How to tell when it's time to change your suspension

Age takes its toll on the rubber seals through degradation and springs sag as the coils deform under the continued load.

You can spot seal problems such as perishing or oil leaks, but to check springs you have to take them off, measure their free length and compare this to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Use has other effects. During use the bearings and other working surfaces wear, producing play.

This can affect the smooth performance of the unit, in the case of forks extreme wear will make for a sloppy feel and can reduce the stability of the bike. Again the only real way to check is to strip and measure.

The oil in suspension units suffers a similar fate to that of engine oil. It loses its vicsosity and gets contaminated leading to increased wear in the long run.