RXSpeed16

iTrader: (41)

Can the silver cup on the tokico blue front shock be removed or what does it do?

Hopefully someone has dissected one of these before and can tell me what it does. I'm trying to fit a generic coilover sleeve onto the shock and the silver cup is too large. It isn't sealed to the shock, but it is crimped solidly in place. Strangely the rear has no cup like the front, so it's function is either integrated into the rear shock body or not necessary in the rear.

I assume it has some function because it costs them money to put it on there. So, I'm not just going to hack it off up just because I like sparks. Which I do....a lot!
I didn't take exact measurements, but it looked like grinding away enough material to fit the sleeve would convert the 'cup' to a 'washer', basically undoing any functionality of the crimp.
Unless it can be uncrimped, removed, and re-installed, I think I may be out of options.

Thanks in advance!

RXSpeed16

iTrader: (41)

Anybody? I know it's more of a suspension tech question, but they don't usually bother with the lowly tokico blues.

It's only .1" of interference, but neither part is made of any sort of substantial material.
Boring out the sleeve to fit over the shock would turn it into a slinky, so that's out.

My only hope is that they're using a cover because they didn't want to bother cleaning up the weld/machining on the shock body.

jal301

iTrader: (4)

By the looks of it, it does seems as though it could be 'uncrimped' by stretching with any number of tools in order to remove and determine its purpose.....and then be set back in place and 'recrimped'. The crimp doesn't look to hold a whole lot of pressure so I highly doubt that things are going to go flying apart if you do this.

My guess is that it holds a 'gasket' or a brush in place - one which is designed to keep debris from entering the main cylinder of the shock. I see the side view of the rear shock, but what's there just under the blue washer that's on the end of it? My guess is you'll find the same thing on the front one.

But it's all just a guess from someone a bit more willing to try something like this. You either learn that it's not all too necessary to be there, you figure out how the hell to get it back on, or you buy another one.

Either way, report back what you decide to do and what you learn from the experience.

w0ppe

+1 with jal301, looks like it's some sort of dust or bushing cover. Seems like a cheap piece of metal that could be put back in place if you needed it.

RXSpeed16

iTrader: (41)

It looks like there is a wiper just below the cup, but I'm just not sure what else is in there. Everything on the rear shocks are sealed/welded up, so I don't get much info from them.

The cups themselves are about 12~14ish gauge steel with some extra features on the top. Definitely not structural, but seems overkill for a simple wiper retainer. Removing them is definitely a hammer and chisel job that will most likely destroy the cup.

Guess this is one of those funny things about trying to do it on the cheap.

Thanks for the input.

jal301

iTrader: (4)

If you do try taking it off, you may want to try prying it and stretching the crimped area instead of hammering it. Thought is, this way you'll be less likely to crack and break the crimped area so if it's a must that you have to get it back onto the shock, at least the piece will be re-useable.