Have stock shocks on my 08 Nightster. Took them apart to clean the surface rust off the chrome when I replaced my rear tire and tube.

After lubing, & loctite everything and reinstalling them w/ proper torque, according to the manual, I noticed creaking / rattling sound from both sides whenever I hit little bumps, or when I got on and off the bike.

Since the creaking didn't happen before removal, I knew it had to be operator induced. I figured I didn't have them tight enough. So I tightened the bolts another 1/4 turn.

Nothing changed.

That's when I thought that "maybe" my torque wrench is way out of spec, or I missed a notch, and may have actually overtightened them.

I backed out the upper bolts a full turn and that fixed it.

No more creaking rattling squeeking sounds.

Hope this helps

 

No surprise. Took apart for cleaning the surface rust? NO, after 16 years, it's time to REPLACE THEM.

 

Shocks were replaced in 2019 - pretty sure they're still good.

 

Surface rust on the shock piston probably ate up some of the oil seal, which is non repairable.

 

The surface rust was just a light orange discoloration around a few of the spring coils. None on the piston.