5th gen (1998-2001) Penske Shock Install

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by reg71, Jan 13, 2008.

  1. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    reg71, Jan 13, 2008


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  2. Lgn001

    Lgn001 Member

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    Did you check the sag and adjust the preload?

    For what it's worth, the shop manual calls the triangle piece a "shock link plate", and the dogbone-looking piece a "shock link". I kinda like "dogbone" and "doghouse", myself.
     
    Lgn001, Jan 13, 2008


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  3. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

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    - Nice job Reg. Good photos. You might consider a hugger now to keep the crud off the shock and oh yeah there's header heat vs shock life to worry about.

    Stuff to check
    - Is your helmet lock gonna work out ok?
    - Check wheel movement vs hoses.

    Welcome to the Penske club. :wink:

    MD - gearhead degenerate wackjob
     
    mello dude, Jan 13, 2008


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  4. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat New Member

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    Reg,
    I took the liberty of editing this nice write-up you did, correcting some part descriptions and adding a very brief section on setting sag and rebound. BTW, did you double-check that the length of the Penske was adjusted to be the same length as the stock shock? If for no other reason than as a reference point for ride height. It's interesting that the clevis (the U-shaped part of the U-bolt Reg describes) is at the top of the shock; usually the clevis is at the bottom.
     
    Puma Cat, Jan 13, 2008


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  5. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    puma, thanks for the fixing. MD, haven't checked the helmet lock yet. hoses okay. I didn't know anything about setting the shock up so I had the guy I purchased it from set everything he could beforehand... Lgn001, nope I didn't fiddle with anything yet. Tori and Brian were telling me that if I take it to a trackday they'll set my suspension for $20 though.

    ps I added Racetech springs and gold valves today. I say I but really, I should say Brian as pretty much he took over once we got inside the tube. Not sure I can do a how-to on this cause I have very little understanding of what 'we' did.
     
    reg71, Jan 13, 2008


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  6. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat New Member

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    Need help fast...Shock install torque specs

    Reg, EddieValleyTrailer, or anyone else who has done a shock swap on a 5th gen, need some info pronto...

    I haven't gotten my '99 VFR service manual yet, but I wanted to install my new shock in the bike today.

    Does anyone know the torque specification for:

    1) the bolt at the bottom of the shock that attaches to the shock link plate (see Wiki here: http://wiki.vfrworld.com/index.php/Installing_Penske_Shock_on_98_VFR)

    2) The bolt that goes through the top of the shock that attaches to the clevis
    (the u-bolt thingy Reg71 refers to in his shock install Wiki article). Reg shows a picture swapping the clevis over to the Penske. Need to know the torque for this.

    3) The bolt that is under the tank/rubber flap that holds the top of the shock/clevis to the frame

    If any of you have a shop service manual and can look up these torque specs for me, it would be a big, big help.

    Many thanks in advance!

    -PC
     
    Puma Cat, Feb 2, 2008


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  7. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    Here's right out of my manual. BTW, I didn't use this, I just used the PFT rule.

    rear shock absorber upper bracket nut 31 ft-lb
    rear shock absorber mounting nut 31 ft-lb
    shock link nut (frame side) 43 ft-lb
    shock link nut (shock arm plate side) 31 ft-lb
    shock arm plate nut (swingarm side) 31 ft-lb

    does that cover it?

     
    reg71, Feb 2, 2008


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  8. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat New Member

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    Yup....thank you very, very much, Reg!

    This is a big, big help. As I've always said to myself when working on bikes, a torque specification is a wonderful thing...
     
    Puma Cat, Feb 2, 2008


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  9. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat New Member

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    Reg,
    One question, is the shock link nut (frame side) that is at 43 ft-lbs torque the bolt that is at the bottom of the triangular shock link plate (the one that attaches to the dogbone link?). It looks like it might be from the photo in the Wiki.
     
    Puma Cat, Feb 2, 2008


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  10. chas4vfr

    chas4vfr New Member

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    Resurrecting this thread....

    Does anyone know if the link has died to the procedure here?

    Also, I am looking for info on how to order different springs for a Penske 5th gen. I own a bike that has one installed but it is sprung much too stiffly for my measly weight and I'm not sure who has springs for these shocks?

    Any help is appreciated.

    Thx, Chas
     
    chas4vfr, Nov 21, 2011


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