The light and beautifully machined Abbey Bike Tools Top Cap Socket Set of 6 improves on traditional suspension top cap sockets, which are tall, made from tough steel and designed with a lead in or chamfer at the bottom.
This results in problems such as faulty engagement, marring of the customers' comparatively soft suspension top caps, or a loose fit after the pro mechanic grinds them down to increase the engagement by removing the chamfer.
Abbey Bike Tools' design is an improvement in every way. The brand's top cap sockets are beautifully machined from billet aluminium, with a similar density to the suspension top cap, so that marring is reduced, especially since they're CNC machined with zero lead in.
The sockets therefore achieve a greater contact area with their corresponding top caps, with the engagement being improved still further by their shallowness – just 25mm for all sizes – and the fact that there's no need to file them down and ruin the intended snug fit.
This means there's less slip over the top cap and exacting tolerances are achieved, making the tricky task of servicing all sorts of forks a breeze, especially since each socket is made specifically for the job at hand. One size fits all does not achieve the best results when it comes to suspension servicing!
The sockets' usefulness is enhanced by the inclusion of a 3/8” drive, made especially to marry with your 3/8” torque wrench, along with finger splines, which made them easier to wield with greasy fingers.