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I Must Be Doing It Wrong --> Filling Shocks

Axial Rose

Quarry Creeper
Joined
Dec 26, 2008
Messages
387
Location
NW ATL


Although I love building (probably more than crawling - ha), I never build a set of shocks with much enthusiasm

I'm not sure why but for a long time I've been filling shocks to about 1/4" from the top (with the piston at the bottom) and then putting the caps on.

I don't know why I started doing this - I think a few years ago I assembled a set of shocks and they were very stiff so, as I was just guessing how to fix this, I removed some of the shock fluid and that made a big difference - in a good way.

Is there anything wrong with leaving new shocks about 1/4" empty when building them?

I'm getting ready to build my "dream machine" and I want the performance for "slow rock crawlin" to be as good as it can be with the stock shocks (SCX10-II kit shocks)

Than you
 
When building the shocks they should have came with different little circle discs that sit on the end of the shaft. Theyll have different # holes usually 1 to 4 holes i just run the one with 4 holes. If u change it out to have more holes theyll a more smoother travel
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These are diaphragma shox.
Fill them up with oil and then put the diaphragma in to bleed not need oil out.
Then install the diaphragma in the cap and put the cap on. carefully not to over tide them.
If the shox have not full travel then there's too much oil in them. Also a bit green slime used on the o-rings helps.

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These are diaphragma shox.
Fill them up with oil and then put the diaphragma in to bleed not need oil out.
Then install the diaphragma in the cap and put the cap on. carefully not to over tide them.
If the shox have not full travel then there's too much oil in them. Also a bit green slime used on the o-rings helps.

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Huh, never thought of doing that, I'll try that next time

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Prefaced with a bold in my personal experience, I've found the position of the piston when tightening the cap is where the trick is. I've read/seen to have it all the way extended, all the way compressed, in the middle of the travel range, something else. I don't think anybody does it the same.

For ME, I like to have about 25% rebound after bleeding and cap tightening. I fill the shock body to the top with the piston at mid travel, put the cap on and leave a little loose, then compress the shock fully, hold it there and tighten the cap, wrapping the shock with a paper towel to catch the expelled oil.

I also initially fill the shocks half full, cycle the piston 15 or 20 strokes and then let them stand for 10 full minutes to bleed. The I fill them all the way up, cycle again and let stand for another 10 minutes.

Doing this, so far, I've gotten good rebound, good damping, no hydro lock and no leaking (with good shocks and green slime).
 
Where are you guys putting green slime? On your piston rods? Usually its a bad idea to mix greases, but maybe Im misunderstanding.
 
Re: I Must Be Doing It Wrong --> Filling Shocks

Where are you guys putting green slime? On your piston rods? Usually its a bad idea to mix greases, but maybe Im misunderstanding.
On the o rings. Keeps them from rolling when installing and helps them seal to the shock body and mating parts.

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When I'm building shocks, before I insert anything into the shock cylinder, or end caps, I make sure everything is covered with shock oil - a little messy but I don't think it's good to put dry o-rings, or anything else dry, inside shocks

Then I fill them up

The instructions for shocks among various manufacturers is fairly consistent but the instructions for the GMade shocks I just built were a little different - I need to bleed those shocks even though I assembled them exactly as the instructions indicated

 


When I'm building shocks, before I insert anything into the shock cylinder, or end caps, I make sure everything is covered with shock oil - a little messy but I don't think it's good to put dry o-rings, or anything else dry, inside shocks

Then I fill them up

The instructions for shocks among various manufacturers is fairly consistent but the instructions for the GMade shocks I just built were a little different - I need to bleed those shocks even though I assembled them exactly as the instructions indicated


It's a good rule for life...putting anything into anything else dry is never a good idea. :shock:
 
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