Greasing a newer Sa...
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] Greasing a newer Santa cruz

15 Posts
11 Users
0 Reactions
817 Views
Posts: 176
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Do I really have to remove the shock or is the linkage upside down?

2017 hightower by the way and the grease nipple is facing downwards and cant be reached without somehow compressing the suspension


 
Posted : 05/06/2017 10:19 pm
Posts: 23277
Free Member
 

Let the air out.


 
Posted : 05/06/2017 10:20 pm
Posts: 3508
Free Member
 

A friends Bronson is the same, best option is as above and let the air out, compress shock, grease, re pressurise shock, job done.


 
Posted : 05/06/2017 10:34 pm
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

Just whip out the 1 bolt that holds the shock in that mount and do it from there?


 
Posted : 05/06/2017 11:30 pm
Posts: 3508
Free Member
 

mikewsmith - Member
Just whip out the 1 bolt that holds the shock in that mount and do it from there?

Doing that ime, because we tried it, the grease you pump in fills the void the axle fills when its fitted as its an easier path and not much makes it into the bearings


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 8:12 am
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

From the pics is there a path from the grease port to the shock mount?


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 8:19 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

No, the upper links on Santa Cruz bikes are not greased, but use sealed bearings.

On older bikes there is two nipples, but I think the newer ones use a single lube point to lubricate both axles on the lower link. And yes, the newer Bronsons are a pain in the arse to do 🙁


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 8:34 am
Posts: 342
Free Member
 

Does anyone have a link to a compatible grease gun for the lower link on the Hightower?


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 8:48 am
Posts: 1408
Full Member
 

I'm finding the same on the v2 5010...

Shock bolt out and fill, but the lube seems to just make it to one corner of the link, coming out at that point. It doest seem to make it to the rest of the bearings.

I dont really want to have to drop the link out every time...


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 8:51 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Does anyone have a link to a compatible grease gun for the lower link on the Hightower?

For my Tallboy 2, I use this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132102155309
...and this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271983585494

My grease nipples are accessible underneath the bike and don't need any dismantling to get to them. I have two on mine, so each axle in the lower link is greased separately. I also have the (small) OEM Santa Cruz grease gun, but have just about exhausted the original grease, so switched to this option. Works well.


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 8:57 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Did my Bronson yesterday with the bolt out. Came through about 1/4 if the bearing circumference but cycling through the travel will ensure coverage. I bought the hilka gun. It's good but fussy.


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 8:58 am
Posts: 342
Free Member
 

thanks daern, i'll order that shortly.


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:56 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Have a hightower as well.
I remove shock bolt and grease it that way
i have started using marine grease tubes from ebay.
I use the Dualco grease gun, the small pointed nozzle fits into the grease nipple.


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 11:06 am
Posts: 639
Free Member
 

How often does this need to be done. My Hightower is 4 or 5 months old, 600km. I've got no symptoms or problems I need to resolve. Should I be doing this regressing now or wait a bit?


 
Posted : 26/04/2018 2:17 pm
Posts: 1641
Full Member
 

I do it about once a month. Keeps the bearings sweet so need to replace them. The best way I've found is to deflate the shock and compress it. It was actually the same on my older bikes to ensure the load was off the bearings and that grease would get to "both sides" of the bearing.


 
Posted : 26/04/2018 7:21 pm
Posts: 639
Free Member
 

Cheers


 
Posted : 27/04/2018 10:35 am

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!