Do the fork bushes wear out?

[DimitriT]

The front end feels a little weird on the 550 in recent months and I'm wondering if I need to replace the fork oil and maybe do something more for it.

I read that they recommend I replace the copper bushes. Is this an easy job? I know I'll probably need to replace the oil seals as well. But the last time I had the forks apart it looked to me like those copper bushes were hard to put on or remove without damaging them.

Has anyone done this job?

[chuck hahn]

I havent had to replace any and ive got well over 48,000 on my 77 750. If the front end feels wiggly then first culprits I would look at are wheel bearing and steering stem bearings and adjustment. Those bushings do wear but it takes a heck of a LOOOOOONG time to wear them out. Swing arm bearings can also fool you into thinking its a front end problem so inspect the free play on the swing arm as well. Remove the back wheel and shake and twist the heck out of it to see if you detect any looseness.

[bonanzadave]

If you're taking the forks apart it makes sense to replace them.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?243217-Feels-like-oscillating/page2&highlight=fork+bushings

I believe its the root to my speed wobble issue.....

click vid

[RichDesmond]

The front end feels a little weird on the 550 in recent months and I'm wondering if I need to replace the fork oil and maybe do something more for it.

I read that they recommend I replace the copper bushes. Is this an easy job? I know I'll probably need to replace the oil seals as well. But the last time I had the forks apart it looked to me like those copper bushes were hard to put on or remove without damaging them.

Has anyone done this job?

With 48K+ miles I'd say you're due for bushings. Not a super hard job, but it can be just a little fiddly getting the old ones out. The proper size fork seal driver makes putting things back together a lot easier.

[chuck hahn]

???? I said my 750 has 48+ on it and there arent any stearing issues. He didnt say what miles he has that i saw. In any case, if its not problematic I dont see reasons to make it problematic.

[Cipher]

But Chuck what of sliding friction and binbding?

[TeamDar]

I havent had to replace any and ive got well over 48,000 on my 77 750. If the front end feels wiggly then first culprits I would look at are wheel bearing and steering stem bearings and adjustment. Those bushings do wear but it takes a heck of a LOOOOOONG time to wear them out. Swing arm bearings can also fool you into thinking its a front end problem so inspect the free play on the swing arm as well. Remove the back wheel and shake and twist the heck out of it to see if you detect any looseness.

There are no replaceable fork bushings in a 1977 GS750 fork so it would be hard to wear them out. The lower replaceable bushings come in the 1980 and later model forks. By 1982 most Suzuki forks have upper and lower bushings that are replaceable. Dar

[RichDesmond]

???? I said my 750 has 48+ on it and there arent any stearing issues. He didnt say what miles he has that i saw. In any case, if its not problematic I dont see reasons to make it problematic.

Mileage is in the spreadsheet he linked to. I've never seen 48K bushings that didn't show enough wear to warrant replacement.
Wear on suspension components happens slowly, so you don't really notice it until you replace the worn parts and see how much better the bike feels and handles.

[chuck hahn]

Thought those grey nylon things with the diagonal split in them were bushings. Maybe it wasnt the 750 that has them but I do remember seeing them in forks.

[dorkburger]

I had to replace my seals this year, so for the modest cost of the bushings, I figured I'd do them while it was apart. The bushings were fairly simple to replace. I had a harshness in the front end, and it would go into a shake while coasting with no hands on the handlebars. Renewing the parts seems to have cured this.

[mmattockx]

The front end feels a little weird on the 550 in recent months and I'm wondering if I need to replace the fork oil and maybe do something more for it.

I read that they recommend I replace the copper bushes. Is this an easy job? I know I'll probably need to replace the oil seals as well. But the last time I had the forks apart it looked to me like those copper bushes were hard to put on or remove without damaging them.

Has anyone done this job?

Not on a 550, but they are easy to do on my 1100E. The top bush comes out with the fork seal so that is no problem and the bottom one comes off easy with a bit of help from a flat bladed screwdriver. If you are doing seals and oil and don't know the mileage on the bushes you might as well replace them just for cheap piece of mind while you are in there. I would also suggest that you follow chuck hahn's advice and check the wheel and steering head bearings while you are at it, as they are very likely the culprits when front end handling has gone off.


Mark

[limeex2]

I had to replace my seals this year, so for the modest cost of the bushings, I figured I'd do them while it was apart. The bushings were fairly simple to replace. I had a harshness in the front end, and it would go into a shake while coasting with no hands on the handlebars. Renewing the parts seems to have cured this.

Head shake with no hands on the bars is usually due to bad steering head bearings or loose steering head bearing torque. With the front wheel elevated (removal helps more) This is easily checked

[dorkburger]

Thanks. I checked when doing the seals and it seemed ok. The front tire is shot also, which is on the list this winter, along with the rear. I'll recheck.

[alke46]

It only takes a little bit of cupping on the rear tire to cause handlebar shake with no hands on the bars, especially coasting downhill.

[RichDesmond]

Worn rear shocks are probably the biggest contributor to headshake, but it's really a systems issue, lots of things factor in.