How To Perform A Lower Leg Service In Just 5 Minutes

How To Perform A Lower Leg Service In Just 5 Minutes | Basic Suspension Service

Рет қаралды 90,005

Жыл бұрын

We rely on our mountain bike suspension forks to smooth out the trails and absorb the impact of jumps, drops, roots and rocks. But, over time all suspension units need a service! If you are an aspiring home mechanic follow Anna Cipullo on this 5-minute video on how to refresh your fork or perform some preventative maintenance 🔧
Useful Links:
Watch #shorts on GMBN 👉 gmbn.eu/GMBNshorts
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 upload.gmbn.com/tech
Black Friday Sale - Up To 50% Off 🛒 👉 gmbn.tech/BlackFriday22
Have you ever tried to service your own suspension? If not, are you going to give it a try after watching this video? Let us know 👇
Watch more on GMBN Tech...
📹 Lower Leg Fork Service 👉 gmbn.tech/lowerlegservice
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 gmbn.tech/editorschoice
📹 Watch our weekly show 👉 gmbn.tech/TechShowPlaylist121
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound
Colorimetry - Shiruky
Diffuser - Shiruky
#gmbntech #gmbn #mtb #mountainbiking
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community - and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond.
Every day of every month, our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Adventurous and entertaining features
Mountain bike skills coaching
Technical advice and guidance
Mechanical know-how to keep you rolling
A place for the riding community with our weekly Dirt Shed Show
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: gmbn.eu/Canyon
Nukeproof Bikes: gmbn.eu/nukeproof
Orbea Bikes: gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: gmbn.eu/ParkTool
POC helmets and eyewear: gmbn.eu/POCsports
Crankbrothers Pedals: gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Dainese Protection: gmbn.eu/Dainese
Ergon: gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: gmbn.eu/Vittoria
FSA: gmbn.eu/fsa
e*thirteen: gmbn.eu/EThirteen
Spank: gmbn.eu/Spank
Topeak: gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: gmbn.eu/Garmin
Muc-Off - gmbn.eu/Muc-Off
Wahoo: gmbn.eu/WahooTraining
Komoot: gmbn.eu/Komoot
Worx Power Tools: gmbn.eu/Worx
CamelBak: gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Watch our sister channels:
Global Mountain Bike Network - / gmbn
Electric Mountain Bike Network - / embn
Global Cycling Network - / gcn
GCN Tech - / gcntech
GCN Racing - / gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network - / gtn
GCN Italia - / gcnitalia
GCN en Espanol - / gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch - / gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Francais - / gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan - / gcnjapan
GCN Training - / gcntraining

Пікірлер: 139

@gmbntech 6 ай бұрын

We recommend you remove all air from any air spring when servicing air forks, rear-shocks, and dropper seat posts. Different brands, models and model years will have different internals and it is important to be confident in knowing to the best of your knowledge that no air is contained within the system.

@fe9523 6 ай бұрын

how often is the recommendation for this one?

@ThunderStruckMTB Жыл бұрын

In my opinion, removing, cleaning and greasing the air spring should always be a part of any lower leg service. It adds 10 minutes max and makes an enormous difference in performance as well as o-ring life. Not doing it is like changing the oil in your car and not changing the filter.

@matthewallen5590 Жыл бұрын

yes ideally and this is pretty easy with most forks, not 38's though, you've got to have shaft clamps, blow torch (if needed), shaft bullet tool, and a set knipex or I think a 13mm spanner (have always used knipex on mine 😅) would have been good to mention doing though

@Adam-vm8kp Жыл бұрын

@@matthewallen5590 yeah absolute ballache on a 38

@sufyanm4661 10 ай бұрын

@@matthewallen5590 well, this is a little annoying to know now, but also good timing. Im sure it wont annoy me when i go to service it :)))

@newttella1043 Жыл бұрын

More of these quick "refresher" videos, please.

@alteredshape7611 Жыл бұрын

Im about to do this service to my 38's and needed a refresher..thanks GMBN Tech

@cryoexn7307 5 ай бұрын

Usually before putting the lowers back on I think it’s also recommended to add some suspension grease to the dust wipers

@lozetchells9164 Жыл бұрын

Really useful video, thank you. Have rediscovered my cajones and will attempt my Fox 36 myself, especially since my LBS won't!

