The seals fit flush with the knuckle..meaning the outer flange is snug TO the knuckle. No space.
The sleeve being longer won't effect the seat of the seals. Obviously the sleeve fits
inside the seal. It does
not butt up against the seal(s).
If you think the sleeve is too long, take it out. Does the seal fit better now?
The sleeve is hard to get INto the seal when pressure is applied from the INside of the seal. Obviously, you HAVE to do that to at least one of the seals.
If you have grease outside of the bearing shell where the seal wants to seat..it can be darn near impossible to get the seals seated. There is no place for the grease to go! Either remove some of it or seat the seals with the sleeve
out, THEN slip the seal
**edit**wrong word...not 'seal', but 'sleevel' in (keeping in mind the second seal is going to take some pressure to get the sleeve into place).
All of that is for the larger bearings.
But..your pic of 'this is the overhang...'..
Obviously THAT is the shock bearing. Yes. Those seals stick out some. The sleeve in THAT position DOES matter, because it does NOT slip through the seal but DOES butt up against them.
BTW..it's easy to have the bearing in the wrong spot. You can judge the depth by looking at the machined groove in the knuckle that accepts the seal lip. Best to measure from side to side to get an equal depth on both sides. It may take a couple of tries to get the bearing in the middle.
You DID use some never-seize on the bearing shells prior to pressing them in, right?
No? Oh well. You may well have
more fun getting them out NEXT time.
I would NOT use a sleeve longer than OEM in the lower shock mount. It will make the seals sit too far out AND likely interfere with the fit in the clevis of the shock.
Check the width of the knuckle and the clevis. It is NOT generally a tight fit, but it had better be pretty close. You are going to squeeze the bottom of the shock (the clevis) to fit the kuckle width.
The four washers are quite thin, right? They are used in KX250s between the pull rods and the knuckle/swingarm. They are not used in an OEM 'H' model KDX. Ha!...the bolts are too short as it is! The KX250 bolt shoulders are considerably longer. I use them..KX250..bolts in my 'H' unitrack with my Devol pull rods
with those washers.
So...you're all figger'd out, now?
If not...take'm your questions one at a time, how 'bout? Keep in mind that my references are to the 'H' model unitrack setup. Some of what I said doesn't matter model-wise (like the larger bearing seals not seating and such).
Whew! I'm tired!!
**edit**
Went back and read your post for the third time. You do mention the whole issue being the lower shock. Guess I din't read too goot the first time. Again...that sleeve DOES butt up against the seals, does NOT go through as the other sleeves do. I recall (weight such recollection as fact if you dare!) the OEM sleeve in the lower shock unitrack position to be a tad short. I'm saying the difference between the clevis gap and the unitrack width seemed a bit big (loose) to me. A longer sleeve would be a good thing..
as long as it fits into the clevis ok..AND as long as both lips (each seal is double lipped) of the seal are inside the knuckle.
Howz THAT!!??
