Quite horrific, weren't they? I hope nobody was too traumatised by the image.
Well, the "friction dampers" weren't greatly effective, in fact the steering didn't feel too unusual. A side effect of indirect steering and fat tyres, possibly.
I theorise that minimal greasing hasn't helped them, nor the suspension hub design which collects water around the lower race. The new races have lubrication and silicon grease around to repel the wet. I will ask the manufacturers what they think about making a drain hole in the casting.
Orbit X, PB.