Problem fitting longer rear shock FZS600

[joebloggs]

Picked up a ZX12R rear shock off ebay and went to fit it this morning, top bush need drilling and lower holes smaller than stock but not really an issue, what is though is the clearance between center stand mount and the suspension rocker, I could wind in the preload to shorten the shock but raising the rear was part of the reason for fitting the thing in the first place.

Question is did I do something wrong when fitting the shorter dog bones or has anyone else had the bike on the stand and removed the shock only to fine the rear wheel still off the ground (I expected the wheel to hit the floor)

[joebloggs]

Will take the grinder to the centre stand mount, just want to be sure it's due to the shock length not something I did wrong rebuilding the linkage

[joebloggs]

A few years ago I fitted a ZX10 (early) to my GPZ600R, the shock was to long so I adjusted the spring preload which shortened the length of the shock, cant remember if I added or removed preload

So another question, does adding preload shorten the shock slightly but prevent sag by increasing the spring rate

[Red Ceri]

Pre-load does not increase or decrease the length of the shock if there is no other load on it, decreasing the pre-load will soften it and allow it to sag more but at max rebound the shock will still be the same original length.


The length of the shock it entirely dependent on the internal stops.

[joebloggs]

Pre-load does not increase or decrease the length of the shock if there is no other load on it, decreasing the pre-load will soften it and allow it to sag more but at max rebound the shock will still be the same original length.


The length of the shock it entirely dependent on the internal stops.

I get what your saying re the stops etc but is pre-load not the same as a spring compressing over a bump,  when you hit a bump the shock shortens as the wheel rises up the ramp of a bump and then extends on the down slope. pre-load must surely add the same effect if your basically reducing spring length by adding compression (reducing spring length)
With the shock off the bike would this compression not reduce the damper rod length and therefore reduce the distance between the mounting holes.
There are height adjustable car shocks that use preload to alter the length, it's crude but works, looking at videos I see no reason why it should'nt have the same effect on a bike shock absorber. Guess I just need to get the c -spanner out and see what happens