when installing the rear shock....

[se7enty7]

Is there a trick to unload the rear suspension?  Even when I take out the two bolts holding the shock/coil in the bolts won't come out easily (indicating that they are still under tension...)

[The Buddha]

Very sorry I ignored this question too.....
Bike on center stand with a 2X4 under the stand, then remove the bolts and if your air box is off you can take it out through the top. New shock goes in same way... The front wheel should be in contact with ground when its on center stand... if not press it down.
Cool.
Srinath.

[se7enty7]

hmm... okay


I loosened the bolts holding the shock in and they wouldn't come out easily... I would have had to hammer them out w/ a rubber mallet.  Will the replacement spring need to be compressed? if so, how?

[The Buddha]

If you have the bike a shade off the floor like on a 2X4 ... the rear wheel will have a bit of room to drop ... when you take off the bolts that hold the shock the rear wheel will drop and the shock will also drop out. The new shock will fall through the top... you position it and get the bottom bolt in... then lift the wheel a little and guide the top into the clevise for it. Put that bolt in and you're good... no compressing anything is needed.
Cool.
Srinath.

[xtalman]

I just replaced the rear shock this weekend.  I also had difficulty removing the bolts, and hammered them out with a punch and rubber mallet.  Getting the replacement shock back in was much easier, once I got the bike on the center stand.  I had to lift the rear tire, and also adjust the chain tension when I was done.