Turn Your Blah ACE Shocks into Hot Rod Springers FREE

[Aced It]

Yes, brought to you by me ... I'm normally not a cheapskate, but I've had so much fun with this bike that it's been a goal of mine to see how far I can take her on limited funds. I was looking at Progressive shocks and others, even searching for someone wanting to sell their Shadow Phantom shocks after bobbing. No luck, and the aftermarkets are too DAMNED expensive if you ask me. My stock shocks are fine and not in need of replacement, so why bother. However, they are ugly to me and unworthy of my overhaul. So here goes, a free mod for you!

What do you need?

- My disclaimer that you do this at your own risk!
- Your ugly damned ACE shocks from model years '98-'03 ;D
(may work for other years/models ... not my problem though)
- 3/4" Painters tape
- Ruler
- Dremel with reinforced cutting wheel(s)
- Cutting/razor blade
- Tin snips
- Metal file
- Vice or method of supporting while cutting

Process:

(1) After properly supporting the bike, remove the rear shocks. If you can't do this, proceed no further. ;D

(2) Support a shock by one of the eye-bolt ends in a vice or the like.

(3) Using 3/4" painters tape, wrap the top part of the shock cover so that the cut line is 3/4" below the spring hat ring on top of the hat. You can cut more if desired, but you need to leave enough support for the retaining ring at the top to have something to hold onto. Otherwise your spring will go flyin' across the room or worse!



(4) Using the Dremel, cut the area below the tap line following the edge as a guide and slide the cut cover downward and off the shock assembly. Go slow and don't cut deep; just enough to break the surface as you don't want to risk cutting into the spring.




(5) Wrap a piece of 3/4" painters tape around the dampening adjustment area ensuring the holes are centered in the tape width. You can reverse the shock in the vice if this helps. I went back and forth a few times allowing the Dremel to cut better at certain angles.





(6) Cut both sides following the tape's edges.

(7) Slip off the bottom cut piece. Use the tin snips to cut the middle piece so that it can be spread apart and removed from the shock assembly.

(8.) Use a razor blade to cut the internal protective wrapping.




(9) File all sharp edges and re install!

[mattyo]

Nice work! That turned out great. You have some mad skills! What is your profession by the way? Some kind of master-of-all-trades? A mechanical ninja?

[SuperboyX]

Nice work. Do you treat the cut chrome with anything to prevent rust from forming?

[Aced It]

Originally Posted by mattyo

Nice work! That turned out great. You have some mad skills! What is your profession by the way? Some kind of master-of-all-trades? A mechanical ninja?

Hehe, thanks man. I used to own my own automotive speed shop and drag raced a bit ... but really I just like using my noggin to be creative too.

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[Aced It]

Originally Posted by SuperboyX

Nice work. Do you treat the cut chrome with anything to prevent rust from forming?

If I leave them unpainted I will use some silver/chrome Rustoleum and a detail brush.

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[Outkast78]

Nice work Bro, those dremel wheels will cut a dumptruck apart if you dont break em.

[mattyo]

Originally Posted by Aced It

Hehe, thanks man. I used to own my own automotive speed shop and drag raced a bit ... but really I just like using my noggin to be creative too.

You must have a gargantuan noggin.

[Big B]

Very impressive Scott. Great job.

[Aced It]

Thanks guys!

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[bamf_shadow]

Those look nice on your bike. Another option is to find a take-off set from a sportster. Had a buddy with a sporty who wanted progressives, he gave me his stock shocks for doing the install. They are 11.5" so it lowered the rear an inch.