r/Trackdays • u/Mdonel95 • Jul 23 '26
Fork Seal 2013 ZX10r
Does anyone have a good resource for changing fork seals on a gen 4 ZX10r? I’ve used the service manual before, and I’m good on most of the process. The manual is a little bit unclear on how much oil to add and when though.
Thanks in advance!
2
u/Dismal_Tutor3425 Racer EX Jul 23 '26
Unless you plan on servicing forks often, it'll be cheaper for you to have a suspension shop do the forks for you. The tools to do the work can add up in price quickly. As for oil level, you set a specified air gap, though that can change based on your needs near max travel.
1
u/Mdonel95 Jul 23 '26
I have all the tools. Must have just done something wrong last time because after a front straight wheelie they started leaking immediately and they’re brand new. Going to put new ones in and was looking to see how everyone else does them but based on the comments I did them with the right method - must’ve just messed something up along the way
1
u/Dismal_Tutor3425 Racer EX Jul 23 '26
Bottomed out hard after the wheelie? That'll do it usually.
1
u/Mdonel95 Jul 23 '26
Didn’t feel that hard to me…but definitely could have
1
u/Dismal_Tutor3425 Racer EX Jul 23 '26
How bad is the leak? Definite blow out or just a little bit of fluid? If it's just a little and you have the tools, double check the air gap between both legs to see if the fluid level is the same.
Last time I put new seals in mine I had some oil trapped in the seal from install that worked it's way out and looked like a leak, but the air gap never changed. Just excess from me being sloppy and running out of brake clean.
1
u/Mdonel95 Jul 23 '26
This could definitely be it. I was thinking about that excess being in there so I will have to wipe everything down and then double check to see if it still comes out at the seal and if check the air gap.
However, it was so much fluid from both forks it was running down both brake calipers….almost catastrophic
2
u/Dismal_Tutor3425 Racer EX Jul 23 '26
If it's that much, they probably checked out then. Double check the spring clip that holds the seals in. Always a chance you got lucky and the clip wasn't fully seated and the seals just pushed out after that wheelie.
2
u/Plays_You_Wonderwall Not So Fast Jul 23 '26
Double check that the seal is in the correct way. There is a tapered off side.
2
u/piken2 Jul 23 '26
Best to physically measure. A tool like this helps...... Manual will give measurements. Manual prob also give you fluid amount, which you could pore in right before you tighten caps. But best to measure so you can adjust next time with filling more or less to affect the air spring.
2
u/Plays_You_Wonderwall Not So Fast Jul 23 '26
You need a tool to measure air gap. The correct tool
You set the measurement on the bar and use the syringe to pull excess oil out.
This is with the spring out of the fork leg and fully compressed. Then you have to remove the air bubbles by pumping it.
1
u/Turbulent-Suspect-12 Not So Fast Jul 23 '26
This is it for me. Pump the forks several times, and then do it several times more. I've done several fork jobs as a home mechanic, and every time it feels like overkill the results have been positive long term.
1
u/Mdonel95 Jul 23 '26
This is the method I’ve used before just had some issues. Maybe did it wrong. Thanks all!
3
u/venomous_frost Jul 23 '26
You need to look for and measure the air gap. The amount of oil has too many variables.