Shock lubes?

**homerjay** · 05-01-2006, 12:58 PM

Looking for a good lubricant for fork stanchions and/or rear shocks. Searched on MTBR but too much 'blah blah blah' so I come here for the skinny.

whatchu got?

**marshalolson** · 05-01-2006, 12:59 PM

i heart "fork fixtion" spray on @ seal, cycle a few times, wipe off. makes your fork feel like new.

**El Chupacabra** · 05-01-2006, 01:01 PM

Tri-Flow and even plain motor oil used to be recommended by Manitou. No idea if it matters for certain forks.

**zion zig zag** · 05-01-2006, 03:47 PM

phils tenacious oil seems to work well.

**homerjay** · 05-01-2006, 04:02 PM

Not looking for shock oil, looking for stuff for stanchions and seals.

Finish Line makes something, but I'm looking for something along that's easy to find and not too expensive. I've heard petroleum based materials can be bad for the seals, as well as the volatiles in silicone spray.

marsh, as always, I'll heed your advice and go lookin' for that stuff.

safe to say it's good for the externals of the RP3, right?

**flowtron** · 05-01-2006, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by marshalolson

i heart "fork fixtion" spray on @ seal, cycle a few times, wipe off. makes your fork feel like new.

Ditto that.

Dunno about using it on rear shocks tho. I'd recommend just wiping down the dust wiper when yer done riding.

**marshalolson** · 05-01-2006, 05:33 PM

i have never used it on a rear shock, but it is $$$ for sure on the front - just spray some one whenever the fork is a little sticky. rebuild in can form.

I couldn't imagine it would be any different on the rear... but i'm not sure you really need it in the back. as FLOWTRON said, keep the rear clean, and yer good. less going on back there anyways, since the pivots take the abuse more than the rear shock and it is more sheltered tucked into the frame.

**AfroMullet** · 05-01-2006, 05:48 PM

any teflon drip lube works wonders. keep your stanchions and seals clean, and your fork will love you a LOT longer. trust me.

**1wsguy** · 05-01-2006, 08:32 PM

I like using "Slick Honey" , escpecially for rear shocks. It's a thin grease, slick as shit, and very tenacious. Its great for the inner seals in Fox float rear shocks.

**juanmotime** · 05-01-2006, 08:54 PM

I second the Slick Honey, I use it for my front and rear fox shocks.

**marshalolson** · 05-01-2006, 09:14 PM

since it seems like quite a few people need to get on the fork fixtion tip:

as far as i know, fork fixtion is the only lube that can be applied to the external dust seal and actually penetrate inside the inner oil seal and lubricate the bushings and won't cause the oil to emulsify. obviously oil can't penetrate the inner oil seal (since it is designed to keep oil from getting out) and motor oil tends to emulsify the fork oil REALLY FAST. teflon (aka tri-flow) can cause the seals to dry slightly (the teflon bonding to the rubber) so once the teflon coat is worn through after a few rides, the seal is in worse condition than you started. philT is bearing lube, and works wonders on sealed cartridge bearings, but will empulsify fork oil too. slick honey works best when inside the fork, if you put it on the bushing and inner oil seals while rebuilding a fork. if applied externally, it tends to attract dirt and is too thick to completely enter the first (dust) seal, so basically all that it does is lubricate the stanction, and then attract dirt.

**flowtron** · 05-01-2006, 09:50 PM

[QUOTE=marshalolson]since it seems like quite a few people need to get on the fork fixtion tip:
Dropping knowledge!
QUOTE]

Ditto on all counts. Well said.
No offense intended, but the thought of Phils Tenacious on fork stanchions gives me the willies.
Fork fixtion in a fix, but generally, wiping down dust seals and servicing the internals of your fork (oil change/cleaning)once, maybe twice a season (if you have long seasons with lots of miles) is what this particular bike doc recommends. Less is more.

Marshal, we're gonna have to ride bikes then drink beer and talk about bikes sometime soon. Sometimes I ride bikes and drink beer too.

**dfinn** · 05-01-2006, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by juanmotime

I second the Slick Honey, I use it for my front and rear fox shocks.

I third this stuff but I only apply a couple of times a season.

**m1e448** · 05-01-2006, 11:17 PM

M prep is about the same thing, I've been know to use it on occaision, but will agree with marshal; it tends to suck thing inside or you dust seals.

**1wsguy** · 05-02-2006, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by marshalolson

since it seems like quite a few people need to get on the fork fixtion tip:

slick honey works best when inside the fork, if you put it on the bushing and inner oil seals while rebuilding a fork. if applied externally, it tends to attract dirt and is too thick to completely enter the first (dust) seal, so basically all that it does is lubricate the stanction, and then attract dirt.

I should have clarified my post; I use slick honey inside when rebuilding fork/shock: Marshal's right it will attract dirt if used externally.