Squeeky on shocks?

diamondbacker
diamondbacker Posts: 224
edited July 2009 in MTB workshop & tech
My front shocks began squeeking a bit tonight and just wondered what causes it? Is it a problem and if so how do I fix it? Thanks

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    so your forks a squeaking.

    I will turn on the ESP and see if i can work out WHAT FORKS you have.......

    Sorry you have not activated ESP at your end.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • diamondbacker
    diamondbacker Posts: 224
    Does it really matter? I thought there might be general problems that can cause such a problem regardless of model. No need to be sarky.

    Suntour XC 60's.
  • heathy_76
    heathy_76 Posts: 213
    nicklouse wrote:
    so your forks a squeaking.

    I will turn on the ESP and see if i can work out WHAT FORKS you have.......

    Sorry you have not activated ESP at your end.

    Whoever said sarcasm is the lowest from of wit was lying! :lol:
    Pitch Pro - http://heathy.pinkbike.com/album/My-Bike
    Bianchi (Gone but not forgotten) - viewtopic.php?t=12704175
    Pinarello - viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12844010
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    diamondbacker wrote:
    Does it really matter? I thought there might be general problems that can cause such a problem regardless of model. No need to be sarky.

    Suntour XC 60's.

    yes it does matter as the fork might be fucked or might be behaving normally.

    read the stickies above or shall i quote myself?

    Oh what the Hell

    ¨
    nicklouse wrote:
    Before asking a question make sure you have read the manual. If you don't have the manual visit the suppliers webby, see the tech links sticky for most.
    Ok if it is an odd question that is not covered in the manual or on Park Tools ask away but give as much info as you can.
    Please give All the info about the problem as you can. If you don't know the make model or year get a picture.For example:
    I bought some second hand Z1 Freerides off ebay. They seemd perfect and looked great - But when i sat on the bike the travel just dropped and fell more as i was riding and resulted in them being as low as they could possibly be!?? Only going back to there normal 130mm self after lifting up the front wheal. Im not sure how to resulve this. Is it to do with the oil, or the screws on the bottem? or possibley the air pressure? Also is it a Bike Shop jobby or a home job with limeted tools!
    is OK except that there is not just one Z1 FR there are a few and they have been made for quite a few years.
    And:
    my front shimano deore front brake. the pads are not even moving in the calpier. whats the problem
    As the brake is part of a system we need to know what is happening at the lever. is it rock solid of does it move all the way to the bar. different solutions to each problem.
    if you want the right answers give all the info you have.

    expect Sarcastic replies if the question can be answered by a manual or park tools.

    Most questions already have the answers out there and many will have already been answered on here. There is a search function and an FAQ.

    Finally If it it a buying advice question please use the buying advice forum.

    :wink:

    If you want help the give the info or else HOW can we help?

    the only other way is take it to a shop and pay for someone to help.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • deadliest
    deadliest Posts: 471
    Watch yourselves guys Nicklouse has missed his meds again :wink:
    Bikes are drugs and Im pedalling

    http://sherwoodpines.yolasite.com/
  • JoeyBob
    JoeyBob Posts: 26
    My Suntour's are like 2 months old and there is a constant sqeak in the left side of the fork, the travel hasn't changed nor has the rebound. I found that just a sprinkle of GT 85 helped (or WD-40) and pushing on the forks to free them up a bit helped.

    Don't think the seals are very good and probably let in to much damp and so they start to squeak up a little I didn't think it was anything to worry about (I hope not anyway).
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    JoeyBob

    Not a good isea with the WD40 and the GT 85 as they can destroy the rubber and make things worse.

    again depending which Suntours they are some fork oil or some suitable grease would be better. But again it depends on which Suntour.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • diamondbacker
    diamondbacker Posts: 224
    Good grief.

    Firstly, I looked on the sticky - didn't note anything relating to squeaking.

    Secondly, I looked on Park tools. Plenty of info on servicing - no mention of noises that I could find except clunking.

    I have limited spare time so if I can't find anything relatively quickly I don't see the harm in asking.

    Thirdly, I don't have a manual as my bike was bought second hand.

    Fourthly, it only began making the noise tonight. Rather than take it to someone who can fix it (should it be required) I thought I'd find out if this particular noise is anything to be worried about at all. Besides, the chances of getting to my lbs within the next fortnight are zero.

    If it was a problem I'd at least like to try and fix it myself. If it's nothing to worry about I wouldn't need the fork info. Of course being a novice I want to know if it is a problem before I ask for a solution.

