Maintenance

Over heated or worn out shock oil can smell as bad as over heated rear end oil.  Yet on the shock dyno the performance has not changed that much from when the oil was new.  Just like engine oil, the problem is loss of lubricity and wear on the shock body and seals.  Most shock manufacturers are very proud of their parts so it’s considerably easier on the racing budget to do routine oil changes than replace parts.

Establishing a maintenance schedule involves changing oil at frequent intervals to begin with until one can determine the number of races the oil can stand before needing to be changed.  One might think of simply checking the oil periodically but by the time the shock is open, the oil might as well be changed.  And while open, it is also easy to check the shims to be sure none have begun to crack.

Some shock companies suggest changing the oil once per season.  However, especially on some race cars where the exhaust passes near a shock or under rough track conditions the oil may need to be changed as frequently as twice a year.

Inspection

It is very important to inspect your shocks on weekly bases for damage. Look closely at the bodies for small dents cause from rocks and debris that can hang up your shaft trivial. The smallest dent can cause a mono tube shock to fail. This dent can come from a control arm that likes to rub or from rocks or mud from other cars. It is important that you get these dents fix before they cause damage to the piston or the divider piston.

On a twin tube shock, tire rub can cause the gas bag to over heat and break. This can cause a shock to fail and over work the oil, and cause for poor handling of the race car. Also inspect the shaft for damage, like dings and dents that can cause damage to the seals which can cause the shocks to leak. Remember that it only takes a small amount of damage to make a shock to fail.

Shock Repair

BSB MFG  rebuilds and services all Bilstein and QA1 shocks. Complete Dyno service available as well as custom Valving and repairs.

1. 
   DYNO SERVICE:  You need to Dyno your shock at lease once a year, we recommend that you do it with your yearly oil change.
2. 
   SHOCK REPAIRS SERVICE: Includes rod guide, shaft, body repairs, (dent removal), piston band, divider piston, and new oil.
3. 
   CHANGE GAS & ROD PRESSURE: Lower or raise pressure to your standard.
4. 
   BODY REPAIR: Remove dents in shock body that cause piston to hang up, and resize tube to factory standards.
5. 
   REVALVE SERVICE: Update your old shocks to match today’s advanced suspensions.

STANDARD SERVICES:
Shock Revalve $25 (plus parts)
Shock Body Repair $10
Shaft Replacement $25 (plus parts)
Gas Pressure Change $10
Shock Dyno Test $10