Lower leg service for suspension forks

Lower Leg Service: the minor service for your suspension fork

During a Lower Leg Service, the lower legs of the suspension fork are removed, cleaned, and reassembled with new dust wipers, foam rings, and fresh lubricating oil. The damping and air spring remain closed. This keeps the fork sensitive and protects the bushings and stanchions.

Over time, dirt and water get past the seals, and the lubricating oil is used up. The result: more friction, poorer responsiveness, and, in the long run, wear on the bushings and stanchions.

How often is a Lower Leg Service due?

Manufacturers calculate based on riding hours:

• RockShox: Lower Leg Service every 50 riding hours.
• FOX: Service every 125 riding hours or once a year.

If you often ride in wet conditions, dust, or on an E-MTB, plan for shorter intervals. A service is due at the latest when the stanchions feel dry, oil leaks out, or the fork feels sticky.

What you need for the Lower Leg Service

Dust wipers

The seals must match the brand and stanchion diameter. We carry SKF Dual Compoundand the PUSH Ultra Low Frictionfor FOX and RockShox from 32 to 40 mm, plus others under seals.

Oil and grease

Lubricating oil for the lower legs such as Danico Biotech 0W30or WPS FL01, plus assembly greasefor seal lips and O-rings. The fork manufacturer specifies the oil type and quantity.

Crush washers

You should replace the crush washerson the bottom nuts every time you disassemble the fork to ensure it remains sealed at the bottom.

Tools

To press in the wipers, you need a driver with the matching diameter, such as the PUSH Seal Installation Tool. You will also need a rubber mallet, a torque wrench, and clean rags.

Öhlins kits

For Öhlins forks, there are specific casting service kits(RXF34, RXF36, RXF38, DH38), with SKF seals for the RXF36, RXF38, and DH38.

Do the Lower Leg Service yourself or go to the workshop?

With basic tools and some experience, you can perform the Lower Leg Service yourself. Follow your fork's service manual, especially regarding oil quantity and torque settings. The fork belongs in a workshop if:

• the stanchions have scratches or scores,
• the fork has play or rattles, for instance, due to worn-out bushings,
• oil leaks from the damping or settings no longer work,
• a full service is due anyway.

Our Lower Leg Service is available for suspension forks of all brands. You can send the fork in or bring it by Dällikon by appointment. Ask us if you would like to have SKF seals installed. You can find the complete fork service under suspension service.

Book Lower Leg Service

Frequently asked questions about the Lower Leg Service

What is a Lower Leg Service?

A Lower Leg Service is the minor maintenance of a suspension fork. The lower legs are removed and cleaned, dust wipers and foam rings are replaced, and fresh lubricating oil is added. Damping and air spring remain closed – they are part of a complete fork service.

How often does my fork need a Lower Leg Service?

RockShox recommends the Lower Leg Service every 50 riding hours, FOX a service every 125 riding hours or once a year. In cases of frequent wet, dusty, or E-MTB use, shorter intervals make sense. The exact value for your model is listed in your fork's manual.

What is a sprung dust wiper?

A sprung dust wiper has an integrated coil spring (garter spring) that presses the seal lip evenly against the stanchion. This keeps the lubricating oil inside the lower legs while the wiper lip keeps dirt out. PUSH uses the spring in the oil seal lip of its Ultra-Low-Friction seals.

Which dust wipers fit my fork?

The brand, stanchion diameter, and model year are the deciding factors. For FOX, the diameter is in the name (FOX 34, 36, 38); for RockShox, it is in the model: Pike and Lyrik have 35 mm, ZEB has 38 mm. The compatible models are listed with each seal kit.

Which oil goes into the lower legs?

The fork manufacturer specifies this: FOX, for example, uses 20WT Gold, while other manufacturers use their own lower leg oils. Stick to the service manual of your fork regarding type and quantity. You can find Danico Biotech 0W30 and WPS FL01, among others, with us.