Linkage Bearings

10/14/2014 11:59am Edited Date/Time 10/28/2014 6:26pm
When I lift up with the rear wheel with the bike on the stand there's a little bit of play. Is this normal or do I need new bearings?

Thanks,
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Paw Paw 271
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4/3/2013
Location
Benton, LA US
10/14/2014 12:30pm
You need new bearings some where. Most likely it's the shock bearing on the top of the shock as they seem to go bad first.
Then there are bearings in the bottom shock mount, the pull rods and the shock knuckle.
I would check the shock first.

Paw Paw
simmons97
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10/20/2014
Location
Lewiston, ID US
10/20/2014 3:22pm
Probably best off having somebody watch closely as you move it to find which bearings are bad. But at the same time, if one of the bearings are completely toast, you're probably best off just replacing them all. You can get cheap bearings on www.thebigbearingstore.com as long as you get the numbers of the old bearings (just takes a micrometer and a piece of paper to write it all down on) get all three dimensions of the bearings. I replaced the wheel bearings on my bike for somewhere around $10 and my crank bearings plus another bearing in the bottom end for around $15 or $20. Fit and work fine. However you may not be able to do that with the needle bearings. I'd just do some research for cheap bearings.
Matt Fisher
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Visalia, CA US
Fantasy
1084th
10/20/2014 5:44pm
Put your finger on each of the bearings and have someone move the wheel up and down. You'll feel the movement better than you can see it. Don't forget the top shock mount.

Simmons97 is right about using aftermarket bearings, though I suggest only US or Japan made bearings, not Chinese stuff. I've used VXB.com and bocabearings.com with good success.
YamaLink
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5/25/2010
Location
Bum Bum, ID US
10/28/2014 9:06am
On my bikes it seems the lower shock bearing goes bad first. Sometimes first week, sometimes a year. The dreaded "thunk thunk" when lifting back fender.

The Shop

pete24
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2733
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10/20/2011
Location
Marlborough, MA US
10/28/2014 10:04am
if you -think- you need bearings then you have obviosly never had it apart to grease it, buy a all balls linkage kit, mite as well buy swingarm kit too,dont measure and try to find stuff, while thats all good, the kits come with all the spacers and seals that are also wasted
Paw Paw 271
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3640
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Location
Benton, LA US
10/28/2014 6:26pm
I suggest using OEM parts for the linkage as I have seen many mis-matched parts in the All Balls kits.

Paw Paw

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