Looking for recommendations for rear shock replacement

[Wayski]

Looking for wise council from y'all in regards to replacing my rear shocks.

I have a 1996 GL1500A (purchased about a year ago). My right rear has bottomed out and my wheel is sitting on my fender. Shocks currently on my ride are Showa MAM L41. Ideally I want to move away from this setup as it appears the compressors is dead so would like to stay away from air shocks. In addition, looks like the last time the rears were replaced was back in 2010 (as that is the last entry I was able to find from the previous owner).

I would greatly appreciate any recommendations about replacement shocks.

As a side note, before the bottom out, my exhaust pipes only clear the ground by about 4"'s so needless to say speed bumps/humps haven't been my friend.

Thanks,

Wayne

 

[Gorilla]

Welcome aboard wayne. Hopefully our resident Lehman expert "JIM" will be along shortly to help out if possible.

 

[rhino 2]

Wayne...........Welcome to Trike-Talk.......:wave4:......

 

[Lee H. Mann]

Looking for wise council from y'all in regards to replacing my rear shocks.

I have a 1996 GL1500A (purchased about a year ago). My right rear has bottomed out and my wheel is sitting on my fender. Shocks currently on my ride are Showa MAM L41. Ideally I want to move away from this setup as it appears the compressors is dead so would like to stay away from air shocks. In addition, looks like the last time the rears were replaced was back in 2010 (as that is the last entry I was able to find from the previous owner).

I would greatly appreciate any recommendations about replacement shocks.

As a side note, before the bottom out, my exhaust pipes only clear the ground by about 4"'s so needless to say speed bumps/humps haven't been my friend.

Thanks,

Wayne

Wayne, welcome to Trike Talk from West Virginia.:wave4:

First thing, are you sure it is a Lehman Trike ??

Sounds like something is broken or bent by your description.

Pictures are helpful.

 

[Wayski]

Wayne, welcome to Trike Talk from West Virginia.:wave4:

Thank you for the warm welcome!!!!!

First thing, are you sure it is a Lehman Trike ??

I'm pretty sure, the previous owner kept all receipts for the conversion and then some, which also contained the warranty policy (photo enclosed)

Sounds like something is broken or bent by your description.

When I looked underneath the bike, I couldn't see anything which appears to be broken and/or nothing that appears to be broken or out of place.

Pictures are helpful.

View attachment Rear Close.pdfView attachment Right Rear.pdfView attachment Warranty Policy.pdfView attachment Right side.pdfView attachment Proposal Quote.pdf

 

[Wayski]

Thank you.....

Wayne...........Welcome to Trike-Talk.......:wave4:......

Thank you.......

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

This might help:





Welcome to the Gang From Western Colorado.

 

[Lee H. Mann]

Wayne, It looks like the swingarm might be cracked after seeing the picture of the right rear wheel.

Inspect, with a mirror and flashlight, the underside of the swingarm at the welded joints while weight is on the wheels.

Inspect where the swingarm and rear axle housing connect as well.

It is a straight axle unit (GTL) and even if it had only one shock on one side it shouldn't be listing like that.

If you want more inspection info, contact me through www.mjtrikes.com

 

[Wayski]

Wayne, It looks like the swingarm might be cracked after seeing the picture of the right rear wheel.

Inspect, with a mirror and flashlight, the underside of the swingarm at the welded joints while weight is on the wheels.

Inspect where the swingarm and rear axle housing connect as well.

It is a straight axle unit (GTL) and even if it had only one shock on one side it shouldn't be listing like that.

If you want more inspection info, contact me through www.mjtrikes.com

Jim,

I tried to get a visual underneath the bike, but even with a mirror it was difficult to see anything. Later this evening I'll pop the tires off, get some jack stands under the axle and see if I can get a better look underneath to see if anything is more telling. However, I pulled the seat and I could get a clear visual of the shock and it is definitely compressed, i.e. the ripples on the black boot are compressed unlike the other side which is extended. When I lifted up the rear wheel well, I can the see the shock uncompress, but when I let go, it goes back to compressed with no hesitation.

Wayne

 

[Lee H. Mann]

Jim,

I tried to get a visual underneath the bike, but even with a mirror it was difficult to see anything. Later this evening I'll pop the tires off, get some jack stands under the axle and see if I can get a better look underneath to see if anything is more telling. However, I pulled the seat and I could get a clear visual of the shock and it is definitely compressed, i.e. the ripples on the black boot are compressed unlike the other side which is extended. When I lifted up the rear wheel well, I can the see the shock uncompress, but when I let go, it goes back to compressed with no hesitation.

Wayne

Wayne,

Just make sure that the swingarm has not cracked as a result of a failed shock.