    Sheesh, I'll just not bother asking next time. :roll:

    Thanks for the help. (That's sarcasm by the way :wink: )

    I'm sure that everyone enjoyed reading this. It was certainly a worthwhile way of spending our time. Not a waste of your time or mine at all. (Also sarcasm :wink: )

    PS there's also a non-serious :) here (not sarcasm)
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    so what are the forks?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • JoeyBob
    JoeyBob Posts: 26
    nicklouse wrote:
    JoeyBob

    Not a good isea with the WD40 and the GT 85 as they can destroy the rubber and make things worse.

    again depending which Suntours they are some fork oil or some suitable grease would be better. But again it depends on which Suntour.

    Seems the only way to stop it...

    Suntour XCT 75mm travel is my fork and its a nightmare for it, as I said I have only had it 2 months seems I'm doomed forever...
  • diamondbacker
    diamondbacker Posts: 224
    diamondbacker wrote:
    Does it really matter? I thought there might be general problems that can cause such a problem regardless of model. No need to be sarky.

    Suntour XC 60's.

    Suntour XC 60's :)
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    JoeyBob wrote:
    nicklouse wrote:
    JoeyBob

    Not a good isea with the WD40 and the GT 85 as they can destroy the rubber and make things worse.

    again depending which Suntours they are some fork oil or some suitable grease would be better. But again it depends on which Suntour.

    Seems the only way to stop it...

    Suntour XCT 75mm travel is my fork and its a nightmare for it, as I said I have only had it 2 months seems I'm doomed forever...

    the XCT by all accounts is a "dry" fork with an Elastomer damper.

    So a strip and a liberal greasing would be the best as i bet the bushes are dry.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    diamondbacker wrote:
    diamondbacker wrote:
    Does it really matter? I thought there might be general problems that can cause such a problem regardless of model. No need to be sarky.

    Suntour XC 60's.

    Suntour XC 60's :)

    2005 year model?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • diamondbacker
    diamondbacker Posts: 224
    At a guess yes, but i can't be sure. Possibly 2006.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    again like the earlier one it is a Dry fork

    No XC range/fork in 2006

    http://www.srsuntour-cycling.com/SID=si ... /index.php

    needs opening and greasing really.

    http://srsuntour-files.dbap.de/_public/ ... nglish.pdf
    Might help (wrong fork)

    and
    http://srsuntour-files.dbap.de/_public/ ... F7-XCM.pdf

    there is nothing for the XC though.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Dirtydog11
    Dirtydog11 Posts: 1,621
    Does it really matter? I thought there might be general problems that can cause such a problem regardless of model. No need to be sarky.

    Suntour XC 60's.


    Are they these

    http://www.srsuntour-cycling.com/SID=si ... &tnid=1005


    I had a XC60 fitted to an old Saracen (circa 2003) and the seals are crap.

    I bet they're full of water....................... Have you been out in the rain?

    If they where anything like mine then you cannot fully dismantle them as the bolts at the bottom of the stantions are tamperproof. The best you can do is remove the top caps and remove and regrease the springs.

    I hacksawed the steerer off mine and made a Headset removal tool! 8)
    They work better as a headset removal tool than they did forks.

    Dont use WD40 /GT85 it doesn't work in the long run. You not only risk rotting the seals but it will and does disolve the grease that would have originally been used to lubricate the bushes.

    If you've been spraying a lot down there then there's a good chance that that this is what caused the problem!

    The good news is that they're only around £25.00 to replace.

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suntour-XC60-cycl ... 1002r26428.

    But I really wouldn't bother
    Kinesis Maxlight XC

    Orange 5 AM Custom
  • JoeyBob
    JoeyBob Posts: 26
    Right then WD-40 is a bad idea I was thinking if getting rockshoc Toras as what I have at the moment really isn't worth my time. Thanks for he advice I knew it was likely I was doing something retarded lol
  • steveo450
    steveo450 Posts: 26
    Get yourself some teflon rich chainlube. I use finish line dry (black bottle red label) squirt a bit on the stanchions wipe off excess, pump forks a couple of times wipe off dirt from seals and bobs ur auntie
  • diamondbacker
    diamondbacker Posts: 224
    Yes it is indeed those (shocking?) shocks. So, better to ride them until they are completely shot and then upgrade?

    Before getting the helpful replies after originally posting this thread I tried the WD40. It stopped the squeeking but after reading the later replies advising against this got paranoid, tried to wipe it off and used some chain oil. It still seems to be cured, so will leave it as it is and if it returns use the teflon rich chainlube.

    Then if that fails = upgrade time! :twisted:

    Cheers for the help.
  • Dirtydog11
    Dirtydog11 Posts: 1,621
    Yes it is indeed those (shocking?) shocks. So, better to ride them until they are completely shot and then upgrade?

    Speaking from experience you'll be doing well if they last you 12 months.

    Mine got so much water in them that they rusted from the inside out.

    I removed them on safety grounds.
    Kinesis Maxlight XC

    Orange 5 AM Custom

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