Motorcycle Shock Absorber Body Parts

At the top, shock bodies bolt to the bike's chassis via mounting bearings & grease seals to keep the travel smooth.
The outer case has a cylinder inside for the damping piston to slide in, sometimes with an extra tube piggybacking on the casting for holding a gas bladder and giving a larger oil volume that is great for cooling - find out more about different shock styles.

At the bottom end surrounding the shaft is a stopper cap that acts as an armoured plate protecting the delicate Seal Case Assembly from stone strikes and corrosive mud.
Rebuildable non-piggyback shocks often have a service port or bolt drilled into the body so you can drain the old oil and regas the damper after servicing - if you aren't sure whether your shock can be rebuilt find out in our FAQ on servicable shocks.
Threaded onto the outside of the shock casing are large spring pre load nuts that the coil spring collar seats against - they are adjustable to allow the bike to change for different rider and luggage weights.