Donate!
Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register :: View Members
Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
Lowering shocks (Read 739 times)
cFLOW
Full Member
***
Offline

life is great

Posts: 191
Bootheel MO
Gender: male
Lowering shocks
08/12/07 at 13:11:25
 
I have finally taken the plunge and shortened the shocks. I will tell what I did step by step:

The Tools needed are
Dremel with cut off wheel or equivalent
Two 11/16 open ended wrenches(too remove shocks)
Exacto knife
Any size screw driver
Vise grip
Angle grinder w/  grinding disks
Tape measure
Sharpie (marker)


Step 2: Pull the shock apart

Place the vise grip on the main shaft the absorber, and the screw driver through the top eyelet.

Step 3:disassemble the shock

This is the easiest part the order the part go on are from R to L

Step 4: Cutting the spring( GO SLOW)

The stock spring length is 7" I Recommend not cutting more than 3/4" off of the spring. I CUT MINE TOO SHORT AT  5.5" AND NOW I HAVE TO MAKE SPACERS Using the Dremel to cut the spring is easiest way to do it b/c it is small and easy to work with. Start by measuring the spring  and marking the point to cut, then get a squirt bottle of ice water to spray as you cut ( Go SLOW). SPRAY THE SPRING FREQUENTLY WHILE CUTTING. Know let the spring cool full before you start to level. Leveling is somewhat tricky but if you go slow and keep it cool it is simple. The  pic shows what it should look like after your done I used a the Angle grinder with a HD grinding disk and Sand paper flapper disk to grind it down.
Let  it cool fully again.

Step 5: Reassemble.



Install the preload adjuster



Followed by the cover. make sure the grooves lineup.



Install the washer on top of the cover



Install the spring



Install the top spring cover





Install the top mount using the 11/16 opened wrench

AND KNOW YOU ARE DONE INSTALL ON THE BIKE AND RIDE. I dont know why the pics are blurry but  they look fine on Photobucket if you need to see them clearer heres the link.  http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s53/Cabber_photos/
Back to top
 
 

97 savage: BOBJOB
  IP Logged
Savage_Greg
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

Don't go around your
ass to reach your
elbow...

Posts: 7844
SW Washington State
Gender: male
Re: Lowering shocks
Reply #1 - 08/13/07 at 06:46:20
 
I'm glad to see that someone has posted this topic.  I disassembled my shocks to remove the bottom covers so that adjusting the preload would be easier.

Another way to disassemble the shock is to use 2 vise grips (or rig something in a bench vise) and compress the spring, first.  That exposes the rubber cushion and jam nut under the chrome cover (just visible in photo #2).

Then you can put a wrench on the jam nut on the top of the shock (photo #4) and remove the top mount.  If the shock rod turns in this step, a 3rd vise grip can be clamped on the rod just below the threads (the part normally covered by the cushion).

(Note 1:  Of course, always be careful that your spring compression method is secure so that the springs do not come loose....)

(Note 2:  There are also tools for compressing shock springs.)
Back to top
 
 


  IP Logged
KwakNut
Senior Member
****
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 332
Sheffield, England, mostly.
Gender: male
Re: Lowering shocks
Reply #2 - 04/22/08 at 08:01:48
 
I think Savage Greg was very diplomatic in the way he posted the alternative method for disassembling these shocks.  I just took mine apart so I can shorten the springs and strut rods to lower the bike a little.

To take these shocks apart you may need to modify (ie s-bend) a 17mm spanner to get through the spring coils to the lock nut under the top mount unless you have a special set of small spring compressors.

The threads on mine were TIGHT.  I needed a prybar tube on the spanner and a 2 foot long round bar through the eye of the mount to start the nut coming off, and it remained very tight for over a full turn.  Try doing this using just vice grips on the shaft and guaranteed you're going to trash your strut - the chrome plate on that rod will not withstand even pliers, it will be utterly buggered by vice grips.

As Savage Greg says, get up to that lock nut and if the shaft turns with the casting eye after you've loosened the locknut you may need to use grips just to stop the strut shaft spinning as you rotate the end, but use plastic jawed grips just to prevent spinning once the thread is moving or use steel grips at the very top of the shaft where the bump stop was originally.

