Elastomers for springs

[Archer]

I've picked up an XPX thats not been used for several years and the elastomers are rock hard.
I was thinking of changing these for springs or even a total conversion to air shocks possibly.
Has this been done, are there exsisting shocks or springs that fit with minimal adaptation?.
Any pics or suggestions would be excellent, thanks.

[w2zero]

Search the forum for those answers, they're all there.  For now, wrap a rag around the hard elastomer and pour boiling water on it.  It should soften up enough for a ride after a short while.

[orange]

you can get replacement elastomers here: http://www.suspensionforkparts.net/eshop/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=11 to get you up and running.

since rapiddescentscotland closed down spring kits are hard to come by. People have adapted air shocks though - have a look around on the forum. You also have the luxury option of these http://www.risseracing.com/proflex.shtml not cheap but are good.

[fyrstormer]

Boil some water in a pot, shut off the heat, and put the elastomers into it. That will soften them up.

This needs to be done yearly to keep elastomers working properly. Eventually they will get mushy, but that is inevitable regardless of whether you heat-soften them.

In the long term, you're much better off with a coil-spring or air-spring shock, because air springs are easily refilled and coil springs never change performance no matter the weather or their age.

[orange]

I never got the hot water treatment to work - it only lasted for an hour or so