Just wondering if it's normal for these bolts that go through the linkage to be a fairly sloppy fit.. it seems strange to go to so much trouble with the bearings when the bolt that goes through the sleeve has quite a bit of play....it's certainly not a close fit within the linkage.. surely this just causes slop in the suspension /swing arm etc.... ? Steve

Have you got them all the right way round Steve?...there is usually some play,but once you have the bolts on and it all tightened down with the dog bones in place the bolts won't be loose, if you get my drift?..it will all be tight and the bearing will revolve around the bush..

As you say Jo....when it's properly tightened it should be OK. , however I have just found a thread by Pleiades on the subject of ill fitting bolts....one of the bolts is smaller than the sleeve it goes through . When my bike is back together I'm going to get a bolt machined up to fit the sleeve better . Steve

Steve, the only bolt that is an issue is the front one (where the linkage mounts to the frame). As Jo says, the dog bones clamp tight on the bush so there is no movement when fitted.

The shock mount is normally a good interference fit in the bush and when clamped up the bush is nipped up tight. With the linkage to frame bush, on some bikes (like mine) but not all, the gap between the mounting plates welded to the frame is slightly to wide (poor manufacturing tolerances) and the bush can't get nipped up tightly, so you end up with vertical play in the linkage. Fitting a wider diameter bolt won't help particularly; yes, it'll stop the vertical play but the bush will revolve on the bolt still and the bearing won't do anything. For bearings like these to work it is paramount that the bush is clamped tightly and cannot move or rotate at all; that is the job of the bearing alone. You need to get a slightly longer bush made up for this one (if you have the problem), or insert some shim(s) as required to take up the end float.

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Thanks for good info as ever Pleiades.....how tightly can I safely go do you think , with the linkage to frame bolt in order to nip up any slack.... Steve

You can't really, and that's the problem. The mounting plates are made from metal that is too thick to bend/move, which is why the longer bush is needed, or shims to suit.

Yours might be a good fit though? As I said, they aren't all sloppy. Offer just the bush only up between the plates and see how snug it is.

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