Movement in shock mount

[cep32]

I have a Kona Remote CTRL and have always had a small bit of movement in the shock mounts when I lift the bike from the top tube. I initially assumed that it was caused by worn bushings but it has happened from new. When I take the shock off and put the bolts back through the frame on their own and torque to spec I can move them vertically. The movement happens in both the top and bottom mount. The bushings in the shock look fine but the paint or anodising on the bolts has flaked off. Is this normal?

Also, should the shock bushings poke out beyond the top hat spacers? I would have thought the spacers should be what is in contact with the frame, not the bushing.

 

[urastus]

Funny you say this, I discovered the same thing last night, also while lifting the bike by the top tube. I isolated the movement to the bottom mount. It was actually loose! I had it off about 3 months ago to remove the tokens, cleaned, greased and torqued. I think now I'm going to clean the grease off the thread and use some contact adhesive as a thread locker. I don't usually have things come loose, so it was a surprise. Initially I thought it must be worn.

I can't imagine movement in your own shock mounts is a good thing. That movement is a shock, however small (but with great force), and not a smooth force on the mounts. If it has been like that since new, then I suspect it is a manufacturing fault - it will accelerate wear, if not damage.

 

[DrStupid]

My wifes BMC speedfox Amp3 had slop in the lower shock eyelet (Rockshox something or other) after just a few-hundred easy miles. As it turned out the du eyelet bushing factory installed was out of specification , too much interference between the pin and the du bushing. The interference locked the pin and bushing, so the bolt and pin pressed against the frame became the pivot. Thank goodness I found it, because the carbon frame was being damaged in the ordeal. The parts were warranty but before they showed up, I had already installed a Fox 5 piece hardware kit, which I think is a better setup.

You might want to make sure the hardware installed on your bike is correct, these pivots generally last quite a while from what I can tell.

 

[cep32]

Thanks everyone. As much as I like doing my own wrenching, this one seems like a bike shop fix.