Just wondering how often people change fork seals, bushings and/or springs and fork tubes.

I've replaced seals on one shock (left side) three times now in about 30,000 Km while the other has been replaced only once and is fine. Thought it was a knick on the fork tube so we buffed the offending knick out (or so we thought but after a another cold winter oil came spilling on out again). I also have a bit of rust on my upper fork tubes (not a problem but I don't like the look of it).

Just wondering if anyone might know why I keep trashing a seal (heard somewhere that it might be a worn bushing so those are getting done today) and if it's OK to buff out rust on fork tubes.

Given the cost of tubes I'm not keen to change these. Especially considering the thrashing my bike gets day in day out.

Worn bushes won't help seal life, they mean the seal doesn't just work up and down, but in a wobbly shape, too. Nicks, rust or chips in a fork leg will also do it in quick order. Fork legs needn't be exceptionally expensive new. If you buff a mark out, you reduce the diameter of the stanchion by a little each time, which also won't help.