Don’t use force with steel grips on any ‘working’ part of the rod unless you like buying new struts.  Cflow’s pictures seem to suggest locking grips onto the sliding portion of the rod to overcome the initial resistance of that tight thread at the end – no offence intended to Cflow but that’s a big, big no-no.
Back to top
 
 

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.
--General George S. Patton
  IP Logged
KwakNut
Senior Member
****
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 332
Sheffield, England, mostly.
Gender: male
Re: Lowering shocks
Reply #3 - 05/17/08 at 14:55:13
 
Finally got round to sorting the shocks.
I was going to shorten and re-thread the rods but after cutting 3/4" off the springs, the rods are still (just) holding the springs in tension on the softest strut setting, so no need to shorten.

The cut-off ends of the springs go under the top shroud of the shock, but that area needed further modification to make sure that the springs seated centrally, so I had to make a 'top hat' spring seats out of brass and a steel seating washer.

I'll find out where the ride height is in another week or two, but from a little trigonometry I've done with the rear end that shouldn't have lowered it too much, and I do have the option to wind up the preload (max preload now will be about the same as minimum was before).  I'm expecting the back of the bike to be lower by about 1.5".

If it’s too soft and bottoms out, I have Plan B – found a supplier of 255mm shocks.  At about $160 a pair they’re cheap shocks, but still £80 I’d rather not have to spend.

Bottom photos show the assembly without the top chrome shroud in place to to show how it fits together.

Back to top
 
« Last Edit: 06/01/08 at 13:20:14 by KwakNut »  

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.
--General George S. Patton
  IP Logged
KwakNut
Senior Member
****
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 332
Sheffield, England, mostly.
Gender: male
Re: Lowering shocks
Reply #4 - 06/22/08 at 12:39:19
 
Well, here’s the bike with the shocks lowered, compared to a standard machine.

Ride quality is fine.  I weigh around 240lb in my socks, and with the shortened springs she only bottomed out once on a rough road, and that’s on softest setting, so I can stiffen her up and find maybe ¾ inch more clearance if I need to.  It won’t be good for a big rider and big pillion together, but that’s no surprise.

Ground clearance is reduced, as I was reminded by the odd protest from the bottom bracket screw under the exhaust – I switch from sport bikes to cruisers and have to be reminded that cruisers aren’t made to be laid way over round the bends.

Overall, I’m delighted with the mod – it definitely works well and as long as you’re able to get your struts apart (without clamping onto the chrome shaft!!).

It’s a cheap way to change the look and feel of your Savage.

The top picture is a standard bike for comparison:


Back to top
 
« Last Edit: 06/23/08 at 03:47:41 by KwakNut »  

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.
--General George S. Patton
  IP Logged
jimbonerz28
YaBB Newbies
*
Offline

Wooo Hoooo!!!

Posts: 26
Texas
Re: Lowering shocks
Reply #5 - 07/21/09 at 20:56:22
 
I lowered my bober another way.  Instead of chopping the rear springs, I unbolted them and cut off the rear lower mount then located them 2" to the rear and welded them back on. With a little wire wheel and some sanding and gloss black spray paint it looks stock but lower. I have 2k miles and no issues. Ride quality is about the same and it looks cool. I dont know how this would work with a stock bike, mine has rear frame chop and custom seat mount so I dont have clearance issues. It seems easier than cutting the spring. Cool I am currently working on a 165-15 car rear tire setup.

   
Back to top
 
 

2k6 S40 Bobber
86 Savage Chopper
97 Ducati Monster M900
73 CB125S (future cafe racer)
2k3 Predator Quad
  IP Logged
PTRider
Senior Member
****
Offline



Posts: 397

Re: Lowering shocks
Reply #6 - 07/22/09 at 20:24:33
 
Lee Parks says that lowering the rear adds stability and reduces steering quickness.  I know, the lowering is done for appearance, and these are the handling results.
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
Pages: 1
Send Topic Print


« Home

 
« Home
SuzukiSavage.com
03/28/24 at 18:50:33



General CategoryTechnical Documents/Reference › Lowering shocks


SuzukiSavage.com » Powered by YaBB 2.2!
YaBB © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved.