Making the Stock Shocks Better
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Buckeye, AZ
RE: Making the Stock Shocks Better
I'm curious about the prospects of using the DB compressor system with the factory shocks. I have the infamous DB system and for the most part have been happy with it, although I'm still looking for more appropriate shocks for it. In any case, I remember when I had the stock shocks that it only took a few pumps with the factory air pump to fill the shocks to the desired PSI. Wouldn't the air compressor add air too quickly to get a fine tuned PSI level?
BTW, nice write up. I always thought that you could just add oil to the stock shocks but was told by many that once they leaked they were no good. Of course those people also had a vested interest in either selling OEM shocks or aftermarket shocks so I should have known better.
BTW, nice write up. I always thought that you could just add oil to the stock shocks but was told by many that once they leaked they were no good. Of course those people also had a vested interest in either selling OEM shocks or aftermarket shocks so I should have known better.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 27
From: Northern Part of the Great Lone Star State
RE: Making the Stock Shocks Better
We go thru alot of extremes to improve on the front end but do little to the rear end...
there has been several mentions on the removal of the stock wt fluid in the front forks and increasing the wt to something higher such as the screaming eagle stuff to improve on the front forks...
We neglect to address the rear the same way...
Why not if it will work on the front forks surly it will work on the rear shocks...
FWIW...If the seal is shot or starts to leak the shocks are not scraped they can be re-built per Cliff...Food for Thought...
there has been several mentions on the removal of the stock wt fluid in the front forks and increasing the wt to something higher such as the screaming eagle stuff to improve on the front forks...
We neglect to address the rear the same way...
Why not if it will work on the front forks surly it will work on the rear shocks...
FWIW...If the seal is shot or starts to leak the shocks are not scraped they can be re-built per Cliff...Food for Thought...
Novice
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
RE: Making the Stock Shocks Better
I too got a set of shocks that had leaked in the box. You just outlined the basic procedure I wrote about last year. It is fine that you want a different wt oil in the shocks. I will caution you about the fill method and running with too much fluid which will not compress like air. If you have too much oil in there you might have a failure of the plastic lines when the fluid does not compress. This might put some oil out in a bad spot in front of your rear tire. I found you can just weigh the shock and match the weight to get a good fill. Another way is to compress your shock in a press with a easily fabbed jig to ensure full range of motion and no overfill. Your miti-vac will also work to suck the fluid into the shock for you if you so desire. Remember there is not much extra space in there to mess with.
Mike
Mike
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 790
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Making the Stock Shocks Better
This may be a dumb question. Are the air and oil side of the shock seperated with a bladder.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 27
From: Northern Part of the Great Lone Star State
RE: Making the Stock Shocks Better
Jeff,
I'm not sure what ATF stands for ...That was my 1st impression when Cliff mentioned it to me...I never bothered to ask Cliff what it stood for though...
I'm not sure what ATF stands for ...That was my 1st impression when Cliff mentioned it to me...I never bothered to ask Cliff what it stood for though...