Rear lowering kit help needed
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Rear lowering kit help needed
Trying to install a rear lowering stud kit on an 05 Softail, can't for the life of me get the factory studs out of the old shocks......any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!
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From: Republic of Texas
Did you compress the shocks? Remove the wire clip holding the adjustment plate on. Pull the shock apart. Then using two wrenches break the stud loose from the shock?
Just checking since those are the basic steps involved. I could be wrong but I think the two wrenches are 9/16 and 11/16 but I am not sure since it's been a while since I did mine.
Just checking since those are the basic steps involved. I could be wrong but I think the two wrenches are 9/16 and 11/16 but I am not sure since it's been a while since I did mine.
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From: Republic of Texas
It will all look like this when apart. You have to take them apart so that you can get a backup wrench on the round piece with the two flats on it that is behind the round plate that has the 4 holes in it.
Here are the shocks with the lowering bolts (studs) installed.
Here are the shocks with the lowering bolts (studs) installed.
Last edited by ghostrider69; Aug 28, 2011 at 06:26 PM.
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From: Republic of Texas
The lowering bolt has female threads in it that screw onto the shock stud and is tightened down. When I installed mine I applied blue loctite to the inside of the lowering bolt and then screwed it onto the stud and got it as tight as I could get it. You want it as tight as possible so that it will not back out on you. So to answer your question yes the nut with the flats on it locks the stud in place or in other words the studs gets tightened up against it.
Last edited by ghostrider69; Aug 28, 2011 at 06:33 PM.
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From: Republic of Texas
Your welcome. That's why we are all here, to help each other out and of course show off our sleds.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2010
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From: Peach Bottom, PA
Sorry to threadjack but figured I would ask someone who had just did this job. I'm still awaiting my Service manual but decided to tackle it anyways. The rear bolts on the shocks, where they mount to the swingarm.....are they reverse thread or something? I am having one hell of a time getting them broke loose. I've tried the longest 3/4" wrench that I could find, then beat it with a 3 lb sledge and they still won't break loose. Any suggestions or tips? TIA 
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: NORTH CAROLINA
shocks
Sorry to threadjack but figured I would ask someone who had just did this job. I'm still awaiting my Service manual but decided to tackle it anyways. The rear bolts on the shocks, where they mount to the swingarm.....are they reverse thread or something? I am having one hell of a time getting them broke loose. I've tried the longest 3/4" wrench that I could find, then beat it with a 3 lb sledge and they still won't break loose. Any suggestions or tips? TIA
No they are not left hand threads. you must turn them counter clock wise to remove. two or three good raps with that hammer should of broken them loose...at least it did on mine. you may have to apply heat to get the red loctite to break loose. use a heat gun rather than an open flame. good luck...
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 15
From: Peach Bottom, PA
I'm going to borrow one of those "dead-blow" hammers from our mechanic at work tomorrow, they seem to persuade things a little better than a regular sledge when it comes to stubborn bolts. I'll give the heat gun a try and see how it works out. Also, does it make a difference if the rear wheel is supported or hanging freely when breaking these bolts loose? I know that I need to support the wheel when actually removing the bolts.