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I got some shocks from NAPA for the M100. However the rubber bushings take up just a little too much room. So I can't get the washer and cotter key on.
How have any of you remedied this? Will I have to take a razor blade and trim the rubber bushing?

Ken,

I would take a razor and trim just a little off the bushing.

You probably already did by now.

Yeah I fixed them already. But what works best is use the grinder wheel.
Place the rubber while it is in the shock on the side of the grind wheel and grind it off. It makes for a smoother finish.

I saw a post yesteday on how to compress the rubber to get the cotter key in the hole. A good idea. wish I would have known about it when I was installing the shocks.

http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.ph ... ght=shocks

The thickness of the rubber was a design factor to insure the rubber was expanded and fit really snug on installation. This kept the shock from banging around early on in it's useful life. A short piece of tube just barely larger than the shock mounting stud with a 1/2" slot in one end and a large (Really large) pair of channel lock pliers is all it takes.

By shaving down the rubber you have effectively shortened the useful life of the installation.

Well, It's done now. I wished you could have chimed in a couple of months ago and gave a solution.
It won't be getting a lot of miles in its use as long as I am the owner. I can always put a thin washer on it if there is any slack.

Or you could purchase a new set of rubbers.

Yea I might do that sometime when I need to order some other stuff. You know, Ain't no hurry, and hate to order just a small item and have to pay a minimum shipping fee.
Life is always a living, doing, and learning experience.

Ken,
Just take a rubber bushing to your auto parts store and match one up.

I wasn't aware that shock bushings were available in the auto parts store. But of coarse was taking it for granted and never asked since I never needed any until this event.

They are usually hanging on the "Help" product display boards.

When I was running a shop a lot of shocks came with different rubbers for different applications so we would toss the extra rubbers we didn't use in a box for future needs.