Rear Shock Absorber Support

[Michigander]

I was underneath the LY checking the brakes last week and just happened to notice that the support that attaches to the upper end of the right rear shock absorber was detached from the frame.

The support was still attached to the shock, but the rivets that held it to the frame were broken. How that happened is anybody's guess.

Maybe it was that 20 mile stretch of washboard dirt road I drove along the northern shore of Michigan's Upper Peninsula that did it.

I have no idea how long it was like that either. (The drive in the UP was a couple of years ago!)

Anyways, I took it in and they popped the rivet remnants out of the frame and bolted the support back in with some #1 grade bolts and it's as good as new.

I guess it pays to get on your back and get under there once in a while and check things out.

[masseyfarm]

Good find Bob.

Just because it is out of sight does not mean it won't break. The other side looked OK?

I try to crawl under my unit even on the road, anytime I have some free time. Then when you hear a noise you have a better idea what it might be.

I was lucky on our Cape Breton circle trip in 2009 when, on a routine stop, I spotted a broken bracket on my rear waste hose box. If I had not seen it, and traveled the rest of the day over that construction on the east side, I probably would have lost the box. A length of bailing wire did the job until we got to Sidney where I purchase a length of 1/2" alumium tubing and secured it better than OEM.
http://goo.gl/maps/KkHZc


Dave


"I guess it pays to get on your back and get under there once in a while and check things out.[/QUOTE]"

[Michigander]

Thanks, Dave, the rig isn't getting any younger so I guess I'll have to be even more vigilant as time goes on. BTW, nice video clip.

[markdoane]

Bob, I think I'd take it back to the shop and have them use something better than Grade 1 hardware.

[92landyacht]

Same thing I was thinking. Grade 1 is the weakest. I'm just hoping that this is just a mistake and they really didn't install grade 1 bolts but installed grade 8 instead.