Rear shock replacement, help please!

novaprospect
novaprospect Posts: 10
edited March 2009 in MTB buying advice
Hi, looking to replace my Fox Air Vanilla on my 1999 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR XC (http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/Bike ... &Type=bike)

How do i go about finding out what rear shocks will fit my frame? I took off my air vanilla and measured it and i think its 165mm, is that the only size that will fit? Any suggestions as to the best upgrade for below £200?

Sorry if i sound like a complete know-nothing, I am. ;]

Comments

  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    You need the eye to eye measurement of the shock (not it's total length) and the stroke length (the length of the shaft) to get the correct one for your bike. You cannot use a longer or shorter shock, or one with a different stroke length.

    The Fox RP23 is a very good air shock, but I don't know if you can get one for below £200. You could get a Float R for less than £200 though.

    You could get the Vanilla serviced & tuned for your weigh & riding style for less than £200 and it would feel better than when new, TFTuned are the suspension guru's: http://www.tftunedshox.com/index.php
    2385861000_d125abe796_m.jpg
  • Andy_B wrote:
    You need the eye to eye measurement of the shock (not it's total length) and the stroke length (the length of the shaft) to get the correct one for your bike. You cannot use a longer or shorter shock, or one with a different stroke length.

    Hey thaks for the (very) fast reply :)

    I measured it again, eye to eye fully extended (it has no air in it) it was about 158mm, fully compressed eye to eye I measured 130mm, so my shock is 158mm with 28mm travel? Does that sound possible/accurate?

    About getting it serviced, I really just want to replace it, i've heard nothing but bad reviews about it and just seems simpler, to me at least, to replace it.
  • turnercraig
    turnercraig Posts: 537
    You could try giving Mojo a call, they are the uk distributors for Fox and do servicing and tuning.

    They sell ex demonstrator and reconditioned shocks.

    I bought a Fox RP3 shock from them a couple of weeks ago, it is an ex demonstrator, never been used, even still has 1 years warranty. Paid £100 for it and they even threw brand new bushings into the deal.

    With the reconditioned shocks they will give them a full service before sending them.(which costs about £85 anyway!)

    Might be worth a try.
  • Had a look on Mojo, as with everywhere else ive found, none of the shocks will fit my frame :< closest is RP3 at 140x25. I guess they stopped making shocks that will fit my frame, seems the only option is to get it serviced, paying more then what the shock is worth new to get it serviced is something I hoped I wouldnt have to do though.
  • turnercraig
    turnercraig Posts: 537
    It would stil be worth giving them a call, they didn't have my size of shock on their website, I told them what size it was and the guy said hang on I've got one on my desk!
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    Ah, I'm sure somewhere will still do 165mm, it's still used on a lot of 4" travel bikes and used to be the standard for years. I see what you mean about the shortage though at shops, bizarre.

    Could always hunt down a second hand on fairly easily?Like someone did here for example.
  • Toasty wrote:
    Ah, I'm sure somewhere will still do 165mm, it's still used on a lot of 4" travel bikes and used to be the standard for years. I see what you mean about the shortage though at shops, bizarre.

    Could always hunt down a second hand on fairly easily?Like someone did here for example.

    165mm isnt too tricky to find, just combined with the 28mm stroke is near impossible, I'll give the second-hand hunt a try though, thanks.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    We need to get that size nailed. Could it be a 165x38?
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    Rear Shock Eye-to-Eye length = 6.5"
    Rear Shock Stroke = 1.5"

    from Speshs tech and faq section
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • supersonic wrote:
    We need to get that size nailed. Could it be a 165x38?

    Possibly, eye to eye measurement is measuring from the middle of the hole right? If so I keep measuring it at around 158.. 165 is quite a jump, dunno where i would get that extra distance from really :S

    On a more positive note, after re-measuring the stroke a hundred times, im fairly sure its 38mm, and im completely sure its not 28mm. Looks more like 36mm to me but thats probably my bad eyesight.

    155-158x38?

    lol...
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    Err 1,5" = 38mm

    and 6.5" = 165mm

    I have given you the size.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Didnt see your post before i submit'd mine, thanks though I spent ages trying to find that info -_-
  • turnercraig
    turnercraig Posts: 537
    That is the size of shock I needed for my frame, fairly standard I think for 4'' travel.

    You should ne able to pick one up, with a bit of searching.
  • That is the size of shock I needed for my frame, fairly standard I think for 4'' travel.

    You should ne able to pick one up, with a bit of searching.

    On http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/Bike ... &Type=bike it says:

    Rear Shock Fox Air Vanilla, 3.0" travel

    Is that relevant?
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    That doesn't give the dimensions you need,

    But you do need a 6.5x1.5!
  • supersonic wrote:
    That doesn't give the dimensions you need,

    But you do need a 6.5x1.5!

    Yip think im going for Float R from mojo at £160, thanks for the help everyone.