Hi all,
recently I noticed some play in the rear suspension linkage and stripped it down for repair.The is some play in the wide bearing that bolts to the bottom of the frame and the bottom shock bearing.I have been qouted crazy prices (330 + euro!) for genuine parts .At this sort of money I can`t help thinking there has to be an alternative ,has any one tried machining some polypenco, nylon ,or even bronze bushes to suit ?I dont feel like spending that sort of money only to be faced with the same problem next year.( I know the bearing life could be prolonged by regular stripping down and greasing , but its a PITA )Also has any one machined or drilled and fitted grease points for easy maintenance? I will probably try out this next week and will let you know how it works out !
Jim.

jscott,

check out my post on the linkage teardown.

my question is, where exactly is the play you are talking about? got a pic? the reason i ask is that there are a couple of places that have "designed-in" slop, to accomodate a small degree of misalignment between the swingarm and the frame. so it may be the case that you don't have a problem. (?)

also, in the link above (about 2/3 of the way down the thread) there is yet another link to a guy who installed zerk fittings on his swingarm bearings, but evidently he ran into some problems.

jim aka the wrooster
'01 wr250f

There are after market kits for linkage bearings. Try Race Tech for the shock bearing. Nylon bushing would be a step back in to the early 70's. I have drilled out the linkage and the hardened bushing with a carbide drill for grease fittings. It was very easy to blow out the seals (and I did) because they have no retainers and were not made to withstand the high pressure of a grease gun. I have had no problems with my linkage as long as I greased them when new with Bell Ray waterprof grease. The lower shock bushing and the frame anchor linkage are the high wear items in your linkage, replace them and grease all the linkage and you should not have any more problems . I grease my linkage maybe four times a year, and I ride just about every weekend. If you are riding constantly in water (like this coming spring) you will have to service your linkage more frequently.