Fork lower bush parts quality question

Freshening the fork, bought all the consumable items along with stanchion tubes to replace the worn/rust damaged ones. The replacement lower bushes have a record groove finish turned on the O.D., which, I estimate to be a 64 finish (no profilometer at home) at best. (the image quality doesn't do justice, a fingernail dragged across it leaves a trail of DNA in the grooves) Logic warns me that those steel parts would gobble the inside of the aluminum slider. What have you all observed? Is this the standard for what's been coming? Or a fluke?

I've not seen heavy machining grooves but nearly always the bushings have damage from handling and these small dents, burrs or scratches will also ruin your slider, I always give them the once over , even a bit of a polish, but not enought to reduce its diameter, I even had some that are slightly different diameters.
check the top ones to but less prone to damage, the good ones should be sintered bronze that are made by mold and therefore should not have any machining marks to ruin the stanchion, they are often out of shape until you fit them to the slider.

Most sliders are worn out, i have just finnished my sixth pair [steel sleeve conversion] for forum member Bob Walker.
I machine a 1 mm wall steel sleeve and bond it into the slider, a bronze lower bush is made to suit.
This combination is far better than iron/alloy, the result is tough hi-tensile bore combined with a bronze bearing...how long will it take to wear out?
I guess i am to old to find out

john robert bould said:

Most sliders are worn out, i have just finnished my sixth pair [steel sleeve conversion] for forum member Bob Walker.
I machine a 1 mm wall steel sleeve and bond it into the slider, a bronze lower bush is made to suit.
This combination is far better than iron/alloy, the result is tough hi-tensile bore combined with a bronze bearing...how long will it take to wear out?
I guess i am to old to find out

Click to expand...

HOORAH!!! That is the final solution there!

Very interested in your fix up for worn sliders John, more detail would be appreciated for those wishing to
avail themselves of your improvement:
(1) the steel sleeve? is it the full length of the inner bore?
(2) You mention Hi- tensile steel, what grade of steel is the sleeve?
(3) what is the surface finish of the I.D of the steel sleeve?
(4) "bonded" do you mean fitted with Loctite or similar?
(5) do you have any medium to long term results of this modification?
(6) What is the cost for modifying and supplying the necessary lower bushings etc?
I'm certain I'm asking questions that most prospective buyers of your modification
would want to know,

Hello Donald,
The steel sleeve is cold draw hydrauilic tube, honed to produce a good internal finnish,
Machined to 38.05 [1 1/2] to be a precise push in fit, the sleeve is made so the original top bush is still used.
Bonded with high strength "Bond fit" a few tests show this is a very,very strong joint.
No long term test ,but on paper this is a excellent combination, bronze sliding in a steel honed bore..in oil?
Cost is £49 per side
The kit can be supplied to a good engineer for home fitting, £75 plus p/p ,lathe required.
Refurbed service via post available...send sliders, i clean out the original bore, measure and fit the sleeves, machine new lower be-spoke bush . cost £98 plus postage...post will bump up the price for outside UK customers .
,