Preserving Titanium Aluminium Nitride Coating ('03 Dark Option)

The Pace Service Department has carried out routine servicing on '03 Hollowform models now for a full year. Many of these forks are spec'd with the factory Dark Option- Titanium Aluminium Nitride (TiALN) and the condition of this high performance coating has been monitored.

Generally it has been found that the coating retains its performance, finish and adhesion even after extended use, and the only change noted was that the coating may take on a more polished appearance.

However some forks fitted with this option have shown marked signs of coating wear, and when examined through an electron microscope show that the super-tough finish has completely worn away back to the substrate (micro-crack chrome) and in many cases this has been worn back to base metal! In most of these cases wear has occurred in the area of the stanchion tube directly in contact with the forks PTFE bearings.

The cause is easy to find. Dried mud and dust has built up in the forks' wiper seal, between the upper seals scraper lip and the lower excluder lip. A significant proportion of this debris contains Silica, a super tough grit found in most soils. This grit is harder than case hardened steel and if not removed will wear away even TiALN which carries a rating of 3000 HVN!

It is therefore essential that customers usingTiALN coated forks regularly clean and grease the forks' wiper seals to prevent wear occurring. The maintenance schedules laid out in the Hollowform Owners Manual supplied with the fork (and downloadable from this website) must be adhered to where cleaning and greasing of the forks seals is recommended after 25 hrs of riding (winter) and 50 hours of riding (summer). Reduce these times if often riding in wet conditions.

Please note that TiALN wear caused due to the maintenance schedule not being followed will not be covered under the terms of the Warranty.