Bicycle Mechanics - Steer Tube Replacement?

Is it possible to replace the steer tube on my Rock Shox? The front shocks were previously installed in an older smaller bike, now I want to put them into a bigger bike of mine but the steer tube doesnt have enough clearence. The tube itself is 6.5" while the neck on my bike is 5.5" and which the bearings I have very little room to work with. Ive thought:

a) Press out the steer tube on my Rock Shox, and fab a new longer one and press that one in or

b) Grind the neck on my bike shorter (not much room to work with, may only gain a 1/4"


I work in a machine shop so either solutions in my mind will work, and I have the tools available. Im just worried about pressing out the steer tube as I dont want to damage the forks in anyway. To get it out the shocks will compress. Should I fully dis-assemble the shocks before attempting (a) ?

Also would cooling the steer tube with dry ice be beneficial before attempting to press it out?

If a customer asked me I would say NO.

There is a chance you will damage the crown getting the old steerer out and you might crack it installing the new one. It also might not be a proper(tight enough) interference and fail while you are riding.

If you really want to try this, then talk to one of the experienced guys in the machine shop you work at.



To get it out the shocks will compress.
If your plan was to try and press a steerer out using the legs as a base to push against I would say this is a project you are not ready to try.

You can use the money you save on the new fork to pay the co-pay at the emergency room. This assumes that you have insurance and survive the inevitable Murphy moment. If either of those are untrue, the savings will not be enough to cover your collateral expenses.

This whole idea is a false economy. Sell the old fork and use the money to help pay for a decent and properly engineered replacement.

The custom fork we had built for our tandem came with 2 steerer tubes. Things are rarely that simple though.

Common wisdom is that you would need a new fork. I have repaired steering tubes and fork crowns, but they are never the same - not worth fiddling with.