Suspension Component Technology/Functionality Discussion

Skunk Works Suspension wrote:

The PUSH "speed service" is simply a lower (or upper😀) leg service, it has nothing to do with the damper. While it's nice to be able to...

The PUSH "speed service" is simply a lower (or upper😀) leg service, it has nothing to do with the damper. 

While it's nice to be able to change the bath oil without dropping the legs, I clean the entire leg out when doing a lower service anyway. Injecting clean oil into a dirty fork seems counterintuitive. If you ride in wet conditions it can get nasty in there pretty quickly.

The best feature of the PUSH 9.1 speed service oil ports is that you can assemble the fork "dry" and then add bath lube after it's fully together.

Finkill wrote:

Just looking at the new Maxima SG920 grease that SRAM claim is a step up from the usual suspension grease and was keen to try it...

Just looking at the new Maxima SG920 grease that SRAM claim is a step up from the usual suspension grease and was keen to try it in my forks. Unfortunately the service info on the SRAM site says it isn't backwards compatible and can only be used on MY27 forks, they say it will cause mayhem with older forks/seals. 

Can anyone confirm this or is it BS, has anyone tried the new grease? 

The Maxima site doesn't say anything about issues with using it in older products. 

comatosegi wrote:

RS started using it last year.  One of the RS shops is actually trying to blend it with older SRAM butter. Parking lot, butter feels better...

RS started using it last year.  One of the RS shops is actually trying to blend it with older SRAM butter. Parking lot, butter feels better, but at temp 920 is better. I run it blended, no issues.

TheSuspensionLabNZ wrote:

Slickoleum/sram butter is one of those products I've always found so good and reliable that there is literally no reason to change from it - I...

Slickoleum/sram butter is one of those products I've always found so good and reliable that there is literally no reason to change from it - I was thinking they might have done it to reduce the cost and stick to one manufacturer, but if thats true they certainly aren't passing those savings on 😅

It's probably really good - but so is sram butter so just use whatever you feel like or can easily get. From the little info I can get out the MSDS it just looks like calcium sulfonate grease (like slickoleum) with there own 11 herbs and spices so I don't see any reason it wouldn't be interchangeable (that would also be very stupid - All the seals are the same old elastomers)

comatosegi wrote:

RS started using it last year.  One of the RS shops is actually trying to blend it with older SRAM butter. Parking lot, butter feels better...

RS started using it last year.  One of the RS shops is actually trying to blend it with older SRAM butter. Parking lot, butter feels better, but at temp 920 is better. I run it blended, no issues.

TheSuspensionLabNZ wrote:

Slickoleum/sram butter is one of those products I've always found so good and reliable that there is literally no reason to change from it - I...

Slickoleum/sram butter is one of those products I've always found so good and reliable that there is literally no reason to change from it - I was thinking they might have done it to reduce the cost and stick to one manufacturer, but if thats true they certainly aren't passing those savings on 😅

It's probably really good - but so is sram butter so just use whatever you feel like or can easily get. From the little info I can get out the MSDS it just looks like calcium sulfonate grease (like slickoleum) with there own 11 herbs and spices so I don't see any reason it wouldn't be interchangeable (that would also be very stupid - All the seals are the same old elastomers)

comatosegi wrote:

I was told the 920 has better thermal stability and lifespan, but with slightly higher friction at ambient temp.  From what I can tell, Maxima lubricant...

I was told the 920 has better thermal stability and lifespan, but with slightly higher friction at ambient temp.  From what I can tell, Maxima lubricant have been good so far.  I have been running a the mix, but no way to really objectively measure the difference.  

Finkill wrote:

Just looking at the new Maxima SG920 grease that SRAM claim is a step up from the usual suspension grease and was keen to try it...

Just looking at the new Maxima SG920 grease that SRAM claim is a step up from the usual suspension grease and was keen to try it in my forks. Unfortunately the service info on the SRAM site says it isn't backwards compatible and can only be used on MY27 forks, they say it will cause mayhem with older forks/seals. 

Can anyone confirm this or is it BS, has anyone tried the new grease? 

The Maxima site doesn't say anything about issues with using it in older products. 

Jakub_G wrote:

From the manufacturer's website:For use on all forks, shocks, and reciprocating hydraulic systems where smooth action is critical. Safe for NBR, Fluoroelastomer, Urethane, and Silicone seal...

From the manufacturer's website:For use on all forks, shocks, and reciprocating hydraulic systems where smooth action is critical. Safe for NBR, Fluoroelastomer, Urethane, and Silicone seal materials.

Finkill wrote:

Which is is completely the opposite to what Rockshox are saying https://support.rockshox.com/hc/en-us/articles/46636920845211-Is-SG920-reverse-compatible-with-older-RockShox-forks-If-so-which-forks Almost certainly BS,but I'm not brave enough to try it in my 2025 Zebs...

