Scottie D Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Hello all, A few months back, I purchased a set of YFZ450 shocks from eBay in preparation for my first Banshee build. On Saturday, myself and DallasGDub were prepping them to install on my frame with stock A-arms. Here's what one of them looks like: Both of them look basically the same. My first question is...do those springs look right? every other one that I've seen have the coils bunched up closer to the top. This looks more like a rear spring to me. Another thing that's weird is that there was absolutely NO pressure when I had the spring tensioner about half way up the threads. Did this guy I bought these shocks from fuck me over? Or is this just an older version of the YFZ front shocks? The 2nd part is, when G Dub was messing with one of them to look at the coils, he unscrewed the bottom, and this part shot out: Fluid went EVERYWHERE. I don't know if we will have to rebuild it just due to that, or if we can just add the fluid to recharge it. I guess before we get that far though, I need to know if these are even worth messing with. Any help would be greatly appreciated. BTW, here's what it's looking like so far, minus the cool head / domes from FAST: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
someone82 Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 From what I've seen and If I recall correctly the older yfz450 (or maybe it was the 700r) shocks had a linear rate spring on them (no bunched up coils) and the newer 450's have the progressive rate springs on them (coils bunched at the top). The reason you might now have mcuh spring tension is because the shock is not loaded (not installed) and the shock it self is at full extention so the spring it self is not loaded. I would recommend you take it to a bike shop that can rebuild shocks, so they can add the right fulid (not any oil will work) and so the shock can be recharged with nitrogen at the right psi. If this is done wrong the Consequences can be nasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie D Posted January 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 From what I've seen and If I recall correctly the older yfz450 (or maybe it was the 700r) shocks had a linear rate spring on them (no bunched up coils) and the newer 450's have the progressive rate springs on them (coils bunched at the top). The reason you might now have mcuh spring tension is because the shock is not loaded (not installed) and the shock it self is at full extention so the spring it self is not loaded. I would recommend you take it to a bike shop that can rebuild shocks, so they can add the right fulid (not any oil will work) and so the shock can be recharged with nitrogen at the right psi. If this is done wrong the Consequences can be nasty. I appreciate the insight Someone. Anyone else have any suggestions? Worse case scenario...i have to get new springs AND have it rebuilt. Does anyone know a place that sells JUST the springs? And would it even be worth it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Jackson Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 if your gona buy new springs and then also send them out for a revalve/rebuild you may as well just buy some new shocks built for a banshee, those shocks have more travel than the stock banshee suspension can offer up anyways and will destroy your balljoints over time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meat Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 From what I've seen and If I recall correctly the older yfz450 (or maybe it was the 700r) shocks had a linear rate spring on them (no bunched up coils) and the newer 450's have the progressive rate springs on them (coils bunched at the top). nope. I just dug up an old picture of a brand new '04 yfz and it had the bunched up coil type front shocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DallasGDub Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I seen these shocks, something just seems off to me. I asked him to take another pic to show yall. I know with the preload all the way to the top, and the shock dismounted, you have some free play up and down in the spring.....HOWEVER....this one has about 2" of up and down play. Hey MJ, this is only temp set up, he is saving for some +2 arms. I told him the cons of running it on stock arms, but since it was only for a while, he wanted to mount them anyway. I think they are a basket case and a loss. But if we can get them recharged, and springs for under 60 bucks, it will be worth it. If not, makes a good paper wieght.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
someone82 Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 nope. I just dug up an old picture of a brand new '04 yfz and it had the bunched up coil type front shocks. ok good to know... hmm where have i seen that then :shrug: .this one has about 2" of up and down play. that is quite a bit, that is allot shorter spring then stock, maybe the previous owner was playing with spring rates. http://www.speedwaymotors.com has great prices and selection on hypercoil springs, look under the oval track section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DallasGDub Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 that is quite a bit, that is allot shorter spring then stock, maybe the previous owner was playing with spring rates. Yeah man, that is what I am thinking. Sucks b/c it was on eBay. Hard to catch things like unless you know exactly what your looking at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruko Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Those are definately not stock springs... the 450 springs are dual rate with tighter coils at the end. That being said those ones may actually work better with stock Banshee a-arms. The stock 450 springs are too long for a banshee and make it sit higher even with the springs backed right off. So if those ones are shorter they may work better on a Banshee. I would just try them out and see... you allready have them so it won't cost you anything to try them. Just make sure that once you install them and set up the ride height that there is still some tension on the springs when they are fully extended or you could pop a clip out. It shouldn't be a problem since your ball joints will limit the travel long before the shocks max. If the spring tension isn't off by too much, too hard or too soft, then you may have actually lucked out. :cool: Once you upgrade to extended a-arms though you will probably need to get them resprung. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruko Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) And ya you will need to get that one put back together and refilled. Check out the local shops... someone should be able to do it for you. Your profile says you're from Dallas so it shouldn't be a problem finding someone to do it. Edited January 20, 2009 by Ruko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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