How to replace shocks?
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: Murrieta, CA
Support your bike on either a center stand/lift or 4x4s. You'll need to get the bike off the ground enough so the rear tire is not touching.
Support the rear tire with a shim of some sort (a 2x4 will work).
Unbolt top and bottom of shocks. They won't just come flying off. Remove shocks. You may need to raise or lower the rear tire by hand to get them off.
Your swing arm will now move freely, so be careful.
Put new shocks on. You'll need to move the tire up or down to align the swing arm mounting points with the shock eyes.
Bolt down both top and bottom. Remove shim from under rear tire. Lower bike. Make sure nothing is scraping, binding, etc.
Support the rear tire with a shim of some sort (a 2x4 will work).
Unbolt top and bottom of shocks. They won't just come flying off. Remove shocks. You may need to raise or lower the rear tire by hand to get them off.
Your swing arm will now move freely, so be careful.
Put new shocks on. You'll need to move the tire up or down to align the swing arm mounting points with the shock eyes.
Bolt down both top and bottom. Remove shim from under rear tire. Lower bike. Make sure nothing is scraping, binding, etc.
Last edited by h8ter; Mar 6, 2011 at 08:45 PM. Reason: RRR
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 1
From: pottsville,pa
Simple job, just raise the bike with a lift just enough to take the load off the shocks(rear tire will barely be touching the ground). If your doing the same length shocks then do one at a time...off with the old on with the new. But if your going to a shorter shock you can take both off at the same time, then lower the jack just enough to be able to get the shorter ones back on.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 562
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma City
Is the top a bolt, requiring a back up wrench, or is it a stud that doesn't require a backup?
Support your bike on either a center stand/lift or 4x4s. You'll need to get the bike off the ground enough so the rear tire is not touching.
Support the rear tire with a shim of some sort (a 2x4 will work).
Unbolt top and bottom of shocks. They won't just come flying off. Remove shocks. You may need to raise or lower the rear tire by hand to get them off.
Your swing arm will now move freely, so be careful.
Put new shocks on. You'll need to move the tire up or down to align the swing arm mounting points with the shock eyes.
Bolt down both top and bottom. Remove shim from under rear tire. Lower bike. Make sure nothing is scraping, binding, etc.
Support the rear tire with a shim of some sort (a 2x4 will work).
Unbolt top and bottom of shocks. They won't just come flying off. Remove shocks. You may need to raise or lower the rear tire by hand to get them off.
Your swing arm will now move freely, so be careful.
Put new shocks on. You'll need to move the tire up or down to align the swing arm mounting points with the shock eyes.
Bolt down both top and bottom. Remove shim from under rear tire. Lower bike. Make sure nothing is scraping, binding, etc.
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