I'm not sure how, or when it happened but the other day I notcied that a piece of my shock has come loose from where it was. I would just screw it back in but I can't quite figure it out.

With these pics I'm hoping that one of you will know what exactly came apart and what it will affect.....




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It's difficult to se on that picture, but it looks like the rear shock preload adjuster bolt. The rear would be quite soft if the adjuster is missing and the rest of the preload mechanism is working properly.

 

definately the preload adjuster . You should be able to just screw it back on with a number 10.

 

It is the pre-load, or at least some type of adjustment for the shock... You know that 10mm "bolt" that sticks out from the shock, for some sort of adjustment......? Well, that bolt runs THROUGH the middle of the piece that has come loose. In the pictures (sorry, they are cell phone pics) you can see the my fingers are grabbing onto the above said 10mm bolt.....and in the first picture the piece that is loose is slid towards me, creating a gap between the piece and the body of the shock. In the second pic I have the loose piece slid back towards where it is supposed to screw into.

I guess next weekend I'll just tear the rear shock out and figure it out. Anything I should know above shock removal? Hard to get back in? Tips/Tricks?

 

Well the bolt is positioned so you can adjust the pre-load without removing any fairings. It is design that way. I just use a 10mm T-shaped Wrench (not sure exactly what it is called) and tick it into the hole to adjust it. I am not sure the actual condition of your bolt ie whether is has broken or just come loose. If has come loose, just screw it back... no need to tear the shock apart ... it is quite a complicated process... you gotta remove the rear wheel as well.
see pic for what i mean

the rear shock where the 'adjuster' in question is located. sits under a plastic water container

 

I don't think we're quite on the same page yet. The bolt you're talking about is not attached to the piece that is loose.....So turning the bolt will do no good. Instead, the piece in question slides OVER the 10mm bolt and screws into the piece that looks like an oil resevoir, acting like a cap.

 

There is a screw on the opposite side of the shock to where the pre-load adjuster goes into the shock. Is this there on yours?

 

Trips, Yes, my shock does have the screw opposite of the preload adjuster.

Today I was trying to screw my loose piece back in and some parts fell out [&o] so I just took it off. Turns out it's plastic. Also, the pieces that fell out were one spring and one ball bearing....I have no idea how they go back in, and I'm pretty sure there should be more pieces. They probably fell out already.

Anyway, here are a couple more pics to show whats wrong with my shock. Also, I'm attaching a pic of the fiche from bikebandit to show why I'm having trouble figuring this out......they don't even show that this part come apart.



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I'm pretty sure that you've got all of the pieces but there may be a second ball, I really don't remember. The spring and ball are for a detent that will hold position on the adjuster. I don't recall whether they go into the shaft or the plastic part but that plastic part just screws in and the spring and ball(s) make a detent that will help hold a setting and so you can count "clicks" if you're adjusting your rear sag. If the spring goes in the shaft with a ball at each end, you may be missing one. It would be a standard bearing ball that if measured could be purchased from a bearing house or a supplier like McMaster-Carr. Also, screw that back in with some glue on it. NOT Loc-tite! That can screw with a lot of plastic materials, embrittling them and causing them to shatter like glass.