@6295607 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Took me an hour to do it..

@joedatuknow Жыл бұрын

Thanks for information

@gmbntech Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! We're glad you found this one useful! 👍

@mudko3589 23 күн бұрын

I didn’t have a press, but a 2 inch piece of PVC cut to 3 inches with a cap worked great to set the wiper

@DARRENTRANCE Жыл бұрын

There's gonna be plenty of lower legs flying across the room after watching this 🤣😂.

@ZhengZL69 Жыл бұрын

The air chamber doesn't even matter on a lower leg service.

@DARRENTRANCE Жыл бұрын

@@ZhengZL69 every video I've seen they drop air pressure and I've stuck to it every time and not gonna try and see what happens if I don't 🤣😂

@ZhengZL69 Жыл бұрын

@@DARRENTRANCE It is good practice to do so, but it is definitely not necessary. Fox doesn't do so in their world cups to save time. I do take the air out cause I don't trust my self either but it won't blow anything up haha.

@DARRENTRANCE Жыл бұрын

@@ZhengZL69 🤣😂👍

@DARRENTRANCE Жыл бұрын

@@ZhengZL69 well I've just serviced my fox 36 forks and left air in the system and lower legs didn't shoot across the living room floor 😂🤣. So definitely ok without dropping air pressure 👍

@jzgibsneanzeije5530 Жыл бұрын

I know somebody who uses lawnmower oil in forks and i believe it worked

@NonLegitNation2 Жыл бұрын

I SWEAR TO GOD you guys are psychic I decided yesterday that i was going to do a lower leg service for the first time on my fork today and then you guys upload this video, that is so crazy. The disassembly on mine is a bit different though since it's a Rockshox Recon.

@MrKeynoet Жыл бұрын

What oil did you use and was it different for both sides

@_TheDeanMachine 11 ай бұрын

I'm confused about something. Reading the manual for my fox 38 it only lists the 125 hour full service, and makes no mention of the lower leg service?

@hannes6114 Жыл бұрын

Not greas on the dust wipers?

@corpsmanhm8404 6 ай бұрын

I have a 2021 Fox Factory Float 34 in 27.5" and I wanted to convert it to 29". Some searches and forums indicated that it was as easy as buying the corresponding 29" lower legs. is that case ? thanks...

@Bizzybugproductions Жыл бұрын

How much would all of those tools cost?

@PerfodDk 7 ай бұрын

Grip and grip and grip 2 is 40cc WT5 and Fit 4 damper is 15cc WT20 so you just got it wrong

@mecorodriguez4639 7 ай бұрын

I followed every instruction. My uppers flew across the room and embedded themselves in the televison. And the lowers broke my foot.

@johnhouston8297 3 ай бұрын

What?! Lol I hope you're kidding otherwise I'm sorry if not.

@tyfreeman6307 2 ай бұрын

If I am hearing a swooshing sound on my factory 36 fork, what should I do? Its been making the sound before and after I had my 100 hour seal service.

@daras1288 8 ай бұрын

You should revise/correct the instructions for the oil volume in this video. I should have checked the instructions for my Grip2 damper 38 of course, but you claimed that you have Grip2 at 1st and Fit4 later. You also mentioned the wrong type of oil (20wt) for Grip2 as well as volume. Now I can start taking my fork apart again.

@mazijibs 6 ай бұрын

I also noticed this just before purchasing oil for my rebuild. The chart is Right on fox's website.

@kayakutah 7 ай бұрын

Crush washers "if you need3ed it"? Do you ever not neeed them? If they're in good shape can you just reuse them?

@THEGEEK2001 Жыл бұрын

I use toliet brush for lowers cleaning....

@aliancemd Жыл бұрын

She is saying that you just need something soft, to soak the oil out. A toilet brush might be a bit too rough, it’s intended to break and remove material

@THEGEEK2001 Жыл бұрын

@@aliancemd yea bud. I'm telling you what I use. When I serviced older Judy's and darts the oil is more like jam 😂👍

@beccawilson7712 Жыл бұрын

What kind of syringes are those?

