86,87,88 shock rebuild

[Thebeast]

Just did a 87 rear shock rebuild...
I searched everywhere and only parts I could find was racetech,
I wanted to replace everything so the shock would last along time...
Factory piston seals are impossible to find..
So I had to get the gold valve from racetech,
It fit fine- just don’t count on any product support from them...
I have never seen such a poorly run service dept...
The parts were first class and fit perfectly, but
It took 4 calls, several emails and about a week just to get the correct washer / valving....
358$ for complete parts+ 15$ for oil from my local shop...
Heres a tip for any new mechanics out their...
Don’t spent the $ for parts until shock is apart, cleaned, and carefully checked for any worn spots in shock bore....
New seals won’t last in a worn suspension tube...
Never run suspension W/O oil “leaking seals”

[KDXGarage]

WOW. That's a lot of coin.

I think 1988 and older are not hard anodized. If the body is still good, getting it hard anodized would be the way to go.

If you had asked, I could have told you some about parts.

That's pretty wild that you put a Gole Valve piston and modern valving in there. I am surprised they worked with you on valving. In the past, their site only showed that they would work on it "in house". I don't think they have any valving tested for pre-1989 bikes.

Great tip on the bore. Running a pre-89 without oil is a very bad thing to do.

Technical Touch KYB has a few of the parts, such as bladder and bumper. The YZ85 seal head may work. I think it is 40 mm wide. I always wondered if the piston and valving would fit and work in a 86 -88 shock.

[Benjeeto]

Hi

I shipped my shock to RaceTech and it needed the shaft rechroming and the body anodised before anything else was done. The cost was looking to be too much.

In the end they took the measurements from my shock and built me a new G3S shock with remote reservoir.

[Husky250]

I had a local guy do mine (Although he had to ship out for rechromming). 7 bill and change... yikes... for it to be back to stock... wasn't real pleased with that.

[KDXGarage]

WOW!!!

makes me even more glad I have a NOS shaft in the lime green hoard pile

[Pressingonward]

Hmm. Not liking the sound of the pricing you guys are talking about. I have an 88 rear shock that looks perfect externally (though the rest of the bike is worn out so I'm not expecting the insides to be perfect) as well as a spare shock from an 87 parts bike.

I'll have to get the 88 shock pulled apart for inspection. KDXGarage, I know you've got a lot of experience, how confident are you that the YZ85 seal head would work? Sounds like it's just theoretical? I've never rebuilt a shock so I'll have to dive into it to get a better understanding of what each part is and does.

Any good source for the reservoir hose? I don't trust old rubber...

[KDXGarage]

The seal head is the same. Look on racetech.com and compare .. SKSH 4014

The theoretical part would be the piston / piston ring / o-ring and valving.

You might be able to find a local hydraulic hose supplier to make one like the stock one.


32 - 41 year old shock bodies were not made to last forever.

[Thebeast]

R.Tech told me it should of been a shop job. I was told I would have to send it in, if the nut wouldn’t fit with the washer “valving” configuration .
It fit with room to spare. And it works beautiful, well money spent, and one stop shop..

[lonekawgirl]

One of my 200's has a worn out shock. It has never run out of oil, but the piston ring is worn down to the copper under the teflon coating. Also, somebody that worked on the shock had the the top piece off, and accidentally broke a tooth off the rebound pin adjuster when they tried to put it back together. I'd really like to get a new shock absorber, but I don't know anybody besides Worx Shocks that offers one for sale. I called them recently and inquired about a shock, but they said they didn't have any large bodies made right now, and told me to call back in the spring time. I see that somebody here got a Race Tech shock, so maybe I will give them a call.

[Thebeast]

Hello lonekawgirl, If you like the c1,2,3 style bikes, like I do, you may be better off just waiting for one to come for sale in the spring..
I’m sure Race tech can build / repair your shock, but it will be expensive..
I’ve seen 4 of these bikes for sale at the same time on fb marketplace last year.
Complete running bikes for 1300-1500$
If your interested in the part numbers and valving info, I can send it to you.
Good luck -
* let the good times roll

[KDXGarage]

Look on eBay for a used shock. If you can get a body that is not worn out, get it hard anodized and then go from there.