How hard is it to change the front forks?

dodgyknees

Finally got round to getting new front forks but how easy/hard is it to replace them?

Bike is a GT Aggressor with Dart 1 forks and the new ones I've got are Tora SL's.

LBS quoted me 'around' £25 to swap them over but I was thinking of trying it myself, if it's not too difficult and you don't need special tools.

cullen_bay

undo your stem bolts and the cap on top of the steerer, slide out your forks.

slide in new forks and tighten bolts (if the steerer is the right length, otherwise you may want to add/remove spacers to make sure the thing is safe to ride!)

hope this helps

Pete-C

You will also need to install a new star nut and remove the crown race from the old fork and replace it on the new fork steerer

cullen_bay

forgot about that, you sometimes need a special tool to take off the crown race :shock:

Pete-C

you will definetely need a tool for the star nut, but you should manage the crown race with a flathead screwdriver

rhext

I like this guide:

http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article.asp?uan=3025

The headset-fitting one is a gem too, and well worth reading first:

http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article.asp?uan=3014

dodgyknees

Thanks for the tips guys. Think I might give it a go although a bit concerned about cutting the steerer on the new fork which is pretty long.

rhext

Many people recommend using a metal jubilee clip to go round the fork at the point you wish to cut it. If lined up properly in the right place it will not only provide you with a good guide for the saw, it will also protect the steerer from damage should you slip slightly while starting the cut.

The reason I know this: I was contemplating building a bike myself, but decided (after some research) that possessed as I am of 8 thumbs and two fingers trying this sort of stuff would be stupid. So while I can pass on other people's suggestions, I can't personally guarantee that any of them actually work.

rhext

Of course, you can always buy a proper steerer cutting guide from Park tools or the like which should make it completely foolproof.

UncleMonty

I've just replace my forks for the first time, removing the crown race was a real bitch, had to take it to a shop in the end, well two shops to be precise, the 2nd shop (Stif) had the proper tool but it still wouldn't budge, they had to use brute force and it caused a little damage to my old forks which they did warn might happen.

I used the jubilee clip method to cut the tube and got it nice and square, fitted the star nut using a long bolt I had spare, just threaded onto the star nut and knocked down with a hamer, logger bolt the better - easier to keep straight.

hairy_boy

Its relatively straightforward if your a handy type.

I used a clamp off the kids trampoline as a guide for the hacksaw to cut the steerer tube down. The clamp on the trampoline holds the legs to the long net support tubes but it was an ace guide once tightened onto the steerer tube (small piece of lino between the clamp and the steered tube to avoid marking the steerer with the clamp). Hope this makes sense - basically just a diy saw guide to stop the hacksaw blade wandering, worked like a dream.

I used this star washer tool: http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=328&categoryId=31

The crown race should come off if gentley persuaded with a hammer and flat bladed screwdriver - working your way round steadily to ease it up the steerer tube little by little.

rowlers

use a knife to get the crown race moving, the edge makes it easier to sneak in!
then tap up with screw driver - piece of p|ss!

ride_whenever

i swapped over forks in about 10 minutes the other day, but i have a split crown race so it goes on and comes off by hand.

daniel_owen_uk

Swapped mine to a tora (from an RST Gila), followed a guide I found on web, wasn't rocket science, but maybe I got lucky.

I didn't have to fit a star nut as it was already fitted.

RichMTB

I ise a socket se extension to fit the star nut, they are just the right size to get the nut nice and straight