Removing rear shock

[Al from Jerz]

OK so I bought a 400ex shock a while ago, I finally tried to install it today but I didnt get to far.
I was able to take off the bolt from the swingarm side but the bolt from on top will not come out. i was able to take the nut off but the bolt is seized on so hard that not even a BFH can get it off. i tried spinning the bolt (which at this point didnt have a nut on) and it was impossible, it feels like the bushing fused with the bolt cause I spin it about a 1/4 turn and it shoots right back as if it was spring loaded. Am i missing anything, anyone got any tips for me, I really want to install the new shock....

 

[tjsdaname]

hmmmm.... mine came right out, have you tried lubing the hell out of it with some WD-40???

 

[Al from Jerz]

hmmmm.... mine came right out, have you tried lubing the hell out of it with some WD-40???

Ya dude, I soaked it in liquid wrench and wd40. I wanted to get the torch out but its too close to teh gas tank (didnt feel like taking apart the bike for this) this sucks...

how is the stocker set up? is it a bolt in a sleeve then a bushing then the shock eye?

 

[06kid]

if you have accsess to air tools then put a wrench on the one end and the air gun on the other and it should come right off with no problom

 

[Al from Jerz]

if you have accsess to air tools then put a wrench on the one end and the air gun on the other and it should come right off with no problom

thats not the problem, i can unscrew the nut...the bolt is totally stuck.
plus no access to air tools

 

[mithuth]

I just faced a very similar situation. my upper bolt was stuck in there good. I bashed and pulled and cursed and kicked and screamed at it. Didn't work.

The answer is PB Blaster... soak the hell out of it and bang on it a bit with a hammer to rattle the rust/dirt loose. Then re-PB it and let it set over night. The next day, PB it again and bang it with a hammer again to shake more crap loose.

I had my grab bar supported with my High Lift jack from my Jeep and had my dad bounce the shock up and down/side to side and eventually I found the "sweet spot" where the bolt slid right out.

Hope this method works for you if you try it. it took me a bit, but it eventually worked.

Good Luck and keep us posted.


edit to add: for stuck bolts, PB Blaster is far superior to WD-40, as it's a penetrating oil, not a lubricating oil.

 

[Al from Jerz]

I just faced a very similar situation. my upper bolt was stuck in there good. I bashed and pulled and cursed and kicked and screamed at it. Didn't work.

The answer is PB Blaster... soak the hell out of it and bang on it a bit with a hammer to rattle the rust/dirt loose. Then re-PB it and let it set over night. The next day, PB it again and bang it with a hammer again to shake more crap loose.

I had my grab bar supported with my High Lift jack from my Jeep and had my dad bounce the shock up and down/side to side and eventually I found the "sweet spot" where the bolt slid right out.

Hope this method works for you if you try it. it took me a bit, but it eventually worked.

Good Luck and keep us posted.


edit to add: for stuck bolts, PB Blaster is far superior to WD-40, as it's a penetrating oil, not a lubricating oil.

Thanks for the reply, I bought some pb blaster last Friday and was going to work on the quad this weekend but other stuff came up. I'm glad to hear im not the only one this happened to. I think im going to soak it in pb after work today and every day until i get a chance to wrench on it. If i get it off i will update the thread.