Thought there should be a topic for suspension chat with a similar vibe to the brake chat.
First up - mystery fork squeak.
Has anyone experienced their fork making a fairly loud chirp/squeak when taking their bike off the chairlift and dropping the front wheel down for the first time? My Fox 40 (2026, X2 damper) has recently started doing this. It stops after one squeak, but then resumes again by the time I’m at the top of the next lift (or if I leave the bike to sit for a 20 minutes). Before you ask, the lowers are freshly/correctly serviced, stanchions are clean, SKF seals are fitted, I don’t jet-wash the seals etc. The squeak is definitely coming from the fork and not the hub, headset or brake. I redid a lowers service and put fresh seals in, the chirp stopped for a few days then returned. Local bike shops in / around Morzine have no idea why.
Here’s the weird part. I recently got a new bike with a brand new Ohlins RXF38 M3 fork - never been disassembled - and it made the SAME squeak/chirp sound. Only once - but it happened. No other fork I’ve owned has ever made that noise. Now both forks are doing it despite them being different models.
Am I cursed? Am I going insane? Am I somehow messing up my forks?
Sofa King in
It could be the crowns or a loose/overlized headset cup. I've had a few cases that sound EXACTLY like a fork knock or click but it was actually the headset. Either a cracked cup or a loose/slightly oval head tube.
Does the fork feel tight/sticky when you move it, or is it fairly smooth when it makes the sound?
I wish it was headset but both headsets were changed before the trip. It’s also not a crack/click sound, it’s a chirp/squeak. Like gym shoes on a basketball court kind of sound.
Both forks feel completely fine otherwise, not sticky at all. The 40 has new seals and oil and the Ohlins is fresh from the factory.
I hate to break it to you, but if you’re certain it is the fork…
Before you ask, the lowers are freshly/correctly serviced, stanchions are clean, SKF seals are fitted
Is probably going to need double checking.
It could also be worth checking the bleeder valves, it could be one of those responsible for the type of noise you describe.
Finally!!! Someone I can ask if I should hyphenate anal retentive or not!!!!😂. Keep being awesome my guy!! 👏🍺
You should definitely hyphenate anal-retentive.
I am definitely going to need a second affirmation on that one!
I’ve got the same thing on my 36s. Not creak at all - it’s like a high pitch squeak/whistle.
I am going to test something later - I have 2 36s; some gold podiums with an NA2 air shaft and a 26 Performance Elite with the NA3. Whilst I was using the gold 36s more I swapped air shafts (mainly to see how much of a difference they made) and only after putting the NA2 into my 36 PE did the whistle start. I’m going to swap back later and will update.
I have the same issue on a set of 38`s, and it is 100% the forks as I have swapped for another set and they are fine, if I drop the bike onto the front wheel it chirps like a dying budgie. Freshly rebuilt lowers. I suspect its the bushings.
Dry seals can squeak - if you didnt put enough grease on the air piston seal it will be dry and stick to the chamber wall. Try a couple of drops of 20wt in the top of the chamber amd cycling it through the travel to see if it makes a difference (easier than pulling apart and chamges less variables)
Does seem to be a common thread of the forks being new or recently pulled apart. It takes a bit of grease to coat the stanchion wall so if you thought there was enough on there it can get spread too thin quite quickly
At least I’m not alone! The 40’s have been serviced very regularly (I have wrist problems so I service them a lot to avoid pain), but there’s no “user error” factor at all with the Ohlins fork since it’s only 3 rides from new, totally untouched inside.
I’m wondering whether the use of RSP Hyper-Wiper seal care might be to blame. I use it on both forks after cleaning the bike to make sure the dust seals are clean. It’s the only “shared” maintenance step between the two forks. @hairyyy and @JerseyMojo do you use this product?
Yep - I do use Hyper-Wiper! It was on the recommendation of TF Tuned, but I've used it for years on other forks - including my FA Zeb Ultimates and RXF36m2 without this issue. It also doesn't affect my gold 36s, just the PE 36s...
Same. Used it on an EXT Era, a RS Lyrik and my previous 40’s… no problems until now. The plot thickens.
That’s all good and all but do I hyphenate anal retentive or not?? (No disrespect meant Robot.)
Has anyone had a fork that is particularly reliable? Even with regular maintenance I've had a string of bad luck (CSU creaks, air seal issues, top out knocking developing quickly) on both a Helm MK2 and a Mezzer Pro.
Gemini says yes -
Yes, anal-retentive should be hyphenated when it functions as a compound adjective directly before a noun
I dont see many issues from fox and rockshox - both have occasional csu issues but I think current mainstream forks will almost all experience that.
Finally!!!! I could always tell you were good people!
Pretty much everything is reliable these days. Sure crown creaks persist across the whole industry (check this one: https://www.instagram.com/p/DczXalmlZek/ ) but things like blowing up dampers and munched air springs are rare exceptions.
Top-out knock is usually a negative air spring problem. Sometimes a simple as a worn or damaged seal. Did you get to the bottom of it?
The most disappointing forks I've had experience with in terms of reliability/longevity has been Manitou and Cane Creek, so that tracks. Fox/RS aren't great either but are a definite improvement.
My current DVO has dealt with some awful things lately and it's still pretty happy, but forks are a crapshoot IMO.
Damaged seal for the mezzer pro g2. But the fork was essentially brand new, so it's not confidence inspiring that I had to replace something after a few rides
Which seal?
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