@marcelknop1 Жыл бұрын

Hmmm- at 3:30, using the outer cable housing to push the towel through is probably not a great idea, especially when you use the cable housing end that has still clearly got some metal housing lining sticking out that can scratch those lower inners, and the housing is still curved which will definitely catch the sides of the lowers as you push it further in.

@MrSupermugen Жыл бұрын

lower leg also needs to include air spring - it plays such a bit part... Not doing the air spring is like changing car oil without doing the filter. IMO the Air spring needs to be pulled from every fork when new as they are rubbish feeling because of the grease.

@hodgo1981 Жыл бұрын

100% the equilizer port is often clogged from new, or like with my partner's 3 year old bike equilizer port suddenly got clogged.

@CJUrbex 11 ай бұрын

do you not need to take the air out first? i always did this to my older forks going off other videos? unless these newer forks dont need the air taking out ? just curious thanks :)

@AnotherMrLizard 6 ай бұрын

It’s good practice to do it with every fork, but for just a lower keg service it’s not required. The air pressure is inside the leg with the air spring if you’re not removing that then it’s fine unless you suspect the seals are leaking.

@mkrj2576 Жыл бұрын

A question…. Is the damper open bath? It’s been quite a few years since my last Fox.

@hannes6114 Жыл бұрын

I THINK that it is an assembly like the charger 2.1 for example

@erikanzenmtb3124 Жыл бұрын

Its a cartridge but it’s semi open. It’s made to ingress a bit of oil from the lowers and equalize itself

@mkrj2576 Жыл бұрын

@@erikanzenmtb3124 makes sense. Thanks

@ze_pilot 5 ай бұрын

I’ve finally started diving deeper in to my own maintenance starting with this. A lower fork refresh. As I was dumping out the old fluid, I noticed that both came out clean and the same color of gold, leading me to believe they had 20wt in each side when the mx instructions for my fork require 5wt on the damper (grip2). During the year that I rode it, I noticed that I didn’t notice much of a difference when playing with rebound. I’m guessing that’s why. The question I have is how likely is it that I did some damage to the damper side riding it with 20wt? Should I overhaul the whole fork? When I bought this bike last fall, I brought it in to my local shop (whom I’m not using anymore because they’ve really gotten bad after switching management) to get a full work up done since the guy I bought it from had it in storage for a couple years. One thing they did was a fork overhaul.

@AnotherMrLizard 4 ай бұрын

100% should be 5wt Teflon damper side for grip and grip2. Ideally a full damper strip and rebuild with the correct oil. The grip2 isn’t fully sealed so 20wt will have got in and won’t play nice with the seals. Some people still soak both foam rings in 20wt but that’s minor but considering that leg should have 40cc in the lowers it’s a much more significant amount.

@robertwhiteson7750 5 ай бұрын

Why do you shake the oils before using?

@AlexanderRoelofs Жыл бұрын

How is that standard called? Cant find anything when googling suspension stand

@andrewh7345 2 ай бұрын

It’s just a park tool bike stand. You just put the steerer tube where you would otherwise put the bike frame or seat post in the clamp

@bobbydebobadibob1261 Жыл бұрын

so no sus grease on the seals?

@scottwinchester6162 Жыл бұрын

I'd put sram butter or something on ur seals

@bobbydebobadibob1261 Жыл бұрын

@@scottwinchester6162 for some reason I still call it Judy Butter!

@gabe4381 Жыл бұрын

My fork is leaking oil, I brought it to the specialist at my bike store, but they don't know what to do...

@hannes6114 Жыл бұрын

How do you clean out the inside of the lowers completely? Last service I had a bit of dirt in there

@NonLegitNation2 Жыл бұрын

put a rag on something long, spray some alcohol or brake cleaner (if you use brake cleaner watch that you don't get any on the paint) inside the lower leg then clean it out with the rag on the stick. I haven't done it personally ( I plan on servicing my fork later today though for the first time) but from all the videos I've watched that Is what the people did.

@hannes6114 Жыл бұрын

@@NonLegitNation2 what dors brake cleaner do to paint?

