Leaking forks help !!
Discussion
Noticed on a ride recently one of my forks is leaking. On close inspection the other is misting.
The fork oil isn't pissing out but it is a noticeable leak.
I'm off to Spain in a couple of weeks so popped it into the BMW dealer for new fork seals only to be told both forks have a chip hence the leaks and to replace both stanchions is £1,100. WTF.
I've noticed some rechroming companies out there that'll repair them for £165 but it won't get done in time for Spain. I've also read a tempory fix is a bit of superglue in the chip. That may or may not get me through the trip.
What do I do guys.
Get the bike back and risk it. Get the dealer just to replace the seals and rechrome the forks later. Apart from my dirt bike years ago I've never had this issue before in over 500k miles of biking let alone chips on both forks. How much oil loss does it take for the forks to become dangerous etc etc
The fork oil isn't pissing out but it is a noticeable leak.
I'm off to Spain in a couple of weeks so popped it into the BMW dealer for new fork seals only to be told both forks have a chip hence the leaks and to replace both stanchions is £1,100. WTF.
I've noticed some rechroming companies out there that'll repair them for £165 but it won't get done in time for Spain. I've also read a tempory fix is a bit of superglue in the chip. That may or may not get me through the trip.
What do I do guys.
Get the bike back and risk it. Get the dealer just to replace the seals and rechrome the forks later. Apart from my dirt bike years ago I've never had this issue before in over 500k miles of biking let alone chips on both forks. How much oil loss does it take for the forks to become dangerous etc etc
Harry H said:
How much oil loss does it take for the forks to become dangerous etc etc
Not much as they don't contain much oil to start with, but don't forget the oil that is leaking out is potentially going all over your discs and pads.What bike is it? Have you looked at sourcing used spares?
Or maybe you could polish out the chip as a temporary measure to get you through your trip? Are you sure it is the chips in the Chrome that have caused the seals to fail?
First things first - is there a chip? Them saying there is a chip doesn't mean a lot! I would always validate that for myself, in particular, WHERE the chip is. Not that I don't trust garages....but I don't trust garages.
Secondly - how old is the bike? Can you get used stanchions on ebay and fit yourself?
My Africa Twin had a leaking fork - I replaced the seals with SKF seals (more expensive than Honda).
Still leaked. On advice from a Honda mechanic I replaced again with Honda seals - never leaked again. I had by this time bought a spare stanchion which I've still got in the garage.
J
Secondly - how old is the bike? Can you get used stanchions on ebay and fit yourself?
My Africa Twin had a leaking fork - I replaced the seals with SKF seals (more expensive than Honda).
Still leaked. On advice from a Honda mechanic I replaced again with Honda seals - never leaked again. I had by this time bought a spare stanchion which I've still got in the garage.
J
BMW S1000XR with the electronic suspension
Like I said it's not pissing out but does require a wipe after 75 miles of spirited riding.
How easy is it to top the oil up mid trip in spain if it does become a problem ?
I've read a little super glue as a filler in the chip can be a temp fix. Anyone know if this works ?
Like I said it's not pissing out but does require a wipe after 75 miles of spirited riding.
How easy is it to top the oil up mid trip in spain if it does become a problem ?
I've read a little super glue as a filler in the chip can be a temp fix. Anyone know if this works ?
Harry H said:
BMW S1000XR with the electronic suspension
Like I said it's not pissing out but does require a wipe after 75 miles of spirited riding.
How easy is it to top the oil up mid trip in spain if it does become a problem ?
I've read a little super glue as a filler in the chip can be a temp fix. Anyone know if this works ?
I certainly wouldnt miss out on a holiday because of a leaking fork, worst case tie wrap some rag around the lower part of the leg to stop the oil making its way to brakes and sort it when you return....failing that, let BMW assist sort it.(assuming your still under warranty)Like I said it's not pissing out but does require a wipe after 75 miles of spirited riding.
How easy is it to top the oil up mid trip in spain if it does become a problem ?
I've read a little super glue as a filler in the chip can be a temp fix. Anyone know if this works ?
Id wager topping up the forks with the ESA suspension isnt a roadside thing
Nothing to lose by trying the glue , wasnt it araldite that people used? It would be easier/better suited to smooth down afterwards I would have thought.
Got the bike back to my place to have a good look at the damage. Bizzare thing is the mark to the chrome is on both forks on the outside of the stanchions above the line of the dust seal so you can only see it once the forks have dropped when the front wheel is off the ground.
So the only time this area is exposed is on a tyre/ pad change. Both of which I did myself last time and I'd swear there's no way I would have damaged the forks in the process. That was also a few months ago and the leak is reasonably recent. Or maybe it's taken that long to shag the seals for me to notice the leak.
Was going to try to fill the blemishes with JD weld but then thought the seals would still be shagged anyway even if I did get a perfect finish so they'd need changing probably and even if I did get away without replacing them there's no real way of knowing how much oil I've lost in the process.
Do I really want to be hooning all over Spain worrying about leaking front forks that may or maynot have enough oil in them and how much is being deposited on my discs.
So I've bitten the bullet took it back to the shop and got them to do it. Painfully expensive though and a mystery as to how it happened.
So the only time this area is exposed is on a tyre/ pad change. Both of which I did myself last time and I'd swear there's no way I would have damaged the forks in the process. That was also a few months ago and the leak is reasonably recent. Or maybe it's taken that long to shag the seals for me to notice the leak.
Was going to try to fill the blemishes with JD weld but then thought the seals would still be shagged anyway even if I did get a perfect finish so they'd need changing probably and even if I did get away without replacing them there's no real way of knowing how much oil I've lost in the process.
Do I really want to be hooning all over Spain worrying about leaking front forks that may or maynot have enough oil in them and how much is being deposited on my discs.
So I've bitten the bullet took it back to the shop and got them to do it. Painfully expensive though and a mystery as to how it happened.
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