I'm trying to remove the rear shock to replace it with a lowering shock. Common wisdom seems to be that you just unbolt it top & bottom & it comes out.

Done that. I just can't disengage the bottom end. It 'appears' there is a collar which runs between the bosses, which I'm guessing should slide through the bottom eye. I can't turn or move in any direction the exposed end of the collar. There isn't room on the chain side to punch it back through the bosses.

I'm stuck! Anybody got any ideas

I'm trying to remove the rear shock to replace it with a lowering shock. Common wisdom seems to be that you just unbolt it top & bottom & it comes out.

Done that. I just can't disengage the bottom end. It 'appears' there is a collar which runs between the bosses, which I'm guessing should slide through the bottom eye. I can't turn or move in any direction the exposed end of the collar. There isn't room on the chain side to punch it back through the bosses.

I'm stuck! Anybody got any ideas

hi pe89, it could be 'crud' that's making life difficult. Give the offending collar and boss a good spray of easing oil or paraffin. leave to soak overnight, wipe off and have another go. Also, could you draw out the collar with a bolt and spacer arrangement. You need to make sure the bolt head is reduced so it can pass through the boss as you tighten it up.

hi pe89, it could be 'crud' that's making life difficult. Give the offending collar and boss a good spray of easing oil or paraffin. leave to soak overnight, wipe off and have another go. Also, could you draw out the collar with a bolt and spacer arrangement. You need to make sure the bolt head is reduced so it can pass through the boss as you tighten it up.

The bike pretty new (12 months), so crud shouldn't be an issue. That said, I have given it a good dose of WD40, see what the morning brings.

Unfortunately, the collar is shouldered into the mounting boss, so I can't make a puller of the type you suggest. I've even tried getting warm (Not hot cos' it's Painted) & pulling it out with alligator pliers, but no luck. It really is an awful bit of design work.

Thanks for the ideas though.