How to rebuild shocks?

[mIKe-]

Can someone tell me how to rebuild oil filled shocks?

I have them all cleaned at the moment.

Do I just poor the oil in and screw on the cap? Or is there something else to it?

Also what wieght oil should I use in a ST in front and rear?

[KingBob]

well... take em apart, clean em, rebuild em, easy :P

That basically is it. When filling with oil don't over fill. Fill it almost to the brim, then slowly move the piston up and down a few times to get any trapped air out. Wait to get rid of the bubbles, then top up the oil. Screw the cap back on. Push the shaft in all the way, then let it go. It should rebound out by itself 5 or 6 mm. If not, needs more oil. If it goes further, then less oil.

Then repeat that for the other shocks. Try and balance the left and right of the same shocks (front or rear) so they rebound the same.

Oil weight, well that varies on truck/shock length, and track conditions! On My T4, i go 30 at the front, 25 at the rear. That works for me, but may not work for you.

[mIKe-]

Cool, thanks for your help.

I'm just not to sure what oil to get. I dont race my evader yet so I just race it around my back yard, bmx tracks, at lakes.. So I think I might go for 30 or 35 all round.

[Boony]

mike,

when i rebuild shocks i do most of the stuff that KB said to do but instead of only getting the air bubbles out once its almost full, i also get them out when its half full.

in the end its up to u though.

Boony

[mIKe-]

Thanks for your help guys :)

[Maxd out]

All of your shocks must rebound the same !! meaning when you press the shaft in ,with out the spring attached all shocks should come back out to the same position with the same speed.Shock rebuilding should not be rushed, there is an art to it,

[mIKe-]

I have rebuilt shocks before, and never really had problems doing it, but I thought I'd see how the racers and more precise people do it.

[KingBob]

You can even buy shock calibration gauges. You put both shocks on it, then compress the unit. An indicator will move left or right to say which shock is stiffer or softer. Made by Losi, worth about $40.

[mIKe-]

For someone who plays with their car in their backyard.. I think I'll do it by eye :)

[RCBash]

Good idea lol. I know you really dont need this comment but I do exactly what KB does when rebuilding my shocks.

[mIKe-]

Yeah thanks everyone.

I'm going to use 35wt all around. And medium spring, seems to be a pretty average set-up, not really stiff, not really sloppy.

[mIKe-]

Ahh well went to rypers today, was gonna get 30wt in front, and 35 in rear, but dave had neither in stock dammit :( oh well i still got some 40wt so i could drive.

once i put it all together, made sure i had no air in the shock.. I think i did something wrong, is it normal that the shock shaft is really really hard to push in the last 3-5mm?

[Boony]

this would mean that the shock is filled a little to much and a little bit needs to come out.

[RCBash]

Yes, its too full. Also is 30 and 35 wt the standard amount to use in 1/10 trucks?

[T4Trasher]

yer bash 30-35 is fine in 1/10

[mIKe-]

I'll take a little out of the shocks.. Hope it fixes it.

Actually I'll just leave it, I'm getting 30 and 35wt oil soon so I'll just do it propperly then.

[mIKe-]

I'll take a little out of the shocks.. Hope it fixes it.

Actually I'll just leave it, I'm getting 30 and 35wt oil soon so I'll just do it propperly then.

[RCBash]

Ok. Ive just never really played around with 1/10 shocks so im just a little curious.

[mIKe-]

The guys at the hobby shop said 30 up front, 35 in the rear is good for racing with soft springs.

[RCBash]

Yer Ok, that makes sence, I am using heavy shock oil on my buggy and Ive just ordered a set of xtra hard springs..I mainly run and jump on concrete so I want my shocks to be pretty hard.