Yep, it's just hot water and dish soap. If you have play in your shocks, it could be that the bushings are worn. Fortunately mine weren't worn. But if they were, I am not even sure I can buy them now. And it would require special tools to remove them and to install new ones since they are pressed in.
I do believe I had these Quadras on my first proper mountain bike I ever bought. Got it off my best friend (at the times) Father. It was a Schwinn High Sierra Hard tail!
Hi! I'm so glad I found your videos - they are so helpful! Ran into some trouble disassembling my own Rockshox Quadra 10 fork. After removing the purple elastomers from each upper tube, there seems to be more stuck in there. Hard to tell, but with some light, I can tell it's definitely not the top of a bolt. I think it's another elastomer or part of the stack in some way. Any ideas for getting it out? Thanks!!
i have the same mtb sycamore sx with same fork planning on doing this as maintenance the shocks seem to be going up and down but are pretty tight. question is can you grease the lower bushing by hand or do you need a long brush or something? Also can you just do final lower bolt torque with the wheel installed on the ground so forks dont move and can get good leverage on the torque wrench so get it properly tightened? Thanks RJ!
Hi, great video 👍 I have a Quadra 5 that works ok etc but there is a small amount of play if you hold the front brake and rock the bike. Is this normal? I appreciate they are an old and basic fork. Travel is smooth and preload works fine. Also, would you recommend occasionally squirting some fork lube (I have juicy lines fork juice) under the boots? Thanks and keep me the great work
RJ The Bike Guy hi it is the fork for sure. I checked the headset the other day. It is only felt when the fork is straight on, not noticeable if you turn the wheel.
Hi, I have an old bike sitting in my garage that has these Quadra 5 forks. The suspension is very loose and bobs a lot when I push hard on the cranks. Is there a way to stiffen up the suspension? I've looked up suspension setup online but this fork doesn't seem to have any of the knobs that the new forks have. Also, would a regular bike lube like Park Tool Polylube work in lieu of Judy Butter? I wouldn't really have a use for a huge tub of suspension specific grease.
Drag0ncl0ud The Judy Butter aka SRAM Butter is in a tiny tub, but with last a for a handfull of forks. It is what is recommended. Another lube that will work is Slick Honey/Slickoleum. But it is in a larger tub and probably costs as much. These are the best lubes for the shocks. If there is no preload on the Quadra 5s, then not sure how to adjust them. Maybe somethings is worn or broken inside.
Drag0ncl0ud Probably you need to replace the elastomers. These are rubber springs and to change them, all you need to do is take the caps off the top of the tubes. Here is the service manual. www.suspensionforkparts.net/rs_quadra.php
What is that bucket of soapy water? Is that just plain old dish soap? I have a Quadra 10 on my bike. It seems to work fine but if I slam on the front brake and move the bike forward and back it seem to have quite a bit of play. Is that normal?
I'm replacing the elastomers on my similar shocks, on a Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E koo, but they sell firm and soft versions. Which is recommended? Most of my riding is on packed jeep roads and smooth trails. As well as local city riding.
Guess I can try both, they are not that expensive. Soft might be too bouncy pedaling a fast cadence on a smooth road. By the way, thanks for the videos. Super helpful. I'm a road rider but trying out mountain riding, I bought this vintage Gary Fisher to see how i enjoy it, and if so, plan on buying a new full suspension bike, something like a Marin Hawk Hill. Would WD-40 be ok for cleaning, or is it tough on the bushings?
Hello, How much the hex key get inside the hole?, i ask beacause i try to do that with a normal size key adapted to a ratcheting tool extension, but i couldn´t disasemble it. i couldn't reach it. sorry my english. Saludos desde México.
thanks, just got a trek for free, a 4500. the shocks aint bad, Rock shox but im gonna do this because if i tip it, brown water always falls out the bottom. is this normal....?
I was thinking about this. It sounds like the bike may have been submerged in water, at least deep enough to go into the shock. You might also open up the bottom bracket. And maybe check the headset and hubs too. Check out my vids. I have vids for all of the these. Good luck!
I have a question for you, I just got a Pitch Comp from Specialized, used. The front shocks seem to be bottoming out and hit after only a couple of inches. Can that be fixed? Is there a website you recommend for repair kits? Thank you
I was servicing my rockshox very similar to those can when go to tighten the lower tube back on i snapped the bolt. i used a inlb torque wrench to 14 ft lbs 168 in lbs and was way too tight not got the nut snapped off in the bottom tube what are my options here or am i looking for a new fork or at least couple tubes?
@@RJTheBikeGuy ended up getting it out i drilled a small hole in the broken screw with drill bit and extension then stepped up to slightly bigger drill bit and it drill bit got caught and ended up spinning the broken screw into the bottom of the shock tube. it was shaking in there so i mixed up some 2 part epoxy and poured it in there to lock the broken screw in place and it worked threads still good and bought new m6 bolts at home depot for both shocks and tighted them gingerly this time lol
I’m at the exact point of getting those pieces out with the 5 mm hex but can’t seem to get it out. I can reach fine but it feels like it just goes in the hole and doesn’t catch anything. I’m thinking its past the hole. Anybody with any help on this. Thanks.