Full suss pivot care

Jonnycrawford7

Just trying to find out how everyone cares for their pivots, Ive had a search about and the only thing i can find is how to install new bearings, but im just after a basic care guide. People have recommended either Weldtite TF2 or GT85 to blast out water and grit from the pivots while also keeping them lubed, but then others warn me off both sprays completely saying they'll ruin my bearings!

Can anyone help?! Cheers

estampida

no, dont add anything to your pivot bearings.

Unless you are trying to make tham fail with a jet wash they should last till the predicted service interval on your frame. Or do you open your forks / shock and spray gt85 / grease in them as well?

This service should be considered part of the maintenance routine of teh bike. Mine get changed every 2-3 years.

bearings from ebay, and I have the tools myself.

nicklouse

Jonnycrawford7 wrote:

Just trying to find out how everyone cares for their pivots, Ive had a search about and the only thing i can find is how to install new bearings, but im just after a basic care guide. People have recommended either Weldtite TF2 or GT85 to blast out water and grit from the pivots while also keeping them lubed, but then others warn me off both sprays completely saying they'll ruin my bearings!

Can anyone help?! Cheers

it all depends on what bearings/bushes you have. most bike makers cover suspension care in their manuals.

some need lube some dont etc....

.blitz

Don't blast the pivots with anything, esp water. I've cleaned my 08 Rize less than 10 times from new and apart from the intial stripdown which revealed a worrying lack of lube, the last time I took the back end to bits to find out why it was running so well it was literally 'as new'.

The manual recommends a stripdown every 25 hours of riding, but from new I would do it ASAP and then keep it well away from water and solvents.

Jonnycrawford7

So far ive only hand washed the bike, ive never hosed the pivots/seals etc.

Been to a couple of my local bike shops and they've all said it shouldn't do any harm, if anything its good for water dispersion in the pivots.

Everything in mountain biking seems to be a personal preference, guess its just a case of seeing what works best for me!

ride_whenever

your lbs probably want to make money on servicing your pivots, it's madness to suggest gt85 etc. as it really isn't any good for bearings.

nicklouse

Jonnycrawford7 wrote:

So far ive only hand washed the bike, ive never hosed the pivots/seals etc.

Been to a couple of my local bike shops and they've all said it shouldn't do any harm, if anything its good for water dispersion in the pivots.

Everything in mountain biking seems to be a personal preference, guess its just a case of seeing what works best for me!

no it is a matter of doing what the maker says until the warranty is ended.

some makers say do not put anything on the bears/bushes.

but as we dont know what bike you have we can advise.

kevolution

Jonnycrawford7 wrote:

So far ive only hand washed the bike, ive never hosed the pivots/seals etc.

Been to a couple of my local bike shops and they've all said it shouldn't do any harm, if anything its good for water dispersion in the pivots.

Everything in mountain biking seems to be a personal preference, guess its just a case of seeing what works best for me!

No, it's what works best for the bike that's most important, and any bike shop that tells you different is staffed by monkeys that don't know the basics of bike maintenance.

The penetrating solvents in WD and GT dissolve the grease in bearings and leave them open to corrosion when the bike's not in use.
Keep th bike clean with car shampoo and lube the chain regularly with light oil. END OF.

Jonnycrawford7

Great stuff cheers, i'll take your advice! Just incase anyone can give me any extra help, my bike is a 2010 Specialized Stumpy FSR Comp

estampida

Good luck

FYI

a stripdown and rebuild of a bike that is new is called Blueprinting......