[Closed] Fork stanchion marks- thoughts?

send a couple of pictures to Windwave and see what they say?

Done. Just never seen this before- Its always been grit/clear wear through trapped grit on seals. I'd hazzard to say its wear however the 'black' is now faintly starting to show through consistently on the other stanchion so on this I'd say its a manufacturing process and will only get worse with use.

Probably ridden twice a week tops so 36 rides.

Warranty is void 'cos you've fitted a mucky nutz bender fender...

😉

At a guess - its happened during storage. Have you put the bike in a car or something, next to another?

I only own one mountain bike and bike is carried inside the car/secured to avoid damaging the car interior.

If ^ happened the stanchion surface would show some form of surface damage/indentation.

So the marks are under the top coating?

I'd just carry on using them tbh.

Yes, if they were secondhand forks I'd continue using and monitor. As they are shop-bought and 4months old I don't see them as acceptable.

If the stanchion on your Fox air shock started 'discolouring' you'd want it replaced if within warranty?

How did you not notice that when you bought them?

IF the marks are under the surface and you cannot feel them at all, then yes ask about warranty.

It may be nothing, however if it's growing/changing it might be a sign of stress or imperfections in the leg that lead to failure.

If they send you a new set of forks - I may be willing to buy them for a few beers and test out the point of possible failure for other people's reference 😉

Im after a CSU. Thats fair.

Hang on - I'm confused

[IMG] [/IMG]

The marks ringed by red in this pic look like surface damage,
The mark ringed by blue is the one you're talking about, right?

I have seen similar before... trying to remember what it was.

The ones in the blue area- you're sure they're changing? Because it could just be imperfections in the anodising that are "baked in" and don't change.

EDIT - there seems to be an issue with STW's server [?] today not fetching pics - the image is located [url= http://tinypic.com/r/m8fqli/8 ]HERE[/url].

No but it does look like it doesn't it! -no thats a reflection of the clothing on arm- as I was trying to angle/take a pic. I checked alround the stanchions with a lint cloth etc.

hora - Member
If the stanchion on your Fox air shock started 'discolouring' you'd want it replaced if within warranty?

I had a Fox air can with stains on the stanchiony bit. Looked like water marks underneath the annodizing. I was told it was normal and would not be replaced under warranty. To be fair it didn't get any worse, just looked a bit cack.

Ah like a mottling? seen that occassionally on Fox stanchions too. Grey seems to show it up worse.

I've found Windwave to be really good on warranty claims for 'zocchis.
When I sent my 44ti back after 3yrs 11 months of abuse, they came back with a new cartridge and serviced, inc new seals. Nice. 😀

Out of interest Hora do they still perform well?

Yes 🙂

the marks ringed in red by GFS looks like something might have been stuck in the seal but the bit circled in blue is a bit weird.
i'll have a look at mine tonight Hora and let you know if i have the same issue

I had a similar marking (the blue circled ones) on my old RC3's. Started off as feint lines like that and I never did anything about it. Eventually it got worse to the point where I ended up with a fairly substantial wear mark, even though I'd stripped them down, cleaned the seals etc. I have a feeling the stanchion was rubbing on the bushing inside the lowers. It never really affected performance though.

Might be something completely different, but those marks do look similar to what I saw on mine.

I love the look of these....its this or Pikes (if I upgrade)...

When was the last time you lifted the seals to clean / lube them?

My Fox forks came from the factory with zero oil in them, which isn't especially surprising now I come to think about it.

@ halo25 - £400 at wiggle...

Have recently pulled my 55cr's apart(see the other thread) wasnt impressed with how little oil is sloshing about inside them - plenty of grease in the air side but once its pushed out of the way then its useless.

Squirted a good 30cc's or so of oil in the lowers before I refitted them but Im possibly expecting longer term issues.

Hora - i've had a look at my forks and there's no discolouration on the stanchions...you must have got a rogue pair...get in touch with Windwave and see what they say

Result: Uppers (CSU) and lowers replaced under warranty. We think it was incorrectly (sized?) bushes/bushes too tight that may have caused the issue.

Fantastic/quick turnaround and service/communication too.

Edit misread. New Fork then.

I was going to say oil impregnation owing to a tight bush. I concluded that was the cause of similar marks on a set of revelations I had (perhaps worth noting that SRAM wouldn't warranty).

Have seen a few brand new forks (from various brands) with 'solids' inside from the construction/machining process, so could also be contamination.

perhaps worth noting that SRAM wouldn't warranty

Interesting that- So they'd call it cosmetics? Even if a (faulty) bush caused it? With that thinking why do manufacturers bother making the stanchions look one colour and uniform..

So they'd call it cosmetics? Even if a (faulty) bush caused it?

Yes, they said cosmetic but the tight bush was my own conclusion. I've seen similar discolouration caused by the seals on the lowers. Reckon that's why RS are now murdered out!

A lint cloth? Maybe that's your problem, try a lint free cloth