Shock Maintenance & Rebuilds
Oil on the shock body, spongy damping, one corner sitting low? That's a rebuild, not a replacement.
Why New Zealand Shocks Fail Early
Most of what we see leaking has been on the beach or dunes. Salt air and fine sand cause corrosion on the shaft and seal head, especially in areas that are hard to clean. This corrosion can cause seals to wear and nitrogen and oil to leak. Once oil's escaping, it's not damping properly anymore.
Riders on Muriwai, Pouto and Ahipara see reduced suspension performance the quickest, often within a year or two. Any trapped sand and salt spray will work away at the shock surfaces and eventually cause a leak.
Rinse and check your shocks after a beach or dune session. Catch a leaking seal early and it's a simple reseal. Leave it too long and the shaft can get scored badly enough it needs replacing too.
How To Tell A Shock Needs Attention
Oily Residue
Oil on the shaft or pooling near the seal. Won't fix itself.
Inconsistent Damping
Spongy one moment, harsh the next — usually air or contamination got in.
Ride Height Dropping
One corner sitting lower than the rest, or pulling under brakes.
What Is a Rebuild?
A rebuild is the comprehensive service of all of the moving bits in the shock. We do a full strip down, check the shaft for pitting, check the piston and valving, replace seals and wear parts, re-oil and re-gas. If you've sent your springs as well we assemble the shock and set preloads, so all you have to do is put your shock back on your UTV.
We service Fox and Walker Evans shocks and can source replacement parts for all UTV makes and models. Send us a photo if you're not sure what it needs.
Got A Shock That's Seen Better Days?
Text us a photo and your buggy make and model, and we'll tell you what it needs.