How do ya know for sure if rear shock is still good?

[girlsride2]

Ok.. so I'm trying to test rear shock on 200x. Put in on machine and bounced on it. It comes back up, but I couldn't tell ya one way or the other if it's really good. Any advice? Is there other ways to check a rear shock? On the machine, off the machine? Any way to tell for sure if it's gonna hold up for a while, or is it just one big guessing game? I'm trying to learn, so bare with me guys. I'm ignorant in this area and need your help. Tell me what ya got.

[Erics350x]

You Can Remove The Spring And Check The Shock By Pushing It In And Pulling It Out. Should Be Stiff.

[BIGCRIP28]

take the shock off and work the rod back and forth. you can tell if its blown.
if its good it should be smooth and have resistance when you move it.

[girlsride2]

You Can Remove The Spring And Check The Shock By Pushing It In And Pulling It Out. Should Be Stiff.

I'll bet that spring a ***** to put back on!

[girlsride2]

ok, so I have the seat off so I can watch the shock in action. I push down hard on grab bar then let off. I can watch the shock come back up. Seems to be a slow but steady motion. Is that good or bad?

[Rm250RF900R]

If the shock is bad it will feel bouncy. No resistence. Almost like bouncing on a trampolene. Then its time for it to be rebuilt.

[Kintore]

Yah, it will be very bouncy ride, no give. Just bounce everywhere. Happened to me and I felt it right away.

[westcoast TRI-Z]

From what I've been told, if you push down and let go, and the rear tires "hop" off the ground when it comes back up, then its blown

[the great gazoo]

That's a good question- I'm wondering about my SX's shock- I push all the way down on the grab bar & when it comes back up, it hisses. Am I up for a rebuild?

[TimSr]

ok, so I have the seat off so I can watch the shock in action. I push down hard on grab bar then let off. I can watch the shock come back up. Seems to be a slow but steady motion. Is that good or bad?


The way you checked it is correct. It is not necessary to remove and disassmble a shock to see if it is blown. What you are checking for is "dampening" which is some friction that keeps it from springing back like a pogo stick. If it were only a spring, and you pushed down and let go, it will spring back quickly and clunk. The "shock" uses oil being internally forced through holes to to slow it down. A "blown" shock is one that the oil has leaked out from failed seals. If it comes up a little slower, and you hear a hissing noise (which is the oil in the shock being forced through holes) as you describe, it is working fine. Also, at least on TimJr's 200x, at the bottom of the shock is a black nut like dial type gismo. Turning it one way or the other adjusts the amount of dampening (how fast or slow the shock will rebound). Most rear shocks have some type of screw, dial or other adjustmenst to adjust the dampening, but some do not.

[Bryan Raffa]

look for excessive oil on the shaft is a good indacation that its going!