Bicycle Mechanics - Cleaning and lubing shocks

After searching the forums and coming up with nothing substantial, I've decided to bring up the issue of cleaning and lubing your front shock stanchions again...

Having purchased a new bike recently, there's progressively more dirt gathering on the stanchions of the shocks. I've also noticed that the stanchions were lubed with some sort of grease when I picked the bike up. What do you guys recommend as a cleaner and lubricant? How often should the stanchions be cleaned + lubed? Thanks!

I've been wondering about this myself. I'm a little disappointed that no one more knowledgeable has chimed in, but I did a web search and found this:



... Keep your suspension forks moving smoothly by applying a small amount of Teflon chain lubricant (Tri-Flow, Finish Line Teflon) low down on the stanchion tubes of the fork. Compress the forks several times to push the lube down into the seals. This will force dirt up and out of the fork and keep the seals moist so the fork oil will stay inside, allowing the fork to perform plush and happily. ...

I found that here:
http://www.johnhenrybikes.com/newsletter/theseatpostNOV3.htm

I hope that helps. I'm going to try it and see if it works....

I'd still love to hear from somebody on here who knows about this stuff.

Go to the manufacturer's website and download the service manual. It will tell you all you need to know

After searching the forums and coming up with nothing substantial, I've decided to bring up the issue of cleaning and lubing your front shock stanchions again...

Having purchased a new bike recently, there's progressively more dirt gathering on the stanchions of the shocks. I've also noticed that the stanchions were lubed with some sort of grease when I picked the bike up. What do you guys recommend as a cleaner and lubricant? How often should the stanchions be cleaned + lubed? Thanks!

Clean the dirt off the stanchions with ordinary degreasing solution. Whatever you use to clean the frame should be fine. Lubricate in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation. Check your owner's manual. If you don't have it, try to find it on their web site. If all else fails, a little lightweight lubricant should do the job.

Thanks for the responses. I forgot the prime axiom: When in doubt, RTFM. :)

Go to the manufacturer's website and download the service manual. It will tell you all you need to know


Lubricate in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation. Check your owner's manual.

I guess that's why there's been no concrete feedback in the past, then. :lol: It's not a very concrete field, like the cleaning and lubing of chains where's it's all pretty much the same old story on any kind of bike. Makes a lot of sense, guys, thanks for the tip. :)

First off what type of fork do you have? Putting lube on the upper seal and then compressing will not force lube into the fork. That's why it's called a seal, the proper thing to do is to take your fork apart periodically to clean it. If you have a Manitou, you can use the Prep M and inject some lube into the lube ports on the back of the fork. Let me know what kind of fork you have and I can better help you with more details.

Clean the dirt off the stanchions with ordinary degreasing solution. Whatever you use to clean the frame should be fine. Lubricate in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation. Check your owner's manual. If you don't have it, try to find it on their web site. If all else fails, a little lightweight lubricant should do the job.

No! No solvent of any kind near your fork. Wipe the external legs with a soft rag, and wipe the sliders with a soft rag. If you have the tiniest leak in your seals, that degreaser will get in there, and evil things will happen. And yes, consult the manual for a grease that won't break down the rubber seals.