i'll jump in here. i had been, and still am, searching for a proper answer to the elastomer question.
well aware of suspensionforkparts.net or whatever it is. i really dont want to pay $50+dollars, and then shipping for some polyurethane rod.
with that said, i have been searching high and low for where they are getting this stuff from. i cant seem to find it in both the correct durometer, and diameter. i have found much harder rod from the likes of amazon, ebay, etc. too stiff to use in a fork though.
there are actual manufacturing companies / plants here that will make it for you, in whatever diameter, length, hardness you desire, even with a center hole. the caveat, however, is that these places require a minimum order - aka, ya need to order 1000's of them. aint happenin.
the best solution i have come up with so far, is using silicone vacuum tubing, in various sizes. bought 1 ft lengths of several diameters on ebay. cut them up (easily w razor blade), and can combine diameters as needed to stiffen, or soften the fork (manitou 4). for example, i can pop the tiny 1/4" hose, inside the 3/4" hose, to add stiffness. they have a slight dampening quality to them, and not super springy.
this will suffice until i can find real PU rod, or actual microcellular urethane material.
cheers all!
