Front fork seals. If I do one should I do both.

[surf450]

I am getting ready to fix a leaking seal on one of my bikes front forks. I was wondering if you should do them both or if you can do just one.

[saucebox]

not sure if it was the rite thing to do or not but i just changed one of my fork seals... only one was leaking so thats all that got fixed.. i would recomend putting new oil in the other fork though. why change the seal if its not broken is how i see it

[YZ250F_Rider]

you can but once you do the first one and see how easy it is to do, you'll do the second one too.

or maybe not. ?

[B86_Racer]

If you put both the seals in at the same time, the forks travel the same distance up and down everytime you ride so technically the seals should get the same amount of wear every time you ride it. Don't you think if one seal blows that the other one is just as old and is gonna blow soon? I replace both my seals at the same time, no questions asked. And why would you go to the trouble to replace the oil and not throw a new seal in while you're in there? ?

[grayracer513]

If I applied that logic, I would have put 2 seals in my right fork leg that I didn't need. Fork seals fail mostly because either the seal or lower fork tube gets damaged, not because of age.

However, if you don't know for a fact what the oil level in both sides is, you should change the oil in both when you have one apart so they'll match up.

[RCannon]

I agree with you guys. Does anyone know where I might find one running shoe? The sold is still halfway decent on the left, but the right is hammered. I am also having a hard time finding a five-pack of beer.

I did both seals because my bushings and seals wese suld in sets. The job is messy enough that I did not want to make the mess twice.

[revolucien]

make sure it actually went bad first. some times you can get a little dirt stuck up under the seal and it will make it look like you blew a seal check this link Fork Seal Quick Fix

[B86_Racer]

I agree with you guys. Does anyone know where I might find one running shoe? The sold is still halfway decent on the left, but the right is hammered. I am also having a hard time finding a five-pack of beer.

I did both seals because my bushings and seals wese suld in sets. The job is messy enough that I did not want to make the mess twice.

Totally agree with that!

Why do it half-ass when seals are less than $20 and oil is even less than that!

[Satch0922]

this one is easy....YES

[new2blu]

The quick fix works really well I did this on the YZ I just bought (used) but used a film negative -----no more leaks!

[surf450]

if this easy fix does not work does anyone know of a link that makes changing the seals look a bit less confusing than the repair manual does.

[YZ250F_Rider]

motoman393's page ?

[grayracer513]

Totally agree with that!

Why do it half-ass when seals are less than $20 and oil is even less than that!

Send me $20 and I'll explain it to you. ?

[rws]

Personnally... I've always thought they came in pairs. While I have the bike apart I always change them in pairs. Just figure one is gone... the other can't be far behind so a little preventive maintenance to hopefully avoid the "older" seal from going out while on a ride.

[rws]

Does anyone know where I might find one running shoe? The sold is still halfway decent on the left, but the right is hammered. I am also having a hard time finding a five-pack of beer

That's just funny! ?

[grayracer513]

Maybe, but they are sold individually and, as I have already just now told you once before, the right one has outlasted 2 left ones. But I'm open minded, tell why I should have spent that $40 on seals I didn't need, instead of keeping it.

[rws]

grayracer513,

I agree... I'm not fond of spending money that I don't need to. I guess I have to attribute my spending/maintenance to inexperience. I just assumed that if one was gone...the other was going to be right behind it. However... after reading this post... I will definately check closer before replacing good parts with new [good parts]. I'm still learning new things...even at my age! ? :cry:

[grayracer513]

That would be true if the seals wore out in normal use, but nothing about what happens to the forks on a dirt bike is really very normal. As I said earlier, most fork seals that leak in the first 3 years of their life do so because they are damaged by dirt, or because the tube was damaged (which is what my problem is). Also, it could just have dirt trapped under it, in which case, the "Quick Fix" (do a search, it's a good trick) will work.

I like to learn at least one thing everyday.

As far as age is concerned, just remember, "the people with the most birthdays live the longest". (Mark Twain)

[YZ250F_Rider]

you cheap bastiches are ruining the bling effect of our sport. ?

[KaBooM]

Ride with confidence again...oh and with a 90 day garauntee to back you up. ?

Rob B.