tips when replacing front and rear shocks on RTL

[askitee]

I am feeling like a kid before Christmas waiting for my Wilburs Shocks coming in the next few days for my 2017 RTL. I've been busy looking at how-to videos and posts on various forums. Given that things change so often between models (and details listed on the BRP manual I own) are there any gotchas to changing both Front and Rear shocks.

1. remove the bolt connecting the leveling sensor to the swing arm before removing the rear shock
2. ......

 

[pegasus1300]

What year is your RT?

 

[askitee]

What year is your RT?

Whoops

Edited original post to fix

 

[mavrik]

Askitee….I have not heard of many people going with wilburs shocks...you hear more of the elka and a few others. I look forward to hearing what you think of them, any reason you upgraded?

 

[askitee]

Askitee….I have not heard of many people going with wilburs shocks...you hear more of the elka and a few others. I look forward to hearing what you think of them, any reason you upgraded?

I think the Wilburs are hard to buy in Nth America with few distributors there.

The BRP suspension lacks rebound control and adjust-ability on the front and I miss being able to tweak suspension settings while traveling (aside from the air adjust on my RTL). Plus the RT's get a little messier than they need in certain situations so I hope to tidy up the behavior of the bike. I researched the Fox / Elka's / M2's / specialist builders / Wilburs - the latter where the only ones where I could adjust the rear shock from a dial mounted under the seat.

I also talked to a few here downunder, no one complained about any brand (M2/Elka/Wilburs) but those on Wilburs raved about them. Will definitely do a review on them once I have some trips under my belt

 

[h0gr1der]

I am feeling like a kid before Christmas waiting for my Wilburs Shocks coming in the next few days for my 2017 RTL. I've been busy looking at how-to videos and posts on various forums. Given that things change so often between models (and details listed on the BRP manual I own) are there any gotchas to changing both Front and Rear shocks.

1. remove the bolt connecting the leveling sensor to the swing arm before removing the rear shock
2. ......

I was told you can get the rear upper bolt out from below, but in my decrepit state I had to use a second set of hands. Took all the plastic off both sides all the way back, removed the level sensor from the swing arm, and took off the bottom bolt nut. Jack until bottom bolt is just free, but leave the bolt in. One person on one side, one on the other. using a mix of wobble sockets and extensions to reach through the various holes, remove the upper bolt. Now remove the lower bolt while controlling the shock so as to not damage anything. Reverse to reassemble. The rear isn't too hard.

For the front shocks, I found using Baja Rons instructions great. If you have small hands you can even get the bolts back in the original position with the head forward.
https://youtu.be/EA26IlxLfb0