Why clean suspension? Cleaning the suspension is a simple operation that greatly extends the life and performance of our fork and/or shock absorber. Basically we have to remove excess dirt on the stems, dry and lubricate the surfaces.
EQUIPMENT
- paper cloth;
- Non-aggressive specific detergent;
- Rag (cotton);
- Specific product to spread a protective veil.
1. REMOVE DIRT FROM THE FORK
After returning from an outing or after washing the bike, take a cotton rag (impregnated with water and a non-aggressive detergent) and wipe it over the stems. Do not use kitchen Chanteclair.
Go gently the rag around the stems: the goal is to remove traces of dirt, which can be mud, dust and more. Once thoroughly cleaned, compress the shock absorber and/or fork, in order to carry out a second, more thorough cleaning step.
2. CLEAN THE DUST COVERS
Pass the rag around the perimeter of the dust covers, to remove the dirt that has clung to it (as it is the last filter, it is probable that some dirt remains there). Do not use blunt instruments, scissors, electrician's ties or anything else, always go with delicacy: rag or, for the more fussy, cotton swabs.
3. DRY AND LUBRICATE/PROTECT
With a paper towel, dry everything. Take a specific protective product and spray it on the stem (not too much, just a splash). There are many specific products for lubricating the fork.
You buy the suspension several times, and then, with a clean rag, remove the excess. The silicone increases the smoothness of the stem and, at the same time, creates a protective layer.
These products are used a lot, in the racing field, in muddy races to create a protective layer that protects the fork at least in the first phase of the race.
CONCLUSION
It is very important to clean and maintain the suspensions: we see too many suspensions that are not overhauled and then changed for more recent models, when a well-done overhaul would be enough to end up with a practically new fork. As you can see, it's a simple operation because you don't go and act inside the sheaths: that's a practice to be done only by experts.
