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Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:19 am
by GoMachV
Anyone ever have any luck removing a retaining ring after both ends are broken off :shock: I have the shock gutted so there is plenty of room to maneuver just no way to pry it out. I've broken a couple xacto blades trying to snake under one end and it just isn't happening. Wondering if anyone has a trick up their sleeve.

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:40 am
by aip47-2008
Have you tried a dental pick. Not a common item to be sure. Could be of help and much more sturdy that an exacto tip.

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 4:30 am
by GoMachV
I do use a set of automotive pics, but I don't have enough meat to be able to grab a corner. :( the closest I got was digging in around the middle of the clip, but the blades are just too fragile. My precision screwdrivers are too soft, already bent he tiny one. They aren't the cheapie ones either! Doh!

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:28 pm
by rctenracer
Hey . If your working on A-stamp shocks I have a set of shock bodies you can have. Fronts are in great shape .Rears have some ano worn off at the bottom.

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:59 pm
by GoMachV
I am building a Mcallister conversion so all 4 are short .56 shocks. If you want to part with the .56 bodies I'd gladly put them to good use 8)

Ill shoot you a pm

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:59 pm
by jwscab
it will kind of take two hands and maybe 2 more. If you can support the shock body in a vise, do that. I normally use the plastic hex wrench on the hex, and lightly clamp in the vise. Now get a dental pick and an xacto blade, and snap off the tip so that it's got a flat about 3/32" wide or so. alternatively, you can use anything really small and stiff with a decent edge on it like a jewelers screwdriver. try and spin the clip in the groove. if you can do that, you should be ok. Hold the pick so that you jam the tip into one of the broken edges, and use the xacto to push the clip around to the pick. that should push the clip up onto the dental pick and out of the groove so that you can kind of unwind it out of the groove. This is NOT easy and takes some concentration. The tools are very sharp and you need to use a lot or pressure. You may also have to tweak the tip of the dental pick to make it sharper or flatter, etc.

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 4:15 pm
by GoMachV
Ahhhh basically building a ramp to derail the clip... Great idea ill give that a shot tonight. The clip is loose enough in the groove that I can walk it around.

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 11:00 pm
by pituk
I also just broke the c-clip , what do you use to replace the original c-clip ? Saw the Associated shock rebuild kit #6440 has a square clip instead , will this kit work with the older shock's , thanks .

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 11:12 pm
by THUNDERSTRIKE1
Use a piece of cloth rubbing around to catch the broke end and pull inward to pop it.DON

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 11:15 pm
by GoMachV
pituk wrote:I also just broke the c-clip , what do you use to replace the original c-clip ? Saw the Associated shock rebuild kit #6440 has a square clip instead , will this kit work with the older shock's , thanks .
I never did find a part number for the retainer but if you measure it carefully I bet McMaster Carr has them
I was lucky enough to find a rebuild kit for mine. The new ones will not work

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 11:31 pm
by Phin
Home Depot sells the 3/8" internal retaining rings for bottom load shocks. You can find them in the drawers located in the hardware isle.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Crown-Bolt-3-8-in-Internal-Retaining-Ring-80458/202210113


EDIT: scratch that I think 3/8" were for the 6-gear drive cups. The bottom loader rings are smaller.

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:07 pm
by daniels9424cs
The Traxxas shock rebuild kit comes with the circlips, and blue x-rings that fit in and seem to seal well.

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:32 pm
by marlo
gomachv wrote:I am building a Mcallister conversion so all 4 are short .56 shocks. If you want to part with the .56 bodies I'd gladly put them to good use 8)

Ill shoot you a pm
I did the same conversion last year, had to cut a front tower, other then that should be bolt on kit , fun to do

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:33 pm
by marlo
aip47-2008 wrote:Have you tried a dental pick. Not a common item to be sure. Could be of help and much more sturdy that an exacto tip.
I use a dental pick as well, works great!

Re: Bottom loader shock question

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:13 pm
by SoAzRC
I ordered them from mcmaster-carr... i think they were 1/4 by .015 thick. I'll clarify with the part number. As always if dont have another order going to mcc then best to go to home depot.