Blown Rear Shock @ 13k Miles

[jmcbow]

Took the RT in to have the brake pedal/linkage update done, only to discover that the rear shock was blown and had to be replaced. Of course it's a year our of warranty so BRP wouldn't cover the repairs. Just curious, has anyone else had the rear (air) shock go at only 13k miles? That seems like really low mileage for the seal on the air shock to go.

[SpyderAnn01]

Mine went out but it was at 30,000 + miles and I had the Best warranty so it was covered.

[tofriendscreek]

First signs of something not being right within a few weeks of purchase. Repairs were made at 1K, which didn't work. It was totally replaced at around 4K. It was covered under warranty.

[jthornton]

First signs of something not being right within a few weeks of purchase. Repairs were made at 1K, which didn't work. It was totally replaced at around 4K. It was covered under warranty.

What were the first signs?

JT

[tofriendscreek]

What were the first signs?

JT

The base model for my Performance RT is the A&C version so putting in and releasing air is manual. I noticed it felt really soft and would like bottom out. I'd put air in (20, 30, whatever pounds) and w/in a day or two it was acting the same. Got to the point w/in a month of purchase it wouldn't hold air at all.

[Firefly]

So did the shock go, or the air pillow?

The rear shock isn't an 'air shock'. It's a typical shock with an air pillow system near the top. I've heard of many of these shocks going bad... I'd replace with Elka for sure.

[SpydermanCT]

I have a 2010 RT and mine went at about 10K. When the dealer replaced it the new one he got from BRP was bad and he had to reorder and install another one.

[Mrogers102]

So did the shock go, or the air pillow?

The rear shock isn't an 'air shock'. It's a typical shock with an air pillow system near the top. I've heard of many of these shocks going bad... I'd replace with Elka for sure.

I came back from spyder fest and then it blew up. How much is this going to cost if warranty doesn't cover it?

[tofriendscreek]

So did the shock go, or the air pillow?

The rear shock isn't an 'air shock'. It's a typical shock with an air pillow system near the top. I've heard of many of these shocks going bad... I'd replace with Elka for sure.

Correct on their being two components. In my case the pillow went first and the bottoming out was what cracked/broke the shock itself. The OEM replacement was worked great in all respects.

[Marker]

Took the RT in to have the brake pedal/linkage update done, only to discover that the rear shock was blown and had to be replaced. Of course it's a year our of warranty so BRP wouldn't cover the repairs. Just curious, has anyone else had the rear (air) shock go at only 13k miles? That seems like really low mileage for the seal on the air shock to go.

I have a 2010 RT SE5 and the rear shock went out at 3100 miles and then at about 8700 miles the actuator for the air ride suspension broke . I was lucky both items were covered under Warranty.

[SpyderAnn01]

I came back from spyder fest and then it blew up. How much is this going to cost if warranty doesn't cover it?

I really think your warranty will cover the repair. Mine happened under the extended warranty coverage.

[Gary]

I have 15,000 on it and have cowtown sending a new one. the trick is getting the old one apart ,I havedone this before on harley shocks but I don't think that press will work. I'll have to build new support plates to fit, then it's a snap..

[ThreeWheels]

I have a 2010 RT and I went through about 5 shocks in the first 12,000 miles, all covered under warranty.
At one point I even suggested the dealer get an Elka. One Elka has to be less cost than REPEATED repairs to the rear shock.
I haven't had any issues since the last one was replaced, that's about 10K miles ago

[jthornton]

The base model for my Performance RT is the A&C version so putting in and releasing air is manual. I noticed it felt really soft and would like bottom out. I'd put air in (20, 30, whatever pounds) and w/in a day or two it was acting the same. Got to the point w/in a month of purchase it wouldn't hold air at all.

Thanks, mine is the RT-S and has the onboard pump so it might be hard to notice a small leak.

JT

[Marker]

I have a 2010 RT SE5 and the rear shock went out at 3100 miles and then at about 8700 miles the actuator for the air ride suspension broke . I was lucky both items were covered under Warranty.

When the actuator went . BRP replaced the air bag and the actuator. The shock blew out when the dealer's tech was test driving it after winter storage , which was lucky for me and no damage to the air bag.

[Yfactor]

2010 2010 RT PE air bag went out at 600 miles was replaced and no further problems

[jmcbow]

I came back from spyder fest and then it blew up. How much is this going to cost if warranty doesn't cover it?

Dealer told me betweeen $250-$300.

[jmcbow]

A little confused here, (which is nothing new for me) the shock and the air bag are 2 seperate components. In my case, the air bag is what blew. How does installing a Elka prevent the air bag from going bad?

[NancysToy]

A little confused here, (which is nothing new for me) the shock and the air bag are 2 seperate components. In my case, the air bag is what blew. How does installing a Elka prevent the air bag from going bad?

It doesn't.

[dmdahnert]

Mine went at just under 11,000 miles and neither warranty or BEST warranty would cover it. ????? Not sure why not but it only cost a couple of hundred to get the shock replaced. Chances are I caused some of the issue myself as I was never fully aware of having to keep air in the air bag and I do usually ride 2 up. Live and learn as they say...Diana

[BLUE RIDER]

I got mine on thur and back on sat with 50 miles.

[jmcbow]

A little confused here, (which is nothing new for me) the shock and the air bag are 2 seperate components. In my case, the air bag is what blew. How does installing a Elka prevent the air bag from going bad?

After some "mis-communication" on the dealerships part, I was informed that it was the rear shock not the air bag that went bad. If it goes bad again, will defintelty look at going with an Elka.

[SilverSurfer]

Took the RT in to have the brake pedal/linkage update done, only to discover that the rear shock was blown and had to be replaced. Of course it's a year our of warranty so BRP wouldn't cover the repairs. Just curious, has anyone else had the rear (air) shock go at only 13k miles? That seems like really low mileage for the seal on the air shock to go.

What year is your RT?

Also, I refer you to this thread, where I replaced a stock rear with an Elka, then went back to stock.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...741#post612741

Paul

[jmcbow]

My RT is a 2010. Very interesting on the rear Elka. To hear some others here the rear Elka was the cats' pajama's. Thanks for the heads up, would definetly do some research before changing from stock should the rear shock fail again.

[Sarge707]

My air bag doesn,t hold air and I don,t have the time to leave it for a week to get fixed. Is there a Better OEM shock replacement that is stiffer than the 2012 RT stock shock? I way to put a better shock that doesn,t rely on the air bag for a single 200 Pound rider?
Maybe a RS shock? Don,t want to Pay $$$ for an Elka on the rear!