The easiest way to save hundreds of dollars on motorcycle suspension repair is using Seal Mate—and all it takes is five minutes
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A top-notch professional suspension specialist can do it in a couple of hours. A Joe-Blow mechanic might take an hour longer, and, as for you and I, well, if we don’t have the specialist tools, we are going to be at it for a while. At $80 to $125 an hour shop fees and a minimum of $50 for seals (not to mention replacing the fork bushings “while you’re in there”) it’s going to set you back some coin.
In fact, it’s so very simple. All one has to do is remove the fork’s upper dust cap, then take the thin plastic strip, and place it vertically against the fork in question above the oozing seal. Then, making sure the curved “hook” end is facing down into the seal — or up into the seal on “inverted” forks” — curve the Seal Mate around the tube and then force it down past the seal. Don’t worry, it can’t go too deep; it will eventually bottom on the seal’s lower boss. Now rotate it around — ensuring that the hook portion is moving forwards — one complete revolution and remove it.
Look closely and you’ll probably see some dirt particles mixed in with all the grimy oil. That’s what the hook is for — to gather up said dirt that is preventing the seal from mating with the fork tube. Repeat as necessary — probably about three or four times — until there’s no more particles. Now pump the forks up and down to reseat the seals. This is probably the longest part of the process. It’s certainly the most vigorous. And don’t worry if some fork fluid still leaks out the first few pumps. Said excess will go away as fork and seal become one again.
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