How do I obtain smooth shocks...

[CNA75]

I'm in the middle of my 6016 build and have put the (bottom loading) shocks together as per the manual (to the letter). However, the front shocks are rough/tough when compressed and do not spring back fully. They are far from smooth. When I put them together the shafts were in smooth condition so I'm guessing there's a problem with the nylon washers being too tight around the shafts (which seems a little odd as they are the original ones from the kit).

Presumably, the best fix would be to file out the middle of the nylon washers a little so they allow the shafts to move through them freely? Provided the o'rings remain untouched/unaffected, I assume this won't give rise to additional risk of leakage?

Thanks in advance for any advice on this...

[Charlie don't surf]

Green slime on.the shock seals-

[Lonestar]

Age old trick - sand the thick teflon washer by 3/10ths of a mil This used to be a well kept secret, but the news were broken out by a factory pilot a few years back, and now even Saxton mentions it in his official AE videos on YT

Green slime sure helps further - so do new o-rings too (even in platinum shocks - private joke )

Paul

[jwscab]

Paul,

are you talking about opening up the inside of the teflon spacer or changing the length? it's not clear. This is for bottom load shocks?

[Lonestar]

Paul,

are you talking about opening up the inside of the teflon spacer or changing the length? it's not clear. This is for bottom load shocks?

Hello

talking about sanding the ring in thickness - this takes some of the load off the o-rings, then their bore is bigger, then less friction but still "oil-tight" enough .... This works on the top load v1 shocks, on the newer v2 shocks too - no idea how that would apply to the originaly c-clipped bottom load shocks, you'd need to use calipers to measure thickness and see if this applies. Green slime helps a lot too, regardless of the shock type and brand

both together plus polishing the shaft or newer TiNi shafts make a WORLD of difference on shock smoothness

Paul

[jwscab]

OK, that makes sense....I figured you were talking about the top load shocks. CNA75 was asking about bottom loaders. I'd say make sure the shaft fits smoothly through all the parts individually, then once its all together, gently wiggle the shaft around in place to fully seat the spacers and washers, but everything else Paul and Reg said is correct.

[Lonestar]

CNA75 was asking about bottom loaders. .

My bad, sorry

Paul

[CNA75]

Thanks for all the responses. Most helpful. I take it the green slime gets applied around the seal at the top of the shock?

[Charlie don't surf]

On the o-rings themselves making the green slime the peanut butter in the sandwich-

[RC104ever]

What worked for me was I just replaced the part inside the shock (not sure what you would call it). I think it would be the piston? Its the white part that either has a notch in one side (older style ones) or it has two small holes in it. Once I replaced that everything was good.

[fredswain]

I am using x ring type seals that I bought from McMaster-Carr. Using them and very liberal amounts of green slime has led to some very smooth leak free shocks. The springs still rub the shock bodies but using Kyosho springs would solve that.

[Jay Dub]

I have switched to 3mm o-rings (Kyosho) and they work much better. The O.D. is smaller, and the they are also not as thick. This releaves the compression on the o-ring whe the seal pack is assembled. This works well on all versions of the AE shocks so far. I have tried it in the bottom loaders, top loaders, and even the new V2 shock which I currently run. -jeff

[CNA75]

Thanks for all the advice. I took the shocks apart and filed the centre hole in the nylon washers a little wider as well as applied some green slime to the o rings. The shocks are now as smooth as can be......