DIY suspension service or let the pros do it?

My shocks are 2 years old now. I did a basic lowers clean and lube on the fork a year ago and really ought to open them up again. Does the collective mind think it best to give them to folk who know their onions or should I buy a DIY kit and muddle through it myself?

shocks? you have two shocks on you bike?

You know what I mean.

Until a couple of years ago I always did my own servicing and was happy with it. Sent a rear shock off for a service and wow what a difference. If money isn’t an issue I would send them off, but expect them to feel loads better on their return. If not then next time do it yourself. I always found servicing quite easy to do, but I think having the right spares and makes of oil etc is the key thing.

Forks, generally do them yourself.

Rear shock, if it is nitrogen charged, obviously don’t do it yourself. Also with rear shocks, whilst getting them serviced, it makes sense to get them tuned to your weight/frame/style at the same time.

Do it yourself if it’s working ok.

If its Fox then do it regularly. I’m not knocking Fox, I use 36’s but they are lightly scored from my lack of servicing..

If its rockshox then it’s even easier and my Pikes seem a lot tougher 🙂

Really depends on you. If your good with attention to detail, have a well stocked and clean work area and you are a practical sort of person, give it a go. You may find you need some special tools and a collection of O rings which cost a bit.

The first time you do it, it will take ages and be a fiddle, after that it will get easy. I used to do my Maverick forks.

Personally I do my fork lowers and simple seal change for shocks, but for my Talas 36’s I would send them off.

Even though I have a good workshop and even built an engine for racing in the Caterham 7 series, I just found the £100 cheap enough not to risk wasting a day buggering up my £900 forks.

having a sibling who works in the suspension tuning business help 😈

Personally, I do lowers and air can service myself on a 2 week or 4 week basis, depending on how much mud and grit I’ve been riding through, and how much riding I’ve been doing.

Then I’ll send them all into Simon at LoCo for a proper service every 6 months, and they come back a lot nicer than when I’ve serviced them – and I do my services properly – Motul oil, Slick Grease, new wipers once in a while.

There’s just something different about it when done by Simon, I reckon he adds magic to the oil. 😉

I’m thinking that, as they are largely untouched after 2 years, a proper service might be in order then. Of course by doing them myself I can pretend not to notice the big scratch on the stanchion of the fork.

Front shockers-yes.Back forks-no.

lot of money if it goes wrong or fork/shock becomes damaged from poor servicing. I let the pros do mine.

scratches in stanchion = good thing

because you can justify buying Kashima uppers… 😛

Can you Kashima-ise SIDs?

DIY it did my shock and forks a few weeks ago for the first time. Upgraded to skf seals and wow! what a difference. If things were nt looking too good I would pack them up for the pros.