Front Springs question how to tell if its worn out ...

[Old Geezer Richard]

 I got 69,000 on my 98 Valk , and I'm going to switch to progressive rear springs , now how will the front springs act that tells me to switch them out too .... I have bottomed out twice coming down a hill and hitting a low water crossing with a bump and at hight speeds around 90 mph the front wobbles front side to side alittle .... Is it time to go Progressive

[DFragn]

Well, how abrupt is the bump and were you on the brakes? My guess is your fork springs are good, but progressives are an inexpensive upgrade. Besides, you need to check your stem bearings & torque value on your steering stem lock-nut for the wobble. You probably have indexed the bearing races while bottoming the forks. IMO

[Old Geezer Richard]

Hey DFRAG , I just think that all of the original equipment won't last forever and is bound to crap out  sooner or later and need to be replaced , when I hit that bump no I did not use the front brake because I was going about  40 or 45.... the front end handles fine at lower speeds under 80,85 and  at the legal speed of 70 and the much slower speeds like thru the school zones but when I'm running thru the gears and just opening it up every once in a while , when I have reached 85 , 90, 95 and also in the turbelence behind an 18 wheeler the front tire goes side to side just alittle , its noticeable to me  or it could be the windshield buffetting thru the wind .... I was just wondering if those were symptoms of the front spring going out from age or something else ..... now let me ask you do the stock springs last for a good while getting close to 100,000 miles or do they need to be replaced at a certain mileage anyway ... let me know .... Thanks Old Geezer Richard

[DFragn]

O.G. I couldn't say. I've never put 100k on a set of fork springs.
Along with the springs it's mostly about fork fluid. In my mind, the springs keep the fork tubes extended and your tire on the ground, along with the internal dampener & rebound coil. The fork fluid does most of the compression work. If you feel/sense the springs have weakened and you have never leaked fork fluid by substantial amounts I imagine you could add an ounce of fork fluid to each leg [after checking existing OEM recommended levels] to tighten your front end up.
Since air compresses & fluid does not that would help tighten/stiffen your front suspension up without replacing your springs.
Personally, if I doubted my fork suspension I would replace the springs [OEM or Progressives] and then zero in on fluid levels that would give me the ride I preferred.

Buffeting/Wobble: Ya could always pull the windscreen or fairing for a test ride to help determine it's influence to your wobble issue at 90+ mph. Don't forget to hold on tight!!! Maybe drop to the tank too! We forget just how much force our screens relieve of us of. But, if it doesn't wobble at legal speeds [or slightly over for passing] I wouldn't worry about it until it might. If it's a steering stem issue it will eventually show you its bad manners at lower speeds.

Disclaimer: No liability or risk assesment assumed. Information provided as opinion only.