Front fork seal
Ariete seals - quality and durability.
Ariete's high manufacturing quality corresponds to their unique
manufacturing material – a carboxylated elastomer rubber compound, known as
XNBR.
This unique rubber compound has particularly good resistance to wear,
high temperatures, and various greases containing multiple additives, used in
today's motorcycle suspensions.
When the suspension moves against the seal, relatively high friction is
generated, which is in turn amplified by the heat generated from friction and
hydraulics. Such mechanical wear accelerates the aging of the rubber seal.
In addition to the chemical additives in the oils used in suspensions also age the seal.
Suspension seals are typically made from a nitrile rubber compound, known as NBR.
This is used not because it is the best material for the given application,
but because it is widely available and very cheap.
Over 50 years in the rubber industry, after several years of research and
testing, Ariete engineers have concluded that the XNBR rubber compound is
currently the best for use in this field due to its wear resistance and
chemical resistance.
| TEST |
Standard
|
NBR
|
XNBR
|
| Tensile Strength (PSI) |
ASTM D412
|
2130
|
3270
|
| Abrasion Resistance % |
ASTM D1630
|
210
|
590
|
Although the price of XNBR material is almost twice as expensive as NBR,
thanks to the modern manufacturing technology and distribution policy used by
Ariete, their price range is very competitive compared to products from
competitors using NBR rubber compound. Thanks to this, the Ariete buyer can
enjoy the benefits of a very high-quality and technologically modern, yet
affordably priced product. As an additional guarantee of product quality,
Ariete holds the ISO 9002 quality certificate.
Arisil - special seal grease
Ariete front fork seals are made to withstand all the different additives
used in suspension oils. The application of front fork seals differs from
standard engine oil seals, as movement occurs up and down in suspension
seals. Due to this movement, the wear on the seal is many times greater than
that of a standard engine oil seal.
In addition to the special rubber compound used in the seals, Ariete has
selected a special grease (Arisil) which is applied to the inner surface of
the seal during installation to minimize seal wear, aid in seal
'break-in', and reduce surface adhesion.
This grease is manufactured in the USA and was originally intended as a
lubricant for rubber/metal components on NASA space program equipment.
Arisil grease gives the seal a longer lifespan, helps maintain elasticity, and
increases resistance to chemical influences.
All Ariete front fork seal packages contain a sufficient amount of Arisil
grease for both seals included in the package.