Replace fork dust covers?

[degrom]

Hi.

When should one replace the Dust covers on your forks?

I am installing new forks seal and I need to know if I have to replace the ond one's...

They are still in very good nick...

[Robert Taylor]

Hi.

When should one replace the Dust covers on your forks?

I am installing new forks seal and I need to know if I have to replace the ond one's...

They are still in very good nick...

If you have done 10s of 1000s of k's replace them, looks can be deceptive. The main sealing lips lose tension over time and there will likely be wear tracks invisible to the naked eye

[xwhatsit]

I just ordered some new fork seals, as mine have started leaking (bloody typical, buy `new' second-hand forks, and the seals blow within 1000kms ).

Anyway, I bought them through Econohonda, and suprisingly enough the seals came with dust covers as well in the wee ancient Honda vacuum pack. I asked them `why?' in that incessant way of mine, and the man said that apparently Honda thinks I should change the dust covers every time I do the seals Not unusual of Honda to do such a thing, apparently.

My Haynes also mentions that the dust covers should be at least inspected very closely when you do the seals, and if in any doubt to change them as well, as your seals won't last long with dirt and shit in through the top.

At any rate I've flogged a pair of fork gaiters off eBay which will hopefully fit and be here very quickly, so new dust covers and gaiters should keep the seals fresh for a long time.

I'm sure you'll agree with this, Robert, as you certainly seem a `prevantative maintenance' kind of guy; if I paid $28.50 per OEM seal with dust covers, instead of perhaps $20 or so per OEM seal without, surely it's worth the little extra money to just do them at the same time as the seals? Hell, I'm eternally skint, but it makes sense to me. You've got the forks off anyway.

[degrom]

Another thing.. When I removed the seals there were wire clips on them to keep them in place.

The wire clips are rusted. Is that bad or does it not matter?