Fork seals gone bad?

[Prick]

Hey everyone,


I've been lurking here for awhile but this is my first post... be gentle


Anyways I took my gs500 to the shop and they told me the fork seals were shot and it would take 3 hours of labor and nearly $250 to replace them with labor and parts... Is this right, or are the trying to screw me?

Should I try to attempt this myself? I've never attempted anything similar to this. I figure I might as well throw in some pregressive springs while I'm at it.

What do you guys think,

thanks

[BUZZIN]

It looks like you're getting a Labor Rate of about $65 per hour or less.  I'm looking at my invoice for Seals, Progressive Springs, Fork Oil and Labor.  It breaks down as follows:

$  25.96  Oil Seals
$  29.34  Dust Seals
$  79.95  Progressive Springs
$    7.90  Fork Oil
$229.40  Labor (3.1 hrs @ $74)
$    4.00  Shop Supplies
------------------------------------
$376.55  TOTAL

[dond6]

If you can do some work for yourself you can save a lot of money.  The oil seals and dust seals I purchased for $40 total.  The progressive springs with shipping were $70 and the fork oil was $4. That would be a total of $114.  sure is a big difference from $376 and $250.

[baco99]

is it necessary to replace the springs with the fork oil and seals?  I need to replace the seals and oil on mine, but the springs seem OK. 

Also, where the heck do i get SAE 10 fork oil!???

Finally, how do I get the lower Hex nut off to separate the tube from the outter fork?  I've tried it by hand, but the tube keeps spinning.  Is there a trick to it?

[jordanearl]

theres a special tool you can make at home, search for it, should be in the faq's

[baco99]

found it.  thanks.... (goes back to Home Depot...)

[starwalt]

is it necessary to replace the springs with the fork oil and seals?  I need to replace the seals and oil on mine, but the springs seem OK.

There is a design limit on the relaxed spring. It is referred to as "Front fork spring free length." This service limit depends on the year model and the market. US markets were 10 inches prior to 2001. 2001 + it became 10.6 inches.

The spring would have to be removed and on the bench to measure it, so while you've got it all apart...check it out.  Anything less than the limit means replacement.

Many people want more feeling on their front end, thus the switch to progressive springs while they are in there.

[werase643]

also get 20W fork oil at a bike shop
it will slow down the front end dive a little bit

[busterkat]

I ordered the seals,dust seals,seal retainer clips, and 15w fork oil from bikebandit. I changed all the parts and also added 1 1/2 inch spacers in about 2 hours. Holy crap what a difference it made.DO it yourself its not that hard. In that 2 hours i also changed the oil adjusted the chain and washed the bike.

[average]

I agree; do it yourself! You will save yourself ATLEAST $200! I know i did