Author Topic: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers  (Read 1955 times)

Online McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers
« Reply #15 on: September 07, 2026, 06:46:27 PM »
Not a big job to change them later
Honda CB400NA Superdream (current money puddle)
Honda CB500 K1 (second money pit)
https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,28541.0.html
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html
This is a neat 500 restoration in the USA.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.msg1731556.html#msg1731556

Offline deltarider

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Re: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers
« Reply #16 on: September 09, 2026, 07:55:28 AM »
You can make your own with pleaded pieces of bicycle inner tube.

Offline Sesman

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Re: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers
« Reply #17 on: September 09, 2026, 08:17:07 AM »
Please don’t make them from inner tube rubber😳. I think he meant ‘shim’ them with cutdown inner tube. TBH, the dampers are exactly what they claim to be and any loss of condition will simply result in a harsher ride and more drive chain snatch. Personally I’d take the hit and replace them, but if desperate shim them. Removing the slack might still not result in a satisfactory solution if the dampers have gone hard.

I’m inclined to agree with Ted. Suck it and see. If the ride is tolerable go with it, if not you can replace them at a later date. I replaced mine and the difference in ride experience was very noticeable.

Offline Neilw

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Re: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers
« Reply #18 on: September 09, 2026, 08:37:23 AM »
Please don’t make them from inner tube rubber😳. I think he meant ‘shim’ them with cutdown inner tube. TBH, the dampers are exactly what they claim to be and any loss of condition will simply result in a harsher ride and more drive chain snatch. Personally I’d take the hit and replace them, but if desperate shim them. Removing the slack might still not result in a satisfactory solution if the dampers have gone hard.

I’m inclined to agree with Ted. Suck it and see. If the ride is tolerable go with it, if not you can replace them at a later date. I replaced mine and the difference in ride experience was very noticeable.

I found some reasonably priced ones in Germany, so as you say i might just bite the bullet, as i already have the wheel off and need to put new rubber on it anyway. What's another £35 to an ever-growing bill :-)

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers
« Reply #19 on: September 09, 2026, 12:48:44 PM »
I’d have said replace them. For gods sake don’t forget to grease the sliding mechanism. Easy done in your haste to get everything back together. Ideally the sprocket carrier should be quite hard to get back into place, some silicon or rubber grease helps to slide it back into place. It should have minimal movement if it’s done right. Less than 1mm I’d say. That’s forward and back not left to right.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline Sesman

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Re: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers
« Reply #20 on: September 10, 2026, 10:29:10 PM »
Definitely replace them unless it means severe financial hardship 😳. Honestly, it’s worth the expense. Do it right, do it once. Easier to write than accept, and yes, it gets expensive…. Ask me how I know.

Offline Neilw

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Re: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers
« Reply #21 on: September 11, 2026, 08:30:50 AM »
Definitely replace them unless it means severe financial hardship 😳. Honestly, it’s worth the expense. Do it right, do it once. Easier to write than accept, and yes, it gets expensive…. Ask me how I know.

Done, purchase made.

Offline Murf

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Re: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers
« Reply #22 on: September 11, 2026, 10:16:17 AM »
I have to replace the clutch rubbers in my 2018 Yamaha Tracer because it has gone all snatchy and lumpy at low revs, it’s sort of comforting in a world gone mad with technology and AI that we still rely on bits of rubber for a comfortable ride 😂.

Offline badger_eng

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Re: Rear Wheel Rubber Dampers
« Reply #23 on: September 11, 2026, 10:38:57 AM »
I have to replace the clutch rubbers in my 2018 Yamaha Tracer because it has gone all snatchy and lumpy at low revs, it’s sort of comforting in a world gone mad with technology and AI that we still rely on bits of rubber for a comfortable ride 😂.
;D

Current:-

Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+ - 2026

Suzuki GT500A Cafe style - 1976
https://www.kettleclinic.co.uk/kcforum/viewtopic.php?t=14273

Honda CB550K - 1977 (Winter 2026/27 project)