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I have a Fox 34 fork and the thread for the brake hose guide is worn. It is not completely stripped, but on its way out, as I can see bits of magnesium pick-up from the thread on the allen screw and it has that queasy light feel that says "don't you dare try another 1/4 turn!"
I'd welcome advice from anyone that has had and fixed the same issue.
I believe the thread is M3 x 0.5mm pitch. I am thinking this is a helicoil job to repair it. It appears that helicoils are typically 1.5x or 2x diameter, which at best will give me a 6mm thread length. This is a bit shorter than the allen screw, but maybe thats okay, as 6mm of stainless steel thread insert is probably stronger than ~ 10mm of threaded magnesium fork lower.
Any thoughts or suggestions as to how I best fix this?
Drill it out and tap to M4.
Or yeah, a zip tie. Job jobbed.
Ah yeah, I remeber that “hack” (sorry!) Used to use a trimmed down cable ferrule as the “small bit of hose”.
Wish I could see if I’e typed that right, but its covered up by a FGF video 😡
which at best will give me a 6mm thread length. This is a bit shorter than the allen screw, but maybe thats okay
It would be more than enough, especially in that application. Helicoil is an improvement rather than just a fix
Drill and tap to m4 would be my go to. Helicoil fine if you want.
Helicoil it, 6mm is plenty for M3, it's about the same as Rockshox, just look at their bolt, it's just a small section of thread at the bottom of it.
I recently done this to as set of FOX 36's not only was the cable guide threaded, some numpty had drilled out a damaged thread on one of the brake mount holes and wanged in a larger bolt (along with drilling out the brake calipers 'mounting hole to take said larger bolt!)
I tapped out the guide hole and fitted a helicoil using a kit i got on ebay