Have you ever serviced your shock linkage?
 

As my bike is down I serviced the linkage today and it made me wonder how overlooked this job is?

How many of you realize there are 5 needle bearings in the linkage?

Have they ever been cleaned and re-greased or do you still have whatever the factory put in there?

So if you are looking for a "project" pull the lower linkage and give it a little love......your bike will thank you..... ;)

I have, as it's a common maintenance item on dirt bikes.. so things like changing suspension fluid, servicing swingarm and linkage bearings on my street bikes is just normal.

On some bikes the needles are loose so it is easy to scoop them out of the race and clean and repack. These are full cage needle bearings, so what is the common method of cleaning them out?

~Jon

Interesting topic and timing as I just removed my shock cause I sold it to another member and was thinking now would be a good time to check the linkage. I actually have a newer link from an 03 sitting around that's in very good shape I may just switch it out!

Yeah, did it last summer when I did the motor swap. Good service reminder though.

I flush them out with brake clean, blow with compressed air, brake clean again, then hit um with air one last time.. repack with Belray grease or Silkolene

Pretty much the same here though I do use some mineral spirits to flush them out if they are really bad. Also I use Mobil 1 synthetic red grease but that is kind of like what tire to run....;)

I would still open it up and service the bearings as even if clean, it is a 10 yr old part ;)

Agreed, I was planning to.

I figured you would but didn't want anyone reading this thread to get the wrong idea ;)

Here in the UK they take some hammering esp if used all year round with winter salt.

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