I was wondering how hard it is to install the chrome fork sliders? I will have all of the parts I need by tomorrow. This includes 2 new gaskets and 2 bottles of fork oil. How hard is this compared to installing a full exhaust system?

 

Not hard at all. Need a jack, a long 6 mm allen wrench to get at the bolts up inside the bottom of the lower legs and oh, you may need an impact wrench for them also. I used an air impact but you probably could use a hand one that you hit with a hammer. There is a pretty good explanation of it in the do it yourself section. If I can do it anybody can.

 

Hey FACTION95, I was they guy who talked to you about the correct part numbers for the tins.

First and foremost...you need a manual! That's the best $60.00 investment you can make! A lot of what I learned came from that book!

The job is not that difficult, but more difficult than changing out the exhaust system. It's also messy as hell! Make sure to have a lot of shop rags/towels on hand, as well as an oil drain pan. Keep everything clean and laid out in the order you disassembled it. Basic hand tools that any competent wrench would have it his tool chest, but there are some special ones that make life much simpler.You will need a 6mm long allen (for the cap screws at the bottom of the fork legs), an impact tool of some sort, and I ordered the seal insertion tool. Some guys recommended using a piece of PVC pipe, but I tried that and did not like it. The seal tool cost$60.00 from HD, but can be found on Ebay for less $$$. Those 6mm cap screws are a bitch, plain and simple. They were put on with an impact tool and they need one to be removed! The fork legs are easier to work on if you remove them...if you have a vise you can clamp them down (with plenty of padding) and work on them that way. Much easier! The springs are preloaded...be very careful when removing the cap! Put your shoulder into it when removing and be expecting the release and you will be fine! The writing on the seals go up.The spacerbelow the seals have a taperered side and a flat side...the flat side goes up! The tins have a right and a left, right on right, left on left. Measuring the amount of fluidin the tube is a PITA!The manual will give you two measures...one for simple draining, the other for disassembly. Make sure to use thedisassembly figure,compress the leg, no spring installed!

That's about it...but I found it to be an all Saturday job! I took my time andlearned from my mistakes. I stripped the right side cap screw my first time...talk about a friggin nightmare, but that's another thread! But I learned a lot! The front end looks killer! And yes...I am glad I did it myself!

PM me if you have specific questions...I'll be glad to assist any way I can!

Good luck!

Steve

 

I'm doing my chrome fork install today, I will let you know if I hit any snags, I've done all the research and yes I have the manual it looks pretty staight forward. Wish me luck!

 

Thanks for the info guys. I don't have an air wrench or any of the specialty tools. I found a local shop that I like that will do it pretty cheap ($140-$175). By the time I bought the specialty tools I needed it would cost about the same as the cost of labor.I also won't have to worry if I stripped, scratched, or broke anything.

 

By the way, do you guys have any post install picts of your chrome front ends?

 

Here's mine right after the switch, made a huge difference. Did it myself but did not completely dissemble the fork springs.

 

I have already changed my forks and it looks sweet I would suggest lowering it at the same time.

 

Here is my chrome front end...at least here is half of it.

 

So is it done yet? We wanna see...