@NonLegitNation2 Жыл бұрын

@@hannes6114 it can strip the paint, because alot of brake cleaners are mostly acetone.

@davidbea3711 Жыл бұрын

@@NonLegitNation2 SO WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE TO BREAK CLEANER ??

@paulfraley7990 Жыл бұрын

Isopropyl. See 11:18 of this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/odJ6nKirsJq9eaM.html

@QoraxAudio 11 ай бұрын

What about coil suspensions?

@Adam-vm8kp 11 ай бұрын

Same process for air or coil. Z1 coil bomber or a push 36 conversion would be the same.

@fatrobdouble 2 ай бұрын

Did you know that "mil" is not short for "millimeter?" A mil is one thousandth of an inch, so your "15 mil wrench" is equal to, like 0.381mm

@ZeeFrankensteel 2 ай бұрын

it's all about context and non formal talk. Working on a car, replacing a part,,,Yo Fred, pass me that 10mil spanner, meaning in a slang\jargon way 10mm. Working on engine rebuild....Hey Fred, you think 10 mil is fine for clearance? Then you'll know it's 10 thousands. All about context...you knew that right?

@fatrobdouble 2 ай бұрын

@@ZeeFrankensteel no, you're gonna ask for "the ten," not for a "10 mil spanner." Most of these ppl who say "mil" instead of "millimeter" do not know what a "mil" is when asked. Sure, i can figure out what they mean via context, but it doesn't make it less goofy to use the wrong term

@ZeeFrankensteel 2 ай бұрын

@@fatrobdouble You are in fact right....I'll ask for a 10 spanner (without the mil), but I'll say the bolt is a 10 mil or mm, whatever I feel like on that day. Cheers!

@hannes6114 Жыл бұрын

I wonder how you dispose the oil

@iansteward4708 Жыл бұрын

In your morning shake.

@1spiders1 Ай бұрын

She’s actually got this wrong, 8:10 according to fox bath oil chart it’s 40cc 5wt for grip 2 and 15 cc for fit 4 !

@djambush360 Жыл бұрын

How to easy service a fork: go back to 1999; buy a Marzocchi bomber Jr. T or Mr. T; clean shaft and seals every now and then; change the slightly oiling shaft seals in 2021 and renew the oil; ride on ....

@BrainiacManiac142 Жыл бұрын

Do you have to let all the air out first?

@julianw5692 Жыл бұрын

Yes definitely. Otherwise you have a cannon.

@paulfraley7990 Жыл бұрын

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/odJ6nKirsJq9eaM.html hmmm, unless I missed it, they don’t mention letting air out there either. Certainly something to find out for sure

@CalzorSuzay Жыл бұрын

There's no air in the lowers otherwise it would all blow through the stanchion seals. The air is inside the bit left in the clamp not the lowers you take off.

@dariusf2 Жыл бұрын

Yes, you do let the air out, crazy they did not mention it first.

@kevinxodemonth Жыл бұрын

You’re only doing a lower leg service, i.e., removing the lowers. The highly pressurised air spring chamber is in the upper (the Kashima coated part of the fork). If you’re doing a full service, OR removing/adding volume spacers, it is CRITICAL to release all the air first. Otherwise it’s perfectly safe.

@pmbsuspension Жыл бұрын

The video show 40ML of PTFE oil going back in the lower leg not taking into account the PTFE oil that is already sticking on the surface of the CSU and Lower Leg and has not been removed. 40ML is only when it is all clean and dry.

@kakoulosh Жыл бұрын

VALID comment.... too bad that your channel is in French and my French are not that good to follow you. Merci!

@peterrick3339 Жыл бұрын

And, also, there is the oil within the tube on the end of the syringe itself. The amount looks like it could be an extra half at a minimum of the amount of oil required. Once the correct oil amount is in the syringe, remove the tube and drain it, blow it out & refit to the syringe.

@benjy288 Жыл бұрын

I just use engine oil for the fork lowers, its only there to lubricate, so I can't see how it can effect performance like changing the oil weight in the actual damper will.

