TW SAW rebuilding in SoCal

[iforceV8]

Is there a shop where I can take my truck in, have them remove the TW SAW, rebuild/reseal the shock on site and re-install the shock?

Any ideas on the cost to rebuild it? I have noticed the right side absorbs the bumps a lot smoother than the left side. For example. If I hit a speedbump on the right tire only..the shock soaks up the bump and the truck doesn't hop up. If I hit a speedbump on the left side only it lifts up the truck significantly. Like the left side was a lot stiffer?

I don't want this to cause a dangerous situation when im using these out on in the desert/trail

Too bad Bill West isn't around anymore or else I'd take it to him.

These shocks have about 80k-90k on them

I don't want to dismount the SAW, send them out and wait for them, and them put them back on. Too much hassle. But if no shop in socal can do it..I might just end up getting whole new coilovers. Maybe some Donahoes

[DevinSixtySeven]

Yeah I wrestled with the same problem myself...what to drive when the shocks are down, and no second vehicle.

You should have no problem finding someone to do all that. It's just like any other SAW shock, look on BajaTaco.com for the SAW rebuild...yours are the same inside, with the internal dividing piston and all.

How old are they, have they seen a winter or salt, are the shafts in good shape? If the shafts are pitted, you're looking at more than just seals and oil. It'll still be far cheaper than getting new Hoes, like 200$ for parts, and you'll have new shocks in the process. Search in Handling/Suspension/Axle for my rebuild thread, I recently rebuilt mine (twice...pitted shafts tore up the new seals after the first rebuild, second rebuild everything was replaced).

If you have the ability to support your truck and remove them yourself, they are easy to rebuild. You just need the parts and the oil, and a moto shop to charge them. Whether you pay someone else or DIY, you still may have to wait a week with no truck while parts come from SAW...just something to keep in mind. You won't know the condition of the guts until it's open.

If the shafts are pitted or scored, assume new seal carriers, rod guides, o-rings, shafts and bushings.

BTW...this is normal. If they were cheap shocks you'd just throw them in the trash and start over...they're rebuildable, so you get good as new for a couple hundred bucks instead of paying 800-900$ all over again.

-Sean

[iforceV8]

Thanks Sean, as always..very helpful....

I got these when Bill West first came on the site..so they are several years old. They have been in sunny socal since they were mounted. The shafts looked pretty smooth last time I was changing my oil.

I'll email a few places to see if I can add an ext res to the shock while they are out. I remember when I had these installed Bill said it would be about an extra $100 per side.

I might pick up a TC LT kit soon, Can get it without coilovers and just use the current TW SAW + ext res? Or would this setup not be ideal. The difference would be a 2.0 dia shock vs 2.5'' dia

[DevinSixtySeven]

Originally Posted by iforceV8

Thanks Sean, as always..very helpful....

I got these when Bill West first came on the site..so they are several years old. They have been in sunny socal since they were mounted. The shafts looked pretty smooth last time I was changing my oil.

I'll email a few places to see if I can add an ext res to the shock while they are out. I remember when I had these installed Bill said it would be about an extra $100 per side.

I might pick up a TC LT kit soon, Can get it without coilovers and just use the current TW SAW + ext res? Or would this setup not be ideal. The difference would be a 2.0 dia shock vs 2.5'' dia

Also if you add the external resi, you can avoid the nonsense I got in to, trying to get a charge in those deep Schraeder valves! It cost about a hundred bucks to get them machined down . I shoulda just got resis .

Bill chose the 8" shaft so the kit would be bolt-on for the Chaos and Camburg bolt-on LT kits, it should work great. I remember him saying he's jumped it plenty, that was with the original 2" bodies like you and I have. I'm planning that route in a few weeks and don't expect any problem at all.

Shelby (I think?) is selling a Chaos LT kit, over at SoCalTundras, and editmars is selling a set of used LT axles, CV to CV, for the ADD...I was gonna get them myself but I'm after the Camburg kit and the manual hubs would mean by the time I got mars's used axles and converted them for my kit, I could have bought new axles . If you're seriously considering it, you can probably get the parts cheap through those guys. Bill's shocks should bolt right up, you'll still need limit straps but you'll be using the shocks the way they were designed.

-Sean

[iforceV8]

I've talked to Shelby @ SCT..he gave me a pretty good price for the LT kit with the King shocks.

With install and fenders im looking at 3k..A little rich for my blood. But man would I love to have LT. Then after that I can just leave the rears stock...so I figure more $$$$ to sink into the rear end.

Plus..I've been thinking about those sweet V8 4Runners (inspired by Goodtimes) and it would be a whole lot easier to sell the truck without LT down the road.

Decisions..decisions...

[drewbush]

If you are planning to get a LT kit I would suggest getting 2.5s. The 2.0 just wont cut it with the LT and offroad.

[iforceV8]

I was quoted around 400 to rebuild and install 12'' ext res..that should hold plenty of fluid even if I don't go LT