Trying to remove the top spherical bearing. A torch would probably help, i'm using the socket and vise method, with a really long breaker bar. :p
Which brings up a question, how come bikes don't use spherical bearings all around?
I am hoping you made sure there was no circlip holding it in or that the bearing can only come out 1 side.:)
You can warm up the top bearing although a concern has just been raised to me about over heating aluminum I was always more alarmed about the oil getting too hot in the shock. Not knowing how hot a shock gets when working I always have my hand on the shock body while heating it up. When it starts getting too warm to touch I stop heating. I do that even when I have to cut shock mounting bolts off of a truck with a torch. I heard of a "flaming oil spraying all over the place" horror story once. Whether true or not I don't want to find out.
Its not considered a good idea to heat them-they have warnign stickers on them saying this.I know they get hot in use but i wouldnt put any heat near one and stand near it.
??? Are you using a large socket on one side (big enough to hold the OD of the bearing) and one the same size as bearing on other? What's the beaker bar for? I have pushed on many with a standard 6" vise using this method using very little effort. If this isn't working, I would look closer to make sure there is not a retaining clip or something in place. Heat should not be necessary.
Yup, there was a circlip. I took a look in the manual since the seals were different sizes. What a squid! Thanks for everything. Where do you guys get replacement circlips?