DIY - Rear Shock Removal

[randomwalker]

Here's my step-by-step. Before you begin, start your favorite music:

1. Get bike up on Bursig stand. If you do not have a Bursig stand, try raising the bike up using jack stands under non-foldable rearsets. Otherwise you need to come up with some other method of releasing the tension from the rear shock.

2. Remove front seat, fuel tank cover, raise fuel tank, disconnect the hoses, remove fuel tank and set aside. You may not need to completely remove the fuel tank, but in my case, I'm glad I did because one of the retaining screws had evidently vibrated loose and I would not have seen that had I not completely removed the fuel tank.

2a. Remove the rear wheel (again, may not be necessary, but I needed to do that to prop up the control link...see picture).

3. If you have an after-market exhaust that bolts on to the frame, you will need to unbolt the exhaust.

4. Loosen the upper frame bolt and nut on both sides and remove the lower frame bolt and nut on both sides.

5. Secure the frame with a ratcheting strap and raise it up to make room for the shock to come out.

6. The lower shock bolt is a bitch to reach because the control link is in the way. I used a torx bit (T-50) with a long shaft to loosen the bolt.

7. Remove the upper shock bolt (4) first. The shock will drop down a bit but the lower shock bolt (2) will still not come out because the control link is in the way.

8. Prop up the wish bone (control link) with some tool. I used a mallet.

9. Remove the lower shock bolt, washer and nut.

10. Maneuver the shock out through the room you created under the frame.

11. Voila!

12. Installation is pretty much the reverse of the above...I installed the lower shock bolt first.

13. Torque values: Shock to main frame = 56 Nm; Sub (rear) frame to main frame = 60Nm.

[randomwalker]

Some more pictures.

[RIQUE]

Thanks for posting Random. My shock will make it here in a few days. Can't wait.

[Illusion]

Thanks for posting this. This will come in handy when I go to replace the rear shock

[randomwalker]

Welcome. Writing it up helps me understand what I did and hopefully makes it easier to put it all back together..

And don't forget the most important step...reward yourself with a beer!

[RIQUE]

Hey Random, must one remove the rear wheel?

[1hotlimo]

Good post! Thanks

[randomwalker]

Originally Posted by RIQUE

Hey Random, must one remove the rear wheel?

Not necessary. But it helps if you want to prop up the control link (See picture) and it generally gives you some more room.

[RIQUE]

Ok Folks, finished doing my rear shock today and beleive I have some important contributions to the procedure initially posted by Random.

If you don't have a fancy lift or fixed rear sets then what you need to do is remove the ones you have and install them up side down. That way you can use them to support the bike on stands.

I don't recommend removing the rear wheel since I found it was not necessary. Randoms procedure to lift the rear link by proping with a mallet can be overcome by jacking the rear swing arm by rear wheel spools. By doing this removing and installing the bottom shock bolt becomes much simpler and quicker. Some pics for your reference.

[randomwalker]

Originally Posted by RIQUE

Ok Folks, finished doing my rear shock today and beleive I have some important contributions to the procedure initially posted by Random.

If you don't have a fancy lift or fixed rear sets then what you need to do is remove the ones you have and install them up side down. That way you can use them to support the bike on stands.

I don't recommend removing the rear wheel since I found it was not necessary. Randoms procedure to lift the rear link by proping with a mallet can be overcome by jacking the rear swing arm by rear wheel spools. By doing this removing and installing the bottom shock bolt becomes much simpler and quicker. Some pics for your reference.

Good stuff.