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Replacing Stock Rear Shock Heims.


So Cal Suspension

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Since several people have been having problems changing out their heims in the stock Banshee Rear Shocks, I decided to put together this write up. The process is the same for both the upper and lower heim.

 

Tools required: Vice, angled pick tool, X-Acto Knife, 5/8" socket, 3/4" socket and a 1 1/8" socket.

 

First, you will need to remove the seals. Use a flat head screwdriver, and gently work underneath the seal, and it will pop up. If you purchased a kit from All Balls, or similar that came with new seals, throw these away.

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This is what you will see next. The snap ring will be up against the heim.

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It is impossible to remove that snap ring, since it needs to be pushing DOWN to be removed. Using a 5/8" socket, GENTLY press the heim toward one side (doesn't matter which), until you feel it seat up against the other side snap ring.

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This will clear a small space for you to work. On the side that had the SOCKET, there will be a gap now between the heim, and the snap ring. The easiest tool to use is an X-Acto knife. Using the blade, work it behind the snap ring, and pop it out as shown. While holding it out in the position pictured, put a pick behind the snap ring as you see below and remove it. Be careful though, it may go flying. If your kit came with new snap rings, throw these away.

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Now we need to press out the heim. Using your vice and a 5/8" socket press the heim TOWARD the side that no longer has the snap ring. Once you feel the heim press up against the other vice jaw, stop.

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I have modified... or... destroyed a 1 1/8" socket to be used for this purpose only.

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Begin pressing out the heim. It should come out easy. If you notice a LOT of resistance, stop, spray it down with WD-40, and make sure everything is straight. If you're trying to press this at and angle, it will dig into the rod end, and you'll be in the market for a new shock.

 

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So once that is out, you should have these 4 pieces out of your shock.

 

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Remember, one snap ring we left in, you can remove it if you want, or if it's still in good shape (like this one is) just leave it in. If you are using all new snap rings, go ahead and put a snap ring into one of the grooves. Does not matter which.

 

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Next thing I want you to notice is that there are two different sides of this heim. It does not matter which side goes toward which.

 

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Next, press the new heim (or in this case, the old heim, that I'm putting back in) with your hands, into the side of the rod end that does NOT have the snap ring. This is very important. MAKE SURE IT IS STRAIGHT!! Having the heim crooked at this step will guarantee that it will try to be pressed in crooked.

 

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Now it's time to start pressing in the new heim. Using the 5/8 socket... again... making sure everything is straight, press the heim into the rod end until you feel it press up against the other snap ring. DO NOT OVER DO IT HERE! If you need to stop 2 or 3 times to check and see if you've gone far enough, do it.

 

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This is what it should look like when fully seated.

 

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Now flip the rod end (or shock, depending on which you are working on) over in your vice, and install the snap ring.

 

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We need to install the seals now. These press about 90% of the way in by hand, and need a GENTLE tap to get them seated all the way with a 3/4" socket, and a hammer.

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Repeat this for the other side, and you are done. Put your spacers back in there, and bolt the shock back up.

 

It does not matter that the heim isn't perfectly "centered" in the rod end, or shock body. When you install the shock into your bike, and tighten down the bolt, it will center the heim on it's own.

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