Which is is completely the opposite to what Rockshox are saying https://support.rockshox.com/hc/en-us/articles/46636920845211-Is-SG920-reverse-compatible-with-older-RockShox-forks-If-so-which-forks 

Almost certainly BS,but I'm not brave enough to try it in my 2025 Zebs, going to stick with the SRAM butter. 

TheSuspensionLabNZ wrote:

Slickoleum/sram butter is one of those products I've always found so good and reliable that there is literally no reason to change from it - I...

Slickoleum/sram butter is one of those products I've always found so good and reliable that there is literally no reason to change from it - I was thinking they might have done it to reduce the cost and stick to one manufacturer, but if thats true they certainly aren't passing those savings on 😅

It's probably really good - but so is sram butter so just use whatever you feel like or can easily get. From the little info I can get out the MSDS it just looks like calcium sulfonate grease (like slickoleum) with there own 11 herbs and spices so I don't see any reason it wouldn't be interchangeable (that would also be very stupid - All the seals are the same old elastomers)

comatosegi wrote:

I was told the 920 has better thermal stability and lifespan, but with slightly higher friction at ambient temp.  From what I can tell, Maxima lubricant...

I was told the 920 has better thermal stability and lifespan, but with slightly higher friction at ambient temp.  From what I can tell, Maxima lubricant have been good so far.  I have been running a the mix, but no way to really objectively measure the difference.  

TheSuspensionLabNZ wrote:

Ok, I just realised they will probably be comparing it to the dynamic seal grease in rear shocks (not sram butter) which I never felt worked...

Ok, I just realised they will probably be comparing it to the dynamic seal grease in rear shocks (not sram butter) which I never felt worked particularly well. I don't know why, but I don't think they actually ever recommended sram butter in their air shocks? So yeah it probably is much better than the Dynamic seal grease

 

comatosegi wrote:

Sram is using 920 as direct replacement for Sram Butter.  I ran a quick check, it's supposed to have better surface tenacity.  So over long cycles...

Sram is using 920 as direct replacement for Sram Butter.  I ran a quick check, it's supposed to have better surface tenacity.  So over long cycles it should stay in place longer, which might be better for a lot of owners who seldom do fork rebuilds. Not sure why dynamic seal grease was around when sram butter seemed better.

comatosegi wrote:

Sram is using 920 as direct replacement for Sram Butter.  I ran a quick check, it's supposed to have better surface tenacity.  So over long cycles...

Sram is using 920 as direct replacement for Sram Butter.  I ran a quick check, it's supposed to have better surface tenacity.  So over long cycles it should stay in place longer, which might be better for a lot of owners who seldom do fork rebuilds. Not sure why dynamic seal grease was around when sram butter seemed better.

JVP wrote:

SRAM Butter is relabeled Slick Honey, right?A mechanic friend of mine (hi Zeb!) was told years ago by SRAM tech to use a heavier grease in...

SRAM Butter is relabeled Slick Honey, right?

A mechanic friend of mine (hi Zeb!) was told years ago by SRAM tech to use a heavier grease in shocks so they're more reliable and feel better over time. PM600 (aka military grease) was the recommendation back then, and it's still what I use when a heavier grease is appropriate. 

I'm curious how this new stuff works in forks, particularly air seals. I'm sure Slick Honey/Butter feels better in the parking lot, but almost no one services their forks regularly so it's probably a good upgrade. I'm personally more interested in how my fork performs at hour 30 than hour 3 after a service. 

I'm not riding it any more, but would be good to try in a Mezzer. Those felt like the best fork ever (by far) after an air piston lube, but needed more regular service to stay plush. Big downside to that fork, but maybe a heavier/longer lasting grease would be the ticket. There's a new one coming, so maybe a moot point, but a good thought experiment. 

In all, going heavier should be the right call given how infrequently even my MTB addicted friends service their forks. The average rider literally never does service. 

comatosegi wrote:

I was told the 920 has better thermal stability and lifespan, but with slightly higher friction at ambient temp.  From what I can tell, Maxima lubricant...

I was told the 920 has better thermal stability and lifespan, but with slightly higher friction at ambient temp.  From what I can tell, Maxima lubricant have been good so far.  I have been running a the mix, but no way to really objectively measure the difference.  

TheSuspensionLabNZ wrote:

Ok, I just realised they will probably be comparing it to the dynamic seal grease in rear shocks (not sram butter) which I never felt worked...

Ok, I just realised they will probably be comparing it to the dynamic seal grease in rear shocks (not sram butter) which I never felt worked particularly well. I don't know why, but I don't think they actually ever recommended sram butter in their air shocks? So yeah it probably is much better than the Dynamic seal grease

 

comatosegi wrote:

Sram is using 920 as direct replacement for Sram Butter.  I ran a quick check, it's supposed to have better surface tenacity.  So over long cycles...

Sram is using 920 as direct replacement for Sram Butter.  I ran a quick check, it's supposed to have better surface tenacity.  So over long cycles it should stay in place longer, which might be better for a lot of owners who seldom do fork rebuilds. Not sure why dynamic seal grease was around when sram butter seemed better.