I got started on my front suspension upgrade today. I have a full set of rebuilt Naake shocks. However I have heard of some issues with coil bind on some cars and the main reason I want to upgrade is because of increased weight causing the front end to squat, so I believe the OEM springs will be better for me. As far as I know, nobody has posted a pictoral guide of the Naake setup, so here goes...
This is the full setup in the kit for one front. Bushings & spacers for the bottom eyes, locking ring and load bearing ring for bottom spring support, thrust plates and thrust needle bearing for bottom spring support, washers, bushings, nuts for top shock mount, spring, shock. The top spring perch must be removed from the OEM shock.
OEM front, yes it's a coilover.
Spring compressors.
Spring compressed, remove top nut.
Disassembled OEM coilover.
Tools removed.
OEM vs Naake. The Naake unit can be re-assembled without the spring compressors using the supplied springs. More fab work will be necessary to use the OEM springs but they may possibly be installed without the spring compressors also. I took them back to Auto Zone, free tool rental. If I need them again after I fab my special parts, I'll go get them again.
A few things I don't particularly care for and I'll address them in my custom setup. First, the specified assembly process has the bottom of the spring sitting directly on the thin thrust washer of the needle bearing. There should be a thick, heavy duty thrust washer there as the uneven end of the spring deforms the thin metal. Since I have to make a custom plate to use the OEM springs I'll take care of this in the mod. Second, the thrust bearing is not sealed, allowing corrosion to form. I'll clean and lube it, maybe I can fit an o-ring of some sort on the outside surface. Third, the specified assembly does not use the bump-stops which are on the shafts of the OEM shocks. I'll be using them, but it's a pain to install them on the Naake's. Fourth, the top bushings don't fit the mounting holes for the top spring perch very well. They are too small. I found a set that came from another set of shocks that fit a lot better.
Difference in length of springs.
Difference in length of shocks. The Naake shocks are longer when extended and shorter when compressed. They have a lot more travel than the OEM shocks. The bottom spring perch will slide up & down the OEM shock but won't come off, so something has to be cut or the shock has to be disassembled. Once it is removed it won't fit the Naake shock body, so customizing will be done.
That's all for now...