Looking for suspension shims | GTAMotorcycle.com

Looking for suspension shims

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Jaymod

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I was hoping someone knew where I could buy valve shims locally(or at lest Canada) I have been searching the interwebs for almost a week. I have a China dirt bike at the cottage that needed the shock/forks rebuilt, so I brought it home, and when I disassembled them I found proper valves. Unfortunately they only have one thick shim, so I was hoping to try to make a shim stack and improve the suspension.

Hopefully someone here will be able to point me in the right direction to get single shims.


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Is it the spring preload you are are trying to change?
Or are you trying to alter the dampening?
 
Trials said:
Is it the spring preload you are are trying to change?
Or are you trying to alter the dampening?
Click to expand...

Trying to mess with the dampening, they are actually decent looking, but instead of a shim stack there is just one shim that is thicker then normal, and they put in a heavy weigh oil.. funny enough there is a spacer there if removed would leave room for a stack of shims. Lol


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Yah, I get it.. it’s “junk” but it has the bones to be something decent. I just go out with family who ride quads, it’s not like I race it.
Just rather be on two wheels, and if I can make it better why not?
So does anyone know where to buy shims?


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Jaymod said:
Yah, I get it.. it’s “junk” but it has the bones to be something decent. I just go out with family who ride quads, it’s not like I race it.
Just rather be on two wheels, and if I can make it better why not?
So does anyone know where to buy shims?


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Click to expand...
I'm not slagging the bike. It's an affordable toy on two-wheels. I can't help you with your questions.
 
No idea where to source shims. Sorry.
If it were mine, i would play with air gap and oil weight first.
 
Hang on, you're telling me that a Chinese dirt bike came with cartridge forks on it? And with a rebuildable shock?!?!
 
Quite a few suspension shops around that would have shims. MP1 suspension, D4 Performance, Mission cycle are all MX focused shops that do suspension tuning. Accelerated technologies does mostly street bikes and sleds I believe but again should have shims.
 
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Yah... that’s what I’m saying. They’re not externally adjustable, but piston,and shim all the same.


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blackcamaro said:
Quite a few suspension shops around that would have shims. MP1 suspension, D4 Performance, Mission cycle are all MX focused shops that do suspension tuning. Accelerated technologies does mostly street bikes and sleds I believe but again should have shims.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I will look into those places.. none of them came up in my searches (all America stuff)


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call John at Accelerated technologies
 
Is it something that can be made? I don't buy stuff if I can possibly make it. Post up a picture or part diagram or part dimension or bike model and I bet we can come up with some practical suggestions.
 
Race Tech 6mm shims 20 bucks from fortnine:
1592045493447.png
;) fancy washers.
 
That’s basically what I’m looking for, but with a 12mm I.D. Currently rebuilding the rear shock because it completely failed. Checked F9 but they are sold out of most sizes, and only sell qty. of 10 I don’t need 10 of each size, and that would get expensive quick.


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Jaymod said:
That’s basically what I’m looking for, but with a 12mm I.D. Currently rebuilding the rear shock because it completely failed. Checked F9 but they are sold out of most sizes, and only sell qty. of 10 I don’t need 10 of each size, and that would get expensive quick.


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Click to expand...

What thickness do you need?

Home Depot sells loose washers. Here’s an example:

72cd264e56220dc2e7c55339e335ee1e.jpg

b8102b269c09d39f57d9cdc8fb8c4d45.jpg



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Thickness would be 0.1mm,and 0.15mm with different O.D.’s to try and make my own shim stack. Currently there is one 0.25mm shim on each side of the piston, and I’m guessing it had 30-35wt oil in it. Hard to tell exactly as there was none left when the rod seal failed, and became a pogo stick.


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Going from .25 to .1 is going to leave you with very little damping i think.But it might be easier to control with some 15wt oil.Instead of wasting a lot of expensive fork oil,i would try some atf.Cheap.SpaeNaur might have what you need,if they will sell you in small quantities.Doubtful tho. Search the "shim rings"Spaenaur Catalog 14 - Digital Flipping Catalog
 
Wingboy said:
Going from .25 to .1 is going to leave you with very little damping i think.But it might be easier to control with some 15wt oil.Instead of wasting a lot of expensive fork oil,i would try some atf.Cheap.SpaeNaur might have what you need,if they will sell you in small quantities.Doubtful tho. Search the "shim rings"Spaenaur Catalog 14 - Digital Flipping Catalog
Click to expand...

I checked the Spaenaur catalog at work yesterday, no luck.. I want to go from one shim to many like in a real shim stack, more of a learning experience to help me understand what the different shims control in the stack. right now with just the one, it’s acting as a check valve using orfice size and oil wt. to control dampening with very little effect from the shim flex.


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Trials said:
;) fancy washers.
Click to expand...

Fancy washers, that have to be PERFECTLY flat with no turn up on the smooth edges.
I make my own from hardened shim stock.
8 or 9 set ups on the lathe, after you make two jigs (for each diameter size)

... so NO, you're making them with a hand drill and some sand paper
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