine to clean and regrease a number of times. Also I bought mine second hand but my friends were new and they were warrantied with no issues
I've had similar thoughts/issues with cartridge based droppers.
The cartridge fails and it's bin fodder.
Used to hate my reverb due to having to send it back repeatedly but once I started servicing it myself, it's my favourite.
Also got an old KS dropper which is a similar design, basically two tubes and an IFP.
If either play up I can rebuild them with minimal cost/down time
On the basis the likes of brand x and Oneup and the other similar posts all have a user replaceable cartridge for around £30 I think that’s hard to beat tbh. No special tools required as far as I’m aware and you can buy the replacement bushes / brass keys etc.
Not many are external routing though - brand x is the only one I’m aware of - although there must be others. I think Trans X make a lot of the posts and they’re just re-branded.
Specialized Command Post is pretty user serviceable. Can't speak for the latest ones but have a couple of older ones and they are easy to work on.
In fact, alot of them use the same internals. Maybe check if the brand x cartridge will work in your RSP to save buying a new dropper?
On the basis the likes of brand x and Oneup and the other similar posts all have a user replaceable cartridge for around £30 I think that’s hard to beat tbh.
Just took a look on Google and looks like you can get them easily now.
When I last used a cartridge dropper, sure you could just replace the cartridge but try getting one in the UK for much less than a new post.
Bikeyoke Revive is relatively pricey but a basic user service (seals, lube, keys) is very easy. Not gone deeper myself but I understand the principal of user serviceability continues and I doubt further work is likely to be needed.
I have an E-Thirteen TRS+. A bit pricey new, but second hand they come within reach.
Fully strip downable to the level of molecules. It's spring powered, no Air or hydraulics anywhere in sight. Service kit with every wear and tear part is £40, with nothing more than reguar shop tools you can have it back up and running beautifully.
For some reason Reverb's seem to have fallen out of favour. If you're after something you can service yourself you don't need to look any further. I've got a few of these on the go & two of them have at some point developed a bit of squish. Apart from this they've been faultless & resetting the oil height has fixed the issue. The problem with these things is that they generally get neglected until something goes south at which point they need seals & parts. The later posts all came with the SKF floating seal which solved some of the issues. The other high wear item is the lower bush. It's counterintuitive & you'd think that the top bush would be the one to wear out first. But any dirt/debris & water that's in the seat tube can end up getting into the vents in the bottom of the post. This gets past the felt seal & mixes with the grease wearing out the lower bush. The PTFE bushes are pretty fragile & can be replaced with sleeve bearings from Bearingboys which last a lot longer. There are bought in 30mm lengths. WMG2225-30 Sleeve Bearing & WMG2528-30 Sleeve Bearing & cut to length. I use Shimano oil in mine & have had no issues other than those above.