UTV SHOCK Q&A

Before I Start

This is a very in depth conversation with a lot of variables and a lot of opinions, we will give you our input, a look from a shock repair/builder perspective. I am going to write this as a Q & A to help break it down a little easier. This is a MUST read for anyone who is looking to purchase used shocks for their machine to try and restore ride quality or replace a suspected bad shock. If you’re looking for upgrade you’re in a different boat and toward the bottom of this Q&A you will find a few answers for you.

General Q&A


OK, first see if your machine has rebuildable shocks on it, if it does and you’re simply replacing your shocks to restore ride quality or to fix a blown shock , REBUILD your shocks, it’s around 60% cheaper to rebuild over purchasing new rebuildable shocks. Sleds, ATV, Dirt bikes and SXS have rebuildable shocks for a reason, to have them rebuilt/revalved/repaired to restore ride quality to factory levels and or improve them to suite you’re riding style/needs.

With purchasing comes added cost because you are purchasing shocks that have to be kept on the shelf and rebuild/built when ordered, plus the fact that you are purchasing every part of that shock not just the seals and hardware to rebuild it. This can’t be stressed enough shock service/rebuild should be part of preseason maintenance if you have rebuildable shocks to prevent down time during the season.


We probably are not the company for you, we sell only quality rebuildable shocks, new and used from companies like FOX, WALKER EVANS , RYDE FX , KYB , HPG , ELKA, CUSTOM AXIS, OHLINS, ACT, EXIT just to name a few. These shocks allow the ability to restore ride quality, repair and valve the shock to your needs unlike the non rebuildables which when the oil is bad the shock is thrown away.

There seems like there was always that so called lack of a good medium/ middle of the road option, so that’s what we targeted. For SXS, ATV, and sled owners we provide used fully rebuilt shocks at prices that are close to the super china non rebuildable replacement. Do the shocks have some bumps, bruises and stickers missing? Yes most defiantly, but in most used rebuilt applications these shocks are better working, riding and longer lasting than new.


Used and used rebuilt are 2 totally different things, Consider this, would you replace your bald tire on your truck with another bald tire? NO! Shocks are the same way but you can’t see the wear on/in them. Seemingly every used shock from a salvage yard or the guy on market place has around 500 miles or less on it. This is the real world and usually those machines are being parted out because there is some major issue that usually comes with miles/ abuse. The oil is the wear item on shocks, when the shock gets stroked, oil is forced through ports causing heating to the oil and thus eventually causing loss of viscosity which changes damping and rebound quality. Dirty/ used oil is what causes ride quality to decrease, freezing issues, rear end bucking, rear end sag and fast fade during a ride. When the amount of use of the shock is unknown to you, it needs serviced before being put to use. This gives you a baseline and takes the questionability of the shock as the issue out of the equation.
Our shocks are all sold fully rebuilt, new seals, Amsoil shock therapy oil of the correct weight, nitrogen, and carry a 1 year unlimited mileage warranty. We also ensure spring preload adjuster operation, clicker operation and bushings/spherical eyelet bearings to be free of major play and damage. On fox units with the needle pellet we replace them with the Schrader cap upgrade for reliability. This is a 100% hydraulically and operationally new shock that has a warranty to back it up.

Yes physical exterior and cosmetic imperfections are what brings the price down on these used units, most of the time its dings, scratches and stickers missing. These shocks are NOT perfect, that’s also why they are not new prices. Everything is 100% hydraulically rebuild checked and warrantied. We do our best to clean them up and make them look presentable but the fact of the matter is they perform and function 100%. If you’re purchasing from us, ask for a picture before shipment, I understand some areas of some machines are more cosmetically important than others, snowmobile front ski shocks for example, we take care to ensure these are cosmetically more appealing than track shocks normally.

Just like the tire analogy you wouldn’t replace a bald tire with another bald tire. Don’t replace a used shock with another used NON rebuilt shock. Have it serviced before install, save yourself the headache and hassle and ride quality disappointment.

We get this a lot, there are a lot of variables here. Shaft travel, eyelet style, bushing/bearing style, coil over?, piggyback, remote rezzi, working load to determine shaft/body size, bump stop, just to name some of the things that go into making that 18” shock usable for your application. Shocks are NOT a 1 size fits all.

Whether you spent $27,000 or $1000 on a machine the shocks and suspension is the 1 thing that is protecting it from total destruction from the terrain you ride in. Blown shocks have led to more broken frames, broken shock mounts, worn/failed ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rods, squeaks rattles and issues than anything else on these machines. Without proper dampening something is going to break it’s only a matter of time. Plus wouldn’t you want the most comfortable ride in the mean time?

UPGRADE

Upgrading is a fantastic way to get a machine to be the machine you want and need, the ole amazon/eBay broncos and SPI are not an upgrade, these are what is called the super china downgrade. Unfortunately a good rebuildable shock has a lot of time/R&D and machining as well as quality components that go into making them work, ride better and last longer and warranting that higher price. Good quality shocks are an investment, the only investment on the machine that you can recover nearly 50-75% of your investment back out of if sold separately down the road once you’re finished using them. You don’t get anywhere near that amount back from any other part on the machine I promise.
So a few questions that you should think of before contacting a builder/shop. This helps us offer and discuss what’s best for you.
  • What are you looking to get out of the machine and how do you ride it ?
  • What options are you looking for the shocks to have, clickers, monotubes, dual rate springs , piggyback, remote rezzi.
  • What is your budget? It sucks to ask but it doesn’t change our prices and will help narrow down your selection. There is no sense in showing you options in the $500 range when you’re looking to be around $200.
  • Do you plan to keep the machine ?
  • How much do you ride ?
If we have them in stock as core shocks its about 1 week for us to refurbish them. If we have new units on the shelf for your particular application, it’s a few days and they will be coming your way. If we are custom ordering you new units from one of our suppliers they run anywhere between 5-9 weeks. Contrary to some of the eBay/amazon listings, if they are custom ordering you a set of shocks there lead time is same as ours for the same product.
Good question , Some of our customer are looking for a shock that is valved and built for their specific needs , so rather than havening to re, setup a rebuilt shock on the shelf the all sit there as core units , when ordered we pick them , build them and send them. Takes a little longer but saves us from reworking shocks.
You’re in a good spot, most popular machines that have rebuildable shocks have a lower model that doesn’t have rebuildables so there is a market for these units, weather from a shock builder toward trade in, on the open market, or to keep and reinstall when your done with the aftermarket units to sell them. There is always demand for suspension ride quality and comfort.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So if you take 1 thing away from this entire thing, it’s that bolting on a used shock is not a solution to ride quality issues. Just because you can’t see oil quality doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem. If you’ve got rebuildable shocks and you’re having ride issues, rebuild them. It’s cheap, fast and easy maintenance and insurance. If you don’t have rebuildables and you get a good deal on some have them serviced/rebuilt before install. Weather by us or another reputable company do yourself a favor and just do it.