@cameronrobertson9518 Жыл бұрын

With some forks the damper bleeds itself with the bath oil so it needs to match the damper fluid

@benjy288 Жыл бұрын

@@cameronrobertson9518 OK, I assume that's not the case with the motion control damper, because about a year and a half ago I changed the damper oil from 5wt to 2.5wt to help with fast braking bumps, and haven't noticed the damping get firmer with engine oil in the lowers.

@Offroader74 Жыл бұрын

#gmbntech Since the oil in the lowers is only there to lubricate, I don't see the need to have different oil weights for each side. The damper is a closed cartridge so it shouldn't matter

@obi-wankenobi9871 10 ай бұрын

Engine oils are often synthetic and might contain esters. The NBR seals commonly found in forks are not chemically resistant to esters. There is no international standard for what constitutes a synthetic engine oil, so you should definitely be careful with what your pour into your forks. While you dont need to buy exactly what the manufacturer recommends, at least use an oil from the same class as the original product. In this case that would be a mineral oil.

@benjy288 10 ай бұрын

@@obi-wankenobi9871 Ok, but for what its worth I've been using engine oil for years without any problems, and I just googled the safety details on rockshox suspension oil, which is just rebranded maxima plush suspension oil, and its 60 to 90 percent synthetic base oil.

@David-np4vo Жыл бұрын

😊👍👍

@matthewallen5590 Жыл бұрын

I mean good intentions were there but fuck don't shove outer cable into your lowers for starters!

@AnotherMrLizard 6 ай бұрын

I doubt outer housing would damage the bushings, they’re extremely hard.

@cyanginpedro Жыл бұрын

👍✌️

@alexl3640 Жыл бұрын

Ах какая женщина!!!!!!!!!!!

@PuMaRaping Жыл бұрын

Who did spot that the presenter didn't remove the air from the syringe so she didn't really put the supposed volume of oil into the fork?

@marcovie Жыл бұрын

NB!!!! - REMOVE AIR BEFORE YOU DO THIS. It is not in the video.

@TheMatt365 Жыл бұрын

Not for this service...

@kevinxodemonth Жыл бұрын

You’ve either: (a) not watched the video (b) never performed a lower leg service Which is it?

@marcovie Жыл бұрын

@@kevinxodemonth I have done both fork manufacture recommend taking out air for safety. So not sure what you implying? Safety first.

@TheMatt365 Жыл бұрын

@@marcovie like was mentioned in the video...this is for people that don't need their hands held. You're nowhere near the pressurized air chamber on this...

@marcovie Жыл бұрын

Sure but if you don't teach that mindset then people do rear shock and forget. I always remove air not sure what the problem is.

@krzysiu4003 Жыл бұрын

Lefty loosy unless it’s a Manitou.

@Morpheas001 Жыл бұрын

Lol, learnt that the hard way myself.

@dariusf2 Жыл бұрын

No need to remove air?

@martincantwell2557 Жыл бұрын

Not unless you're taking out the air shaft to clean/ re-grease the piston.

@kornizz5549 Жыл бұрын

Why do you shake the oil 🤦‍♂️

@HarryL2020 10 ай бұрын

You mixed up the oils at 5:40, you said 20wt with grip and 5wt Fit4 😅 in the video you did use the correct oil though.

@TheDirthound 6 ай бұрын

Hmm if it takes 5 minutes why does my bike shop want to charge $100.

@mikebillett7935 Жыл бұрын

Nice… shaking the fork oil before putting it in…… Nothing quite like nicely frothed hydraulic fluid. 😅😅😅😅

@downhillmtber2521 Жыл бұрын

Gmbn videos taking another step for the worst. It's a shame, used to be the best.

@roythearcher Жыл бұрын

not all forks are Fox, how about some alternatives?

@mattgies Жыл бұрын

Do not use a torque wrench as a ratchet. Please lead by example.

@mazijibs 6 ай бұрын

To be honest, video is not informative enough. DONT LET THIS BE THE ONLY VIDEO YOU WATCH. important steps are missing which can lead to injury or death. Also, the quoted oil weights and volumes are wrong. They got fit 4 and grip 2 mixed up.

@maplic 10 ай бұрын

"Basically trying to be as gentle as possible, not to scratch the lowers with anything, so soft cable is my preference" Proceeds to jam a cable housing with exposed steel wiring through the aluminum lowers.