If you want to go back to the standard shocks (coil-over type) and not replace the air shock, you can get a 412 progressive for it.

Depending on the seating weight for the future you can tailor make the shocks for your individual needs.

The length is 13.25 - 13.5 around $300 for a set.

The progressive air shock is $600.00 and needs to be special ordered.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Progressiv...180800&hash=item5b519070e1:g:SgQAAOSw8bpcT4VV

 

[Wayski]

Thank you

Wayne,

Just make sure that the swingarm has not cracked as a result of a failed shock.

If you want to go back to the standard shocks (coil-over type) and not replace the air shock, you can get a 412 progressive for it.

Depending on the seating weight for the future you can tailor make the shocks for your individual needs.

The length is 13.25 - 13.5 around $300 for a set.

The progressive air shock is $600.00 and needs to be special ordered.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Progressiv...180800&hash=item5b519070e1:g:SgQAAOSw8bpcT4VV

Jim,

Thank you for this valuable information. I will let you know what I find out.

In regards to the airshocks, as I'm not familiar with them, I'm assuming my air compressor needs to work in order to adjust them?

Regards,

Wayne

 

[Lee H. Mann]

Wayne, What did you discover ????:Shrug:

 

[CrystalPistol]

Wayne,

Just make sure that the swingarm has not cracked as a result of a failed shock.

If you want to go back to the standard shocks (coil-over type) and not replace the air shock, you can get a 412 progressive for it.

Depending on the seating weight for the future you can tailor make the shocks for your individual needs.

The length is 13.25 - 13.5 around $300 for a set.

The progressive air shock is $600.00 and needs to be special ordered.https://www.ebay.com/itm/Progressiv...180800&hash=item5b519070e1:g:SgQAAOSw8bpcT4VV

Ouch, now I know why CR gave me some "spares" ... and why I keep them.

I had heard of rare swing arm cracks, but never yet seen one … yet I check mine every time I get near under her rear. I had wondered if the cracks I heard of were … pot hole induced or broken shock induced?

A leaking air chamber of one shock would reduce PSI in both equally, so I see no advantage to OP's wanting to leave air shocks off. Id use them even if I had to plumb them to a tee and inflate with off-trike pump. Only way I see a Progressive 416 failing just one side and causing a cracked SA is broken internal suspension spring or shock mount. I worried about even especially that day up on Rt 50 in West Va about 10-12 years ago, brutal roadway.

Anxious to see findings here!

 

[Wayski]

Update

Wayne, What did you discover ????:Shrug:

Lee,

My apologies on just getting back to you. I just finished it up this morning.

I ended up replacing both shocks, swing arm was fine, thank God

What I found was even though I had air shocks on both sides, one was a Showa the other was Progressive.

The Showa was completely shot and the oil was all over the right side swing arm. The Progressive was a little bit better, but as you can see, the rubber boot was separated from the upper shaft. It still had some pressure, so was a challenge to remove this one as my compressor is dead to release any of the pressure.

I installed Progressive 412 shocks and as you can see from the photos, much better ground clearance than before

I've only ridden it up and down the street and will hopefully, barring no conference calls, try to get it out on the highway. However, the ride just up and down the street was a much better ride.

Thank you for your input and recommendations.

Regards,

Wayne

 

[Wayski]

Lee,

My apologies on just getting back to you. I just finished it up this morning.

I ended up replacing both shocks, swing arm was fine, thank God

What I found was even though I had air shocks on both sides, one was a Showa the other was Progressive.

The Showa was completely shot and the oil was all over the right side swing arm. The Progressive was a little bit better, but as you can see, the rubber boot was separated from the upper shaft. It still had some pressure, so was a challenge to remove this one as my compressor is dead to release any of the pressure.

I installed Progressive 412 shocks and as you can see from the photos, much better ground clearance than before

I've only ridden it up and down the street and will hopefully, barring no conference calls, try to get it out on the highway. However, the ride just up and down the street was a much better ride.

Thank you for your input and recommendations.

Regards,

Wayne

Forgot to add the before and after pictures

 

[CrystalPistol]

Wayski, I didn't open the four pdf (?) pics in your last two posts (my computer doesn't like them?), but if your solid axle Lehman GTL was leaning lower on one side, something is amiss with the swing arm as it's made very stout and rigid to not allow any lean, hence the "No Lean" name. NOT to argue, but if mine did that, I'ld either look for cracks in swing arm or at the bike frame at swing arm pivots until I found them. As Jim said earlier, a sound swing arm as it was built to be, would not allow leaning when parked. It was that rigid and more when built.

But if you're happy, my wish is for nothing but safe rides for you.