new shocks - does this look ok to you?

[Agemax]

+1 to Rusty's recommendation.

Here's the issue as I see it:

The damage to the rubber bushing seems to be mostly cosmetic and so not affecting a significant depth of the bushing between insert and shock "eye". It thus appears that the remaining rubber bushing is sufficient for the purpose.

Replacing this bushing is far more of a problem than is likely appreciated.

Anyone who has replaced compressed cylinderical rubber bushings will appreciate that they are under a high degree of compression as installed. Forcing a new bushing into place requires inner and outer dies to confine and channel the bushing into place, combined with significant pressing effort. I doubt that these bushings could be seated with, for example an 8 inch shop vise but rather would require a hydraulic press, even if you had the dies.

Attempting to push the bushing into place and then following up with the inner insert tube will result in the tube cutting into the rubber bushing and attempting to displace the bushing axially. Attempting to push the bushing into the space while inner tube is in place will be fruitless because the bushing will simply compress and deform.

Pressing these assemblies into place requires that the bushing be confined both internally and externally while forcing the bushing into place. The problem is exacerbated by the need to secure the shock eye and inner tube from axial movement.

The alternatives of inserting the bushing, followed by installing the inner tube, or installing tube and bushing together into the shock eye present similar problems. Block the end of the rubber bushing to keep it from beng pushed (axially) from the shock eye will simply result in the rubber bulging further into the path of the inner sleeve, exascerbating the problem.

Inspection of the shock will confirm that the bushing was not molded in place due to the compression present in the rubber although it is possible that manufacturing processes developed later than those of which I am aware may have developed a rubber material which will expand after injection.

IME, removing the rubber bushing will create greater difficulties as it will be difficult to install a bushing which is of sufficient density. Other than cosmetics, there would seem to be nothing to gain even if the rubber could be replaced.

Having worked in a Third World country, I am well aware of the problem of attempting to replace suspension rubber parts. We usually resorted to machining and sleeving a control arm bushing to size in order to use another bushing than the one specified. It is not fun to machine the inner or outer sleeve of an assembled rubber cored bushing because of the deflection of the sleeve under machining.

"Pretty it up" with some product if that seems to be desireable and run the shocks is my recommendation.

If the rubber bushing of an otherwise good shock of this mounting configuration were needing replacement, I would be looking to machining nylon or other media to replace both rubber bushing and inner sleeve. A slip fit thinner sleeve or step stud/step bolt would adjust end-wise compression.

bushes like these are regularly replaced in the UK as MOT fixes. they come with a steel i/d bushing and a steel o/d bushing. they are easily pressed in even with a bench vice. same as these if you can source the correct diameters
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cort...CarParts_SM&hash=item2eba4dd789#ht_500wt_1069

 

[shwaz]

bushes like these are regularly replaced in the UK as MOT fixes. they come with a steel i/d bushing and a steel o/d bushing. they are easily pressed in even with a bench vice. same as these if you can source the correct diameters
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cort...CarParts_SM&hash=item2eba4dd789#ht_500wt_1069

Thanks. I will look into that and see what I can find, and appreciate the info. Almost definitely going to mount them before bothering with that though; may comeback to that at a later date. As someone who's been working on bikes for slightly lesstime than hes owned one (that's about 5 months) I think I'm ahead of the game even being on these forums and looking for this kind of info, and as long as the bushing isn't a huge impediment to the function of the shock I think I'm good for now

Gonna strap them on and see how they feel!

 

[Normk]

If those are control arm bushings for an automobile as they appear, pressing by means of a bench vise will be quite a challenge, especially without press adapters. If one tries to simply press onto the end of the bushing, the force will first have to displace the inner sleeve (tube) and rubber to the degree which is required to bottom the press ram against the outer sleeve of the bushing. Depending on the arrangement, this may begin to tear/separate the rubber from one of the sleeves. Regardless it will be more than a challenge to maintain alignment of the bushing while beginning to push.

Not wishing to begin a debate but without press adapters to allow the force to be applied to the outer sleeve (tube) there will be little luck in attempting to force the bushing into place. In the trade, most shops use a special press set which can change the bushings without resort to an upright hydraulic shop press for convenience and to allow some of the replacement operations to take place without complete disassembly which saves the customer money.

Here's an example of an OTC kit for the purpose:
http://www.mile-x.com/otc-7068-upper-bushing-tool.aspx

This is quite a limited kit compared with the ones in common service but didn't wish to spend more time looking.



If you were lucky enough to obtain an automotive type bushing of this type in the small size for the shocks, I bench vise should be capable of pressing the bushings although you will still require some adapters to support the shock eye and to press against the outer sleeve of the bushing. Note that these are much larger than the rear shock bushings in question and of a different design as they are made with integral inner and outer sleeves. This is they type of contol arm bushing to which I referred when discussing the machining and sleeving of such bushings for Third World automotive service.

I would be amazed were such bushings from automotive service to be found in the sizing required but have been married long enough to know just how wrong I can be.

While it may be possible to use impact sockets as press adapters, inspection of the shock will reveal that the end of the adapter will need to be notched to avoid the weld. If someone has actually replaced these shock bushings it would be of interest.

I do know that some of the old Brit bikes had replaceable rubber bushings but not Japanese street bikes of this type.

Interesting concept but I'd like hear from someone who has actually done this as not sure that the problems are understood.

bushes like these are regularly replaced in the UK as MOT fixes. they come with a steel i/d bushing and a steel o/d bushing. they are easily pressed in even with a bench vice. same as these if you can source the correct diameters
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cort...CarParts_SM&hash=item2eba4dd789#ht_500wt_1069

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

This is such a great topic because it makes one think.

I know one shock has a marginal bit of rubber in one side of it's bushing but how much play occurs through the various planes that exist in a swing arm.

Last time I checked the washer that goes under your mounting nut would press the bushing and not the eye of the shock.

If this is true then a bit of extra squishiness on one side would be difficult to measure in real world performance.

A princess and a pea are one thing but super cheap shocks with a bit of a small, but admittedly measurable, flaw is another.

I recall with joy my old dirt bike that I was out running the cops on.
We had trails where we could ditch em and the one I had to go down was a slope in a pine grove.

It was the ultimate test of a shock. All of those roots laying across the trail raised high by foot wear.

I got home scared ****less and looked at one shock that had been bent almost 45 degrees. The other was perfect though.

 

[Normk]

You are a bad influence!

This is such a great topic because it makes one think.

I recall with joy my old dirt bike that I was out running the cops on.
We had trails where we could ditch em and the one I had to go down was a slope in a pine grove.

It was the ultimate test of a shock. All of those roots laying across the trail raised high by foot wear.

I got home scared ****less and looked at one shock that had been bent almost 45 degrees. The other was perfect though.

 

[Agemax]

here ya go, these should do the job

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHOCK-ABS...cycle_Parts&hash=item45ffba6154#ht_636wt_1054

 

[salty_monk]

Good find... his prices look reasonable on the YSS stuff if you go direct to his website too.

Awful website though

 

[nutsandbolts]

Mount em and ease your worries I say. Won't be noticeable unless you had it at the track.

 

[gearhead13]

here ya go, these should do the job

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHOCK-ABS...cycle_Parts&hash=item45ffba6154#ht_636wt_1054

Anyone know if these type are available on our side of the pond?

http://www.400s3.com/bushes.html