Front Forks Issue

[Petrostar]

I have an 04 gs500f and am having a problem with the front suspension. The bike seems to ride fine but whenever I brake it seems the front left shock is compressing a bit more. The bike pulls down to that side. I am not sure exactly what it is. These are replacement forks that I purchased from a guy about a year and a half ago and have always done that. Do I need to replace the springs inside them? What would you guys suggest and what might be my best and cheapest option. I am selling this bike as soon as I have it fixed. Thanks for the help, I read the diy fork springs change-out and it seems that it wouldn't be that hard. Thanks ahead of time.

[adidasguy]

Springs! Easy to replace. Can even be done on the bike if you aren't going to change the seals and all the fluid.
$79.97 + $12 postage from sonicsprings.com
0.85's are what most seem to get.
It would seem your forks either have mismatched springs or the fluid level is off on one side.
Also check that the fork brace is tight. And the axle.

[RichDesmond]

Better springs are always a good idea. First thing to check though is your fork oil level. Should be the same on both sides. Change it while you're in there, it really should be done every 10k miles or so. I just do it when I put on a new front tire, since I'm already halfway there at that point.

[BaltimoreGS]

Since you are selling the bike I would try to find someone with stock springs they removed for cheap before buying new sonics.  My 2 cents...

-Jessie

[SAFE-T]

Springs don't wear out, but could definitely have no fork oil in one side, or different amounts/weights. Two different springs would be quite unusual. Even though you're going to sell the bike, $85 for a set of better springs is worth it on a bike known for a softee toffee front end ~ you'll get an extra $100 for the bike and sell it faster if you mention that you've addressed one of the bike's few flaws in your ad.   

[Petrostar]

Is there an easy way to check the bikes oil level in the shocks?

[Petrostar]

Also, Adidas, is there any way the springs in that bent pair of forks I have are any good? Should I just try those?

[mcg2000]

From my mechanical engineering courses, including materials (which covers properties of metals), those springs in your bent forks are definitely still good, as long as where the fork bent at didn't grab onto the spring and cut into it.

A spring can only go bad by either:
1.) Stretching it beyond its material's yield point, which means it will permanently deform.
2.) The spring material is damaged, i.e., a cut into the material (though a small knick shouldn't affect performance) or corrosion.

[adidasguy]

Agree - unless they were bent in half, the springs are probably just fine.

You can check the oil level. Get weight off the front. Take off the caps. Measure the oil. You can see if they match.
Oil level spec are usually done with the springs out and the forks compressed. That can be done on the bike. Have someone push up the front with the springs out. Or put blocks under the front wheel to compress the forks.

Forks must come off to change the seals. You can change MOST of the fluid even on the bike by sucking out the old oil and refilling (though a complete oil change requires them off the bike and pumping them upside down).

[Manaenrc]

I would pull them apart and change the oil. You may have lost some oil in one fork which would cause what your talking about.

If you do need springs let me know I have a good stock set that I just pulled from my 2000. They are in great shape I will sell them cheap.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

[Petrostar]

You guys are so fricking awesome! It's gonna suck I won't have a GS after this. Just my hornet. Thanks and I'll let you guys know what works. Btw, any particular oil You would recommend?

[Manaenrc]

Just stick with the factory 10 weight or even ATF. Since your selling it, oil weight is a personal preference that the buyer will make. But for the sale I would just stick with stock.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

[Petrostar]

So this will seem like a totally retarded thing to ask but I'm gonna do it anyway. Is it possible that when I changed the front forks out to the replacements that I didn't seat the left front fork far enough down? Is that even possible? The forks look brand new with no signs of leaking. The guy I bought them from said they were a matching set. I also replaced the triple clamp at the same time, could that have caused anything to go wrong? Just trying to think of the most simple reason its doing this before ripping apart the forks and re-oiling them. I'm gonna go down and see if I cant lower the left fork a mm or two. Thanks for the help guys.

Peter

[Petrostar]

So.....I know I asked a stupid question up above but I figure I better tell you all I figured out the problem and it wasn't an oil or spring issue. I'm gonna preface this with the fact I was busy during a move when I tried to get this bike assembled, needless to say I was in a hurry. I kept thinking thinking thinking and it was driving me nuts, or...........should I say BOLTS. At the top of the shocks piston there is a clamp that holds it in place. One for each side, except...........the left side. I just found the bolt and tightened it up and zipped up and down  my street. No problems whatsoever. Thanks again to all of you that offered insight, I know you had assumed I wasn't an idiot and obviously thought I had it put together properly. Hope it was good for a laugh!

[adidasguy]

Be sure the oil is the same weight and level.
The forks are level. The axle insures that on the bottom. The tops are level just by looking at the top triple clamp and handlebar plate.
1mm difference in the top of a fork won't make any difference.

Possibilities:
1. Different oil level
2. Different spacer length
3. Extra washers or missing washers in one side.
4. Different springs
5. Bolts in bottom of fork holding things together: one is lose or missing
6. Lower triple not tight
7. Missing wheel spacer on right side of wheel or the one between the wheel bearings
8. Bad wheel bearing
9. Missing spacer on right fork that the axle goes through
10. Axle not tight