Shock linkage bolt replacement?
 

hi guys,

i've just started to change the rear shock on my k3, sadly it looks like the bolts are rusted solid, apart from the top shock bolt and i can't get to the lower shock bolt, so i looks like i'll have to drill the heads off.

My question is do i have to get the bolts from suzuki or can i pop to a nice bolt and nut supplier and does anyone have the sizes?

Would it be a good idea to change the seals and bearing while i'm at it as well the bike has done 36,000 miles now and i can't see it being changed anywhere in it history ?

cheers chris

Re: shock linkage bolts
 

Its just a bolt and a 'lock'nut. You gonna have to cut it anyways. If you cant source one elsewhere then oem is the backup plan.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Re: shock linkage bolts
 

Eek, I have this joy to do in the next couple of weeks, so am most interested in the replies. To my mind, such bolts are specially made and are of a particular grade of strong steel, so should be replaced with the same, so bolts from Suzuki it would be. However, I am happy to be corrected if I am wrong, before I do this to my bike! ;-)

Luckily for me I have a Carol and she can fix anything I have broken by bad spannering, all I have to do is provide cups of tea and the occasional biscuit!

Re: shock linkage bolts
 

No I agree, get the proper OEM hi tensile steel bolts for the shock monts.

If it was a non stressed bolt, I would use an ordinary bolt, but the shock mounts go through a lot.

Take it somewhere and get someone to use an impact gun to get them off

Re: shock linkage bolts
 

i think they are a specific kind of high tensile and not the ordinary 'black' type as thy still have to give a little where the hight tensile i'm used to working with are for ridged application. the world of nuts and bolts is a fairly large and complex one.

best stick with OEM.

Re: shock linkage bolts
 

in that case I will lube up my backside......

cheers
Chris

Re: Shock linkage bolt replacement?
 

Hi fellas, am I missing something?

Why would he/does he need to cut the bolts off?

prisspringle, hopefully not trying to show you how to suck eggs but are you actually attempting to undo the nut? ie it's tne nut end you should be undoing and not the bolt end.

Yes, the nuts can be tight but you just need good quality socket and apply some leverage. Or use a 12 volts impact wrench or air impact wrench...

I'm not sure how much space(clearance) you have to work with on the pointy but on the Curvy, it's way better to take the rear wheel out.
Even better if you take the exhaust out but I try not to mess about with the exhaust unless absolutely have to, as always a good chance of snapping the exhaust studs or bolts :D

Once the nuts are off, you might indeed find the bolts are somewhat fused with the spacer but some penetrating fluid and gentle tapping with drift should get the bolt free.

edit: It does help to clean all the crap off the nut and both ends of the bolt.

Shock linkage bolt replacement?
 

They're always bloody tight, but I've never failed to remove them. Good fitting sockets and a long breaker bar is what's needed. In the event you couldn't remove them, don't cut the bolts off, split the nuts - a few nuts will cost less

Re: Shock linkage bolt replacement?
 

From memory:confused:
When I did a curvy rear shock the top bolt was hard to get at with a decent socket,but the bottom bolt is obscured by the dog bones,so the linkage must be dropped first.They were very tight,but not rusty as they were covered in oil flung from the chain.Plenty of wellie gets them off.

Re: Shock linkage bolt replacement?
 

This