brake or fork oil ?

[red98]

Bit strange this...checking the bike over a few weeks back and I notice offside front caliper is soaked in what looks brake fluid.looks like its been sprayed on, cant see any obvious leaks and the reservoir is more or less full....a closer look this evening and the inside of the fork leg is also wet...so iam now thinking the fork seals are weeping, dripping onto the wheel and then coating the caliper as the wheel turns.........to rule out any brake problems ive made up some wooden brake pads  and clamped the lever to the bar to create a bit of pressure, will leave over night and check in the morning.

anyone have fork seals go like this ?

[Fazerider]

Fork oil and brake fluid smell quite different if there's enough to get a whiff from it.
Otherwise a leaking fork seal normally leaves a noticeable tide mark at the top of the fork tube.


A portion of the rear wheel of my bike was soaked in oil when I came to leave work the other day… after investigating, it was clear there wasn't anything on the bike leaking, some prankster must have been responsible. Oh, how I laughed.    So maybe the same joker has been round your way?

[red98]

Hi fazerider.....no tide mark, but there is a smearing of oil, I'll remove the dust cover tomorrow and have a closer look...

[Lez72]

My right leg fork seal let go last year without me knowing and due to the bike being stood for some time I had exactly the same symptoms as you red. I too thought it was a brake fluid leak but on closer inspection it was the fork seal that had popped and given the brake caliper a good soaking.

[red98]

hi lez.......iam thinking the same,i`ll lift the fork seal dust cover this evening,my guess is i`ll find a pool of fork oil,will update later........bloody work,gets in the way of what we really want to do 

[red98]

After a long day at work, home for dinner,an hour cutting the grass I finally have 5 mins to spend on the bike, think iam doing something wrong  ....anyway....eased up the fork seal dust cover to reveal a pool of oil.... new seals ordered from WEMOTO, should be here for the weekend 

[Lez72]

Good to know you've sourced the issue red.

[red98]

Hi lez....yep, an easy fix.....iam going to paint the engine at the same time, silver paint flaking   ....be easier with the forks out of the way   

[red98]

Fork seals arrived today, great service from WEMOTO as usual  .......wish I could say the same about the classic suzuki parts I ordered from SUZUKI GB at the same time..

[red98]

Fork seals replaced today, no real problems.not refitted the forks as iam going to re-paint the engine, silver paints flaking bad, much easier with the forks out of the way........need to remove the rad and exhaust in the morning and start preping......