Greasing needle bearings

I am just geeting everything rear to change my suspension link plates (dog bones) and was wondering the best method for greasing the beariings. I have got litium grease.

Do I take them out and cover them in the stuff, or leave them in situ and just put a ssmearing over them?:dunno

If they are clean just grease them in situ. Most i have done have had water ingress and the existing grease has turned to a rusty, gritty paste.

If that is the case then i would remove and clean the affected needles otherwise the new grease will get contaminated by the old dirty stuff.

I have found needles missing from some bearings as well. They are easily lost so be careful. If the bearing cages show grooving or the cage has twisted in the dogbone especially then relace the bearing. They are not that expensive and are available from most bearing shops rather than Aprilia's price. You will need new seals if you have to replace any though as they won't come out unscathed.

oh my god!!!!!!
what are needle bearings????
i've ordered the new plates from AF1 racing, i was just going to whip the old ones out and put new ones in, obviously there is now more to it, any chance of a bit of a write up please spoonz

best to get some new one IMHO, soon as you take them out they will prolly fall apart
cheers Ck

Don' panic.

when you have the link plates out you will see the hole in the swingarm and dogbone where the bolts run through have needle roller bearings in them, 1 each side.

There will be steel pin inside that hole which you can push out with your fingers revealing the needles of the bearing. If they are rusty or dry you will be able to see easily. If they look cleanish then just run grease in the hole with you finger and smear it around. If they look dirty or rusty then pick out the needles with a small screw driver. They are only held in place by the grease once the pin is removed. Give them a clean and check the cage looks undamaged (No distortion). If it's ok put some grease in the cage and re insert the pins which will stick to the new grease ,then re insert the pin. There should be a full compliment of needles so if there are gaps that needs sorting with a new bearing or a few pins if you can get them (i have some). Do the same to the dogbone and swingarm.

The slightly trickier bearing is the front of the dogbone where it meets the frame. to get an allen key in the bolt head you need to drop the exhaust header by about 2 inches. whether you do that or just leave the front bearing is up to you. That bearing does seem to take less of a hammering from water as it's out of the direct rear wheel spray unlike the others. If you do decide to do it then just release the springs on the header near the shock and with a rubber hammer or similar you can tap the header down a few inches or it may even be free enough to do by hand if your lucky. You will need the cans off ideally as well.

Certainly i would use the other bearings as a guage. If they are in good nick then chances are the front one won't be any worse.

Will the bearing seals be knackered and defo nned replaceing anyway? if so where do I get them?

You should only need new seals if you have to remove the bearing cages. Unless you have high mileage they should be ok otherwise.

They are available at some bearing shops or Aprilia but quite expensive. About £7 each from memory.

Calling Spoonz

spoonz said:

You should only need new seals if you have to remove the bearing cages. Unless you have high mileage they should be ok otherwise.

They are available at some bearing shops or Aprilia but quite expensive. About £7 each from memory.

Click to expand...

I am a tad confused. Are the seals we are talking about item 4 on this schematic?

http://www.apriliayorkshire.co.uk/catalogue/partlist.jsp?Catalogo=%3D3974&Tavola=%3D16&_NomeImmagine=40621694.gif&_bikename=RSV%201000%202004-2006&_pagename=Connecting%20rod%20-%20rear%20shock%20abs.

Are you then saying that inspect the bearings in situ and if they look OK then grease them where they are. Otherwise it they look rusty and ****** they need to come out and be greased, inspected and cleaned. Only if the bearings need to come out will they need new seals?

Oh bike has 14,000 miles on.

Thanks,
Dan

The bearings and seals stay in situ unless you regard the bearings unserviceable. The hole in the bearing with the pin removed is plenty big enough to get a finger into to put needles back and get them out.

If the actual cage surface is rusty then it's knackered. What i more expect is rusty coloured grease which will just wipe out with a rag and clean off the needles so you can then regrease and put them back cage still in situ

If this is the first time the bearings have been checked then have a word in your dealers ear. They should be regreased and checked at every 9500 miles. If the cages look twisted or the internal surface is heavily scored or worn then replace.