Help! Someone else has (possibly) screwed up the shock bottom bolt!

[dirtyred619]

Finally got round to (trying) to fit my rear shock this morning (well it has been bank holiday weekend).

All was going well, got the bike hoisted up etc and then I got to what I thought would be the easy part, undoing the 3 bolts holding the shock in. They didn't want to undo.

Now it looks like the bike has had a different shock in in the past which is fine but whoever put the old shock back has put the bolts in from the left so the nut is over by the exhaust. They then recruited Zeus and a gorilla to tighten everything together whilst coating the nut and bolt in what I'm assuming was araldite or similar.

So basically has anyone any suggestions on the best way off loosening them, I'm scared off rounding the bolts off and making things even harder? It also didn't help that I was trying to do the swap myself.

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x463/dirtyred1978/d9b20807ddb3c8e554c5f4076e6746d0.jpg

[Paul the 6th]

That's it... I'm not letting hongman anywhere near my bike.

[yorkie_chris]

Good quality single hex sockets, possibly heat.

[Elliott]

Angle grinder, cut the head off and replace the bolt

[DJ123]

All bolts on the shock and lower assembly are mount to be inserted from the left, that's no mistake. Do you have good quality sockets that fit the bolts and nuts tight. You only need a spanner on the nuts to 'hold' them, the bolts unscrew from them. Make sure you have good leverage on a decent 1/2 inch ratchet/power bar.

[yorkie_chris]

Better to hold bolt and undo nut, less friction and bigger hex...

[dirtyred619]

Angle grinder, cut the head off and replace the bolt

Probably easiest as I'll be using a different bolt but I've no angle grinder.

[Elliott]

Think I've got a dewalt one somewhere.

Ride down and do it here?

[dirtyred619]

All bolts on the shock and lower assembly are mount to be inserted from the left, that's no mistake. Do you have good quality sockets that fit the bolts and nuts tight. You only need a spanner on the nuts to 'hold' them, the bolts unscrew from them. Make sure you have good leverage on a decent 1/2 inch ratchet/power bar.

Now I'm not saying you are wrong but it would make sense to me to insert bolt from right and have the nut on the left as access is slightly easier on that side.

Also in the below thread everyone seems to turn to on shock swaps, it also says bolt in from the right with nut on the left.

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=112527&highlight=gsxr+rear+shock+pointy

Can anyone confirm the correct way off putting the nut and bolt in, if there is one?

[Elliott]

either way doesnt matter, suzuki choose to go from the left

[dirtyred619]

Think I've got a dewalt one somewhere.

Ride down and do it here?

Think youve got a deal!

Have you got all the relevant tools there, won't have much room in my bag other than for the shock and straps etc?

[Elliott]

Yea sockets stands HAMMER!!!!!

Lol
Dont mind when, today is alright and the rest of the week. Cant do tomorrow as its the misses birthday.

[dirtyred619]

Will you pm me your address and I'll try and get down later as I'm impatient lol. All my tools, stands and the shock are in the warehouse at work so I'll have to nip there first, so can probably be down for around 6 if that's not too late for you?

[Elliott]

Will you pm me your address and I'll try and get down later as I'm impatient lol. All my tools, stands and the shock are in the warehouse at work so I'll have to nip there first, so can probably be down for around 6 if that's not too late for you?

Yea thats alright mate I still need to do my forks so I'll get them done later

[dirtyred619]

I'll go and get my bits from work, and I'll figure out the best to get to you on google maps when I've got the address.

[Elliott]

I should problem give the the details then :P

Will pm ya

[dirtyred619]

Cheers mate see you in a bit.

[DJ123]

the problem you have with putting the bolts in from the right, is you don't have a lot of room to play with-getting the bolt in and a ratchet on top of it. The exhaust is in the way.

[dirtyred619]

A big thanks to Elliot for (more than) helping to fit the shock, all done now but slightly more difficult than taking out 3 bolts and a shock then reversing the procedure with the new one!

the problem you have with putting the bolts in from the right, is you don't have a lot of room to play with-getting the bolt in and a ratchet on top of it. The exhaust is in the way.

Yeah we found that the top and bottom bolts on the shock could really go either way but the bolt through the dog bones had to go in from the left due to the exhaust.

[Elliott]

Was challenging but if that bolt had played ball would have been super easy!

A good mod and looks the business. Glad your happy. Ride home ok? Noticeable difference? I'm guessing you'll only tell when tanking it.

[dirtyred619]

Definitely felt more stable and grounded if that makes sense but took it easy really with the rain so can't do a full review just yet. It does look a lot nicer though. When you get round to doing yours and if you need a spare pair of hands than let me know I'll help out.