shock rebuild

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lowmilevmax

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Dec 13, 2008
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Maple City, MI
I just pulled my shocks off the rear skid of a 96 XT and it has a valve on it similar to a tire. It also says nitrogen for it. My question is do these need to be torn apart or can they just be filled? If so can it be done at a local tire shop that deals with nitrogen?
Thanks Jason
 
I just pulled the whole rear skid apart and found that every bushing is broken. I will check with the dealer tomorrow. But does anyone know of a better place to get them so I don't have to pay dealership prices.
Thanks Jason
 
Site advertisers (Port Yamaha, Rich Motorsports, etc.) have good prices.

You should have the shock serviced by someone who specializes in shocks. There are a number of good places including site advertiser like Pioneer, etc. You really need to have the condotion of internal parts checked and the oil replaced. The Nitrogen charge needs to be precise. I wouldn't trust a tire gauge or tire monkey with my shocks.
 
Another option is to replace the entire skid with a newer style which can be done for as little as $200. You just have to find a good used skid.

Do some searching, there are a number of posts on this topic. One in particular comes to mind that has pictures of the same or similar sled you have.
 
The specs will be either in the service manual or the annual snowmobile update manual. I do not have either for your model sled, but I have not seen a pressure below 175, or above 250 psi. I would not let a tire shop do this. Most dealers charge 10$ or so, but if you have them rebuilt, they should throw in the nitrogen as part of the rebuild.
 
I called the new Fox Yamaha in Traverse City and they said 15 to recharge them. But they won't have the nitrogen equiptment for a month.
 
Ok i did this to my XT 3yrs ago i don't mind the stock skid so its ok for me but as mentioned you may want to upgrade to a newer skid for less.

Cost wise you are looking at about 200 for bushing and a couple shafts, you will need bearing in the idlers more then likely as well. Shock rebuild should be like 35-40 a shock.

I dropped about 350 on mine to redo Every bushing, needle bearings in the shocks (be very careful with these they are expensive) shock rebuilds, new bearings throughtout skid, 2 new shafts and 2 more that we welded and turned back down to size.


Check your rails and shock spindles, if the rails are cracked and/or your shocks have rust spots on the shaft near the seal you will may have problems with the shock sealing in the future and i would then look into a replacement skid as it would be cheaper.

I love the fact i did that as i know everything is starting from stock and am confident everything is working well.
 
all the shafts look fine. It is just all of the plastic bushings have cracked. Also everything is straight and with no cracks. I don't even have any rust on anything. The shocks also have no rust and aren't leaking. The main reason I am looking into this issue is because I noticed toward the end of the season I seemed to bottom out alot more often. The local snowmobile "salvage yard" Has an m10 off of a wrecked 96XT also. He wants $300 for it. I just don't know if I want to put $300 into a 14 year old sled.
 
lowmilevmax said:
I just pulled my shocks off the rear skid of a 96 XT and it has a valve on it similar to a tire. It also says nitrogen for it. My question is do these need to be torn apart or can they just be filled? If so can it be done at a local tire shop that deals with nitrogen?
Thanks Jason
Click to expand...

No amount of nitrogen will correct for fading due to worn oil. If they've never been rebuilt they're way over due.
 
snomofo said:
No amount of nitrogen will correct for fading due to worn oil. If they've never been rebuilt they're way over due.
Click to expand...
How much will mileage effect this. I still plan on getting them rebuilt but I am just curoius.
 
lowmilevmax said:
How much will mileage effect this. I still plan on getting them rebuilt but I am just curoius.
Click to expand...


It's not so much the mileage but the cycling of the shock that affects the oil. Hard mogal riding will break down the oil faster than groomed trail riding.

I try to rebuild my KYBs every other year and had to rebuild the Fox shocks on my XCR every year.

It's been recommended to rebuild them in the spring to avoid the corrosive affects of moisture that gets into the shock during normal use rather than letting it sit in the shock all summer.
 
does anyone think that the M-10 would be better in the long run it has fox floats and all the mounting hardware. It came off a 94 vmax le. Every thing looks good on it besides a little rust.
 
ill take your XT skid off your harnds if you decide to go with the m-10.... gimmie a good price... and youll be that much closer to the m-10...

tho i dont know how much better it really is... these guys are trying to tell you to go with a newer suspension, but thay arent making any recommendations... the proaction plus in the 96 vmax xt isnt all that old in my opinion... try riding the proaction link from the even older stuff (like my vmax4) hahaha let me know
 
is the 94 le tunnel the same width as a 96 xt. I just need to know if I need to get anything different of mounting. Also the mounting plates for the LE are mounted on the outside of the tunnel and from all the pics I see it is mounted on the inside.
 
I called fast and it is another $225 in parts to mount the m-10 to my XT. So I may just rebuild my shocks. Is there any other Yamaha skid that will bolt right into my tunnel without modification and give me a better ride.

Thanks Jason
 
nope thats why i want your skid hahahaha its the best you can get for that stupid wide tunnel hahahah... none of them bolt right in anyways you have to drill holes either way

that price they qouted you was their "special" pieces... surf around a bit and youll see you can do it much cheaper... if your still interested
 
I don't mind drilling holes its welding a support or modifying that I can't do. And I don't want to mess up the geometry. That and I don't have alot of extra cash to throw at this sled. I'll keep looking for that reinforcement. The LE just had it rivited on.
 
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