Tools needed for shock removal

[Saltydog]

What exact tools do I need to remove my rear shocks?

[Thornhammer]

T-50 Torx bit and a 3/4" wrench, I believe. There isn't a lot to it.

A bike lift is a B-I-G help, assuming you want to get the darn things back on again after you've removed them.

That or some method to compress the shock springs.

[MadMax25]

Firstly, do only one at a time!!!
Having said that, doing one at a time will still allow
for a little bit of misalignment making getting the bolts
back in through the shock eyes very tough.
Don't ask me how I know.
You will need some way to jack up the swing arm
to get everything back into alignment.

[XLXR]

Use the 3/4" wrench to turn the nuts, use the torx bit to hold the bolts from turning. If you use the torx bit to try and turn the torx bolt to loosen the nut, it will likely strip. It is almost insane to try and change shocks without jacking up the bike enough the get the rear wheel off the ground. After I jack up the bike, I use a wooden ramp, similiar to ramp you would drive a car up on to work under it, to slide under the tire and get the mounting holes to line up. Use lock tight.

[blkshark]

Glad I stumbled on this. I assume the same size torx applies to an '07? I've been thinking about pulling the rear shock, too. Not to change (at least yet) but to paint the coils black. Just think it would look better. Glad to hear it isn't too big a deal. Not in any hurry to do this, but its something I've been pondering.

Thom

[XLXR]

It can turn into a nightmere if you try and do it without a bike jack or if you strip the torx bolts.

[Moved On / My Own Choice]

Yeah 07's are still T-50s.

I've not stripped a Torx bolt since the mid-90s.

The forumula to prevent that is

1. Make sure you have decent bits.

2. Make sure you have the right size.

3. Put bit on an extension, put combo in bolt and wack it with a hammer to help free any corrosion or threadlock

4. Put pressure inward on the bit (downward on the head of the ratched or breaker bar) as you loosen it.

I've swapped a bunch of shocks without lifting the bike - as long as the replacements are the same length or shorter - but if they're longer it's a LOT easier to jack the bike up a bit first.

Kev

[powellsanmiguel]

Remember too, that a bike lift can be as simple as this:

http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/bikelift.htm

And do replace the shocks one at a time. It helps a lot.

[blkshark]

Originally Posted by powellsanmiguel

Remember too, that a bike lift can be as simple as this:

http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/bikelift.htm

And do replace the shocks one at a time. It helps a lot.

What about a regular automotive rollaround floor jack? Will that work? Maybe with a larger platform?

[XLXR]

What about a regular automotive rollaround floor jack? Will that work? Maybe with a larger platform?

The platform of a floor jack may be unstable. The regular bike jacks are more stable.