no idea what bike you have. to take shocks apart on a K6 read my previous post. up about 10 or so. compress the spring by pushing straight down, then pick out the half-collars. disass, clean, and reassemble. easy.
Taking the springs off the shock/spring assembly is not the same as restoring the shock's damping action.
With the spring off, you can check for damping action, which is the resistance the extension rod presents from moving within the shock body. This action is what keeps the bike and wheel from bouncing, and allowing the tires prolonged non-contact with uneven roadways. (Quite important while leaned over in a turn.)
The springs carry the weight, and are selected to provide both motorcycle ride height and position shock piston in the shock body for even travel distances, and allow it to respond to both compression and extension without reaching the limit of travel too frequently (bottoming out/topping out).
You can ride a bike without any shock action (and many do). But, with such a bike, it is best to encounter washboard roads while the bike is straight up, rather than leaned over, as the tire will be in the air most of the time, depending on speed factors.
I've never gotten around to dissecting a stock shock. They often fail (lose damping action) well before there is visual fluid loss. And, there is no easy way to rebuild the stock shock types. I'm not sure where you would find the internal piston seals.
I've got some that look brand new on the outside, but the extension rod moves without resistance almost 2 inches, and not too smoothly, at that.
Cheers,
