Service Kits

Fork Service Kit Buying Guide

A fork service kit is the cheapest insurance policy in mountain biking. Replacing seals and foam rings at the right intervals prevents stanchion scoring, oil contamination and the kind of neglect damage that writes off a fork entirely. The kit itself is rarely more than £20–40 — the real cost of skipping services is a new CSU or a trip to TF Tuned.

What's in a Service Kit

A standard lower leg kit (sometimes called a 50-hour kit) typically contains dust wipers, foam rings, o-rings for the air and damper side, and crush washers for the lower leg bolts. Full rebuild kits add damper-side seals, IFP o-rings and sometimes the air spring seal head o-rings. RockShox and Fox label these differently — RockShox uses "basic" and "full", Fox uses "dust wiper" and "rebuild" — but the concept is the same.

OEM vs Aftermarket Kits

OEM kits from RockShox and Fox are the safe bet and come with exact-spec seals. Aftermarket options from SKF, Enduro Bearings and RS Suspension use upgraded materials — SKF's low-friction wipers are a genuine improvement over stock RockShox seals on Pike and Lyrik forks. For Fox, the OEM seals are already excellent and aftermarket gains are marginal.

Matching the Kit to Your Fork

Fork service kits are model and year-specific. A RockShox Pike from 2018 uses different seal dimensions and oil volumes than a 2023 Pike. The key identifiers: fork model (Pike, Lyrik, 36, 34), stanchion diameter (32mm, 34mm, 35mm, 36mm, 38mm), and model year. If you're unsure, the serial number on the back of the fork crown will tell you exactly what you have.

When to Replace

If your fork feels harsh on small bumps, leaks oil past the wipers, or makes a squelching noise on compression, the seals are done. Black grime building up around the wiper seals is normal and not a sign of failure — that's the wipers doing their job. Oil weeping down the stanchions is the real red flag.