Stock Rear Shock Disassembly

[sdt354]

Great write up Ben. I agree with Rick on an award too. How about an innovation award? Ben is a hands on guy for sure. He doesn?t send much out to be done. It?s done right at home.<O</O
Year ago lots of bushings were made on a little lathe we had. We used other bushings and hockey pucks as blanks. <O</O
<O
Steve-o<O</O

 

[naughtyG]

Howcome you guys didn't know it was possible to dismantle the stock shocks? How do you think they assemble them? Haven't you seen stock shocks with different colored springs on them? They had to remove it in order to respray the springs. This is a good tutorial though. Should go to the How to guides section...

i was always under the impression that they'd been built 'sealed', as in you'd have to destroy them to take them apart, like most of the junk made in China these days..

So it was great to see they *can* be disassembled and rebuilt. :clapping:

 

[johnpclynch]

I don't suppose you could see any way of shortening them while you have them apart?

From the looks of it you'd have to "lower" the top mount somehow without impacting on the piston length or the damper adjustment system - maybe fix the damper at 3, put in a smaller locknut and machine a short solid top mount?

...it might be easier to go buy a set of shorter shocks

 

[BOM88]

Its tough to say since my intent was just to dis-assemble and re paint/replace the dried rubber bumper.... I know you can drain the oil through at the top of the inner stanchion (where the threading is) maybe it could be drained/measured and replaced with heavier weight oil. This would prevent it from bottoming out when you shorten everything. I don't know about cutting the springs, or shock down, I think in doing that you would lose the damper adjustment. I would try it but I need my shocks lol if someone has a **** pair it may be worth a shot. I would think at that point, time and money you might want to get the shocks you really want.

 

[smokegetsinyoureyes]

Excellent guide mate, just noticed it after posting my own, your guide and pics is much better, guess we have the same objective?

 

[smokegetsinyoureyes]

Here's my take on the same thing, I'm powder coating the springs black and have sprayed the damper body satin black, I'll post pics when done!
I had posted some months ago asking if anyone knew if the standard shocks could be taken apart, and finally took the bull by the horns a few days ago.

 

[smokegetsinyoureyes]

Here's my take on the same thing, I'm powder coating the springs black and have sprayed the damper body satin black, I'll post pics when done!
I had posted some months ago asking if anyone knew if the standard shocks could be taken apart, and finally took the bull by the horns a few days ago.

P.S. The spring compressors are home made from "H" beam clamps that stud bar hangs from to hold pipework etc.

 

[smokegetsinyoureyes]

Howcome you guys didn't know it was possible to dismantle the stock shocks? How do you think they assemble them? Haven't you seen stock shocks with different colored springs on them? They had to remove it in order to respray the springs. This is a good tutorial though. Should go to the How to guides section...

My thoughts exactly, "If it's assembled, it can be disassembled"

 

[BOM88]

nice man! i found a solution to the cracked rubber bumper if your interested.....

at lowes, ace, homedepot you can purchase a rubber stopper, you can then use a forstner bit and a brad point bit to drill out the proper holes. Its a nice way to update that cracked bumper. Pictures included

<a href="http://s1095.beta.photobucket.com/user/Ben_Morgan/media/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0020_zpsf3418545.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i463/Ben_Morgan/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0020_zpsf3418545.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

<a href="http://s1095.beta.photobucket.com/user/Ben_Morgan/media/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0018_zpsdc753bfb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i463/Ben_Morgan/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0018_zpsdc753bfb.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

<a href="http://s1095.beta.photobucket.com/user/Ben_Morgan/media/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0017_zpsdb5423a8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i463/Ben_Morgan/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0017_zpsdb5423a8.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

<a href="http://s1095.beta.photobucket.com/user/Ben_Morgan/media/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0016_zps891e7ab2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i463/Ben_Morgan/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0016_zps891e7ab2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

<a href="http://s1095.beta.photobucket.com/user/Ben_Morgan/media/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0015_zps6ca96377.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i463/Ben_Morgan/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0015_zps6ca96377.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

<a href="http://s1095.beta.photobucket.com/user/Ben_Morgan/media/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0014_zps2ccab6f1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i463/Ben_Morgan/VMAX%20SHOCKS/IMG_0014_zps2ccab6f1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

 

[BOM88]

Also heres a sneak peak of one of my shocks finished....

Top spray rhino lined - Its durable and I have some other text black parts on my bike
strut and top mount - VHT epoxy paint its strong and fairly chip resistant
spring - satin black (stock color)
pre load steps - left unfinished
pre load adjuster - Matte black powdercoat



<a href="http://s1095.beta.photobucket.com/user/Ben_Morgan/media/IMG_0040_zpsa2ef2243.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i463/Ben_Morgan/IMG_0040_zpsa2ef2243.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

 

[dannymax]

Nice job Ben, looks great! :thumbs up:

 

[Redbone]

Nice job Ben, looks great! :thumbs up:

+1, Nice job on this whole write up and sweet paint job to top it off!

 

[bazwell]

Awesome write up!

Howcome you guys didn't know it was possible to dismantle the stock shocks? How do you think they assemble them? Haven't you seen stock shocks with different colored springs on them? They had to remove it in order to respray the springs. This is a good tutorial though. Should go to the How to guides section...

OK Fred. You've got me interested! Now that I've got the springs off, how do I dismantle the stock shocks? I want to replace the seals in them. :rofl_200:

 

[RadiumPHX]

Does anyone else have a problem seeing the images in the original post?

 

[02GF74]

Yes,.

 

[RadiumPHX]

Yes,.

Well I pulled the shocks apart and found out the dampers are sealed and not rebuildable.