The time to replace the front fork oil is rapidly approaching. Is it necessary to replace the fork oil seals and dust seals when doing this?
If so, has anyone used pattern oil and dust seals for the front forks rather than genuine OE Suzuki ones? Or is it a false economy with them failing early?
The reason I ask is that the pattern ones are about 1/3 rd the price of genuine ones.
Part nos:
oil seal is 5115303B30 (replaces 51153 34210)
dust seal is 51571 34320
Suzuki GS 650 Katana front forks: Pattern or genuine oil and dust seals?
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fossie
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Re: Suzuki GS 650 Katana front forks: Pattern or genuine oil and dust seals?
If the seals are not leaking there is no need to replace the seals.
Though changing the oil properly involves taking the forks out of the yokes and raining through the top then swilling with kero type stuff as just draining at the drain plug will leave sludge, which will be in inequal amounts so replacing the correct oil level will be unachievable in reality. How much that matters to you depends on how much you notice slight difference in balance on suspension travel.
As for seals I've always used aftermarket , but then you are in an unknown territory , Pyrimid are usually fine , but sometimes when you buy from a wholesaler you get what they have on the shelf.
OEM are more expensive but if you ain't gonna do they job for a few years again , then you know what you've got .
You won't pull much oil out of each fork ..220 ml springs to mind , but boy it stinks of fish for some reason !
Though changing the oil properly involves taking the forks out of the yokes and raining through the top then swilling with kero type stuff as just draining at the drain plug will leave sludge, which will be in inequal amounts so replacing the correct oil level will be unachievable in reality. How much that matters to you depends on how much you notice slight difference in balance on suspension travel.
As for seals I've always used aftermarket , but then you are in an unknown territory , Pyrimid are usually fine , but sometimes when you buy from a wholesaler you get what they have on the shelf.
OEM are more expensive but if you ain't gonna do they job for a few years again , then you know what you've got .
You won't pull much oil out of each fork ..220 ml springs to mind , but boy it stinks of fish for some reason !
