ES Rear Shock Service Question

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Jun 20, 2015
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Ventura, CA
If you want to avoid opening the hydraulic preload reservoir and pump, you’ll have to unplug the connector and remove the pump together with N2 charged reservoir and the shock. The assembly has to come out the right side, not out the bottom.
 

Tenforeplay

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Apr 29, 2023
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597
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Kansas, USA
From my memory of recent removal, you can follow the manual pretty well on the removal of most everything. I removed the lower links for a look see while I was in there and all the bearings and seals and stuff in addition to wheel removal which makes moving the swing arm up and down for the shock removal easier. Someone may have an expedited process with minimal removal of pieces. If you go into the dog bone removal some of the exhaust may have to be dealt with to remove one bolt, you will know. The nitrogen canister needs to be clocked a certain way for install clearance. The large rubber cover comes off while still on the bike, on reinstall spray with armor all so the rubber slides onto the plastic easier. The shock with ancillary pieces should come out with a little twisting and turning without too much difficulty out the side. Make sure the locating pin for the adjusting collar on the shock stays in the hole when spring is released. You need to make the additional collar as diagrammed. Mine was made with additional 2 mm in the seat, 112 I believe, and used the 525# spring. If you go 550 you may consider original plans of 110 mm. There it is. Takes as long to do it as to read:).
 

TZwicker

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Sep 29, 2024
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NS
Accelerated Technologies in Canada serviced mine, upped the damping a bit along with a heavier spring (I'm 240 plus gear, with Jesse cases always half full). Good job.

If I was to do it again, I'd skip the damping increase. The shop recommended it, but did say at the time it wasn't far off in stock trim.

I was present when they did the job, they just used the usual suspension tools, nothing unique.
When did you do this?? How did the duscussion go to get the ball rolling as it were... I will be sending an email inquiry to them and it might be helpful in my conversations to be able to reference someone's service! :)
 

Drif10

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Jul 22, 2020
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Gates of Moscow
When did you do this?? How did the duscussion go to get the ball rolling as it were... I will be sending an email inquiry to them and it might be helpful in my conversations to be able to reference someone's service! :)
It was in March of 2021? Maybe 22. John had done super tens before, he'd told me.

On my 14ES, they did:

New seals and bushings in the forks (I had those parts already from Yamaha). Stronger springs in the front that they got from Stadium. No changes to the damping.

Rear shock got a rebuild. Their seals. Heavier spring with a collar to fit (the shock body is odd, tapers in between the sliding seats, that collar is very necessary). They increased the damping in the rear, but said that it would probably not be a common mod, since I'm a bigger guy at 240 and mostly ride old chip seal roads and gravel, a mostly street use probably wouldn't benefit from it. I'd probably skip it if I were to do it again.

I'm near Kingston if you want to try it.
 

TZwicker

New Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2024
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3
Location
NS
It was in March of 2021? Maybe 22. John had done super tens before, he'd told me.

On my 14ES, they did:

New seals and bushings in the forks (I had those parts already from Yamaha). Stronger springs in the front that they got from Stadium. No changes to the damping.

Rear shock got a rebuild. Their seals. Heavier spring with a collar to fit (the shock body is odd, tapers in between the sliding seats, that collar is very necessary). They increased the damping in the rear, but said that it would probably not be a common mod, since I'm a bigger guy at 240 and mostly ride old chip seal roads and gravel, a mostly street use probably wouldn't benefit from it. I'd probably skip it if I were to do it again.

I'm near Kingston if you want to try it.
Thanks for the info.... a road trip might be in my future from NS to ON to get the suspension sorted out! A coupls of possible local leads to investigate but not really holding my breath!
 

Tenforeplay

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Apr 29, 2023
Messages
597
Location
Kansas, USA
my Pro Tip :) for removing the ES rear shock...remove the rear wheel and use that freeplay to help wiggle the shock out from the top right side. damn...
Think that is what I ended up doing. After the initial install without the wheel on, I had to remove the shock because the collar had come off the locating pin for the spring, tried with the wheel installed and it was a no go for my abilities.
 

mybackhurts

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Apr 23, 2024
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822
Location
AZ
my Pro Tip :) for removing the ES rear shock...remove the rear wheel and use that freeplay to help wiggle the shock out from the top right side. damn...
How bad was it after figuring that out? Want to re spring it when money allows.
 

wera688

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Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
128
Location
Newnan GA
I sent my 2014 OEM ES shock w/ 187,900 miles to EPM Performance in NJ for servicing as it was starting to sag and was in the highest position, 2 helmets + bags and Hard +3. They mentioned there could be issues if there were parts needed that were unavailable. Removing the shock upward was easy from the right side 'hole' once I removed the rear wheel, The shock linkage bearings looked good and I lubed everything. I removed and sent them the shock, reservoir, and box thing as one piece, as they requested. They got my shipment on a Thursday and the following Friday I got a call saying it was done, no issues. I decided to stay with the same spring. Servicing was $349 + shipping, etc was total $381. They did mention the plastic shock collar electrical connector was broken in transit, they called me once they initially opened the package. They didn't think it was a big issue. As long as it plugs in and works I'm good with that. I'll update in a few days after I've re-installed and ridden the bike. Now to get my seat back from being recovered (it has 417,000 miles from being used on two STens) at Russell and I'll be ready for 2025.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,711
Location
Ventura, CA
I sent my 2014 OEM ES shock w/ 187,900 miles to EPM Performance in NJ for servicing as it was starting to sag and was in the highest position, 2 helmets + bags and Hard +3. They mentioned there could be issues if there were parts needed that were unavailable. Removing the shock upward was easy from the right side 'hole' once I removed the rear wheel, The shock linkage bearings looked good and I lubed everything. I removed and sent them the shock, reservoir, and box thing as one piece, as they requested. They got my shipment on a Thursday and the following Friday I got a call saying it was done, no issues. I decided to stay with the same spring. Servicing was $349 + shipping, etc was total $381. They did mention the plastic shock collar electrical connector was broken in transit, they called me once they initially opened the package. They didn't think it was a big issue. As long as it plugs in and works I'm good with that. I'll update in a few days after I've re-installed and ridden the bike. Now to get my seat back from being recovered (it has 417,000 miles from being used on two STens) at Russell and I'll be ready for 2025.
That seems to be a very reasonable cost and turnaround.
 

wera688

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Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
128
Location
Newnan GA
I got my ES shock re-installed. It isn't hard to do but it helps if you have another set of hands to raise and lower the swing arm to fit the shock down into the hole. It's the solenoid airbox & nitrogen attachment lines that get in the way to slightly complicate matters. Did a 150 mile ride and everything seems great, like a new shock. Bottom line is that the OEM ES shock can be removed as a unit and serviced. EPM Suspension can service your OEM shock and change/upgrade your spring if you don't have the compression tools for a quick turnaround and IMO a nominal price.
 

mybackhurts

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2024
Messages
822
Location
AZ
I got my ES shock re-installed. It isn't hard to do but it helps if you have another set of hands to raise and lower the swing arm to fit the shock down into the hole. It's the solenoid airbox & nitrogen attachment lines that get in the way to slightly complicate matters. Did a 150 mile ride and everything seems great, like a new shock. Bottom line is that the OEM ES shock can be removed as a unit and serviced. EPM Suspension can service your OEM shock and change/upgrade your spring if you don't have the compression tools for a quick turnaround and IMO a nominal price.
Good to know. Wish I could slightly up spring the thing but it may be splitting hairs.
 
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