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Rear suspension linkage service

L

LEGS

This is a job i've been meaning to do for ages, so i'm going to remove the rear suspension linkage on my 02 R and give it a good service and relube as it's never neen touched. I'm going to use 2 axle stands and a metal bar through the swingarm pivot on the frame to support the bike then remove the rear wheel to gain access to the rear linkage.

From here it appears to be a simple unbolting proceedure. Is it just a case of removing the pins and rollers and cleaning and regreasing? Is there anything i should be looking out for or need to do? How much play should there be if any? Any tips much appreciated :thumbup
 
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you may have to drop the exhaust 2" (no need to undo the headers)to get to the bolt at the back........use a tray as the pins can fall out....i cleaned mine with parafin and regreased it all and put new seals on (cant remember where i got them from now but not aprilia ones).....easy job but just take ya time

Mine is an 04 bike but its nearly the same
 
Legs, as you know I've done this one a while ago. :thumbup

It's a dead simple job, no mechanical knowledge needed at all for this task. Once it's supported on the axle stands and the swing arm has no weight on it you can simply unbolt the linkage set up and remove for inspection. (I placed a small block under the rear tyre so that it didn't drop when I undid the last bolt)

Don't forget that there's a bearing in the swing arm mount point too! LOL (I speak from experience)

Check the centre spacers for any marks, if it has been marked then replace the spacer, bearings and seals, if the bearings are dry or feel gritty when spun up then bin them. If I'm honest, seeing as you have it out mate just replace the bearings, seals and spacers.

Check out my thread here for links to those cheap bearings and seals etc.... Just for the record I have done about 2700 miles since fitting these bearings and they are still spot on.

Freeplay, yes it will have a very small amount of freeplay, just a couple of thou mate to allow for expansion etc... If it has a distinct amount evident - 1mm then it needs an overhaul.

The old bearings can be a bugger to get out, I used copious amounts of WD40 and gently heated the dogbone link and they came out eventually. You'll find it easier to remove and install them if you make up a small puller using a piece of threaded bar and various sized spacers.

Unless you're lucky enough to have access to a press that is?

HTH
 
Cheers guys.

I'm hoping all will be well and it will just need a clean and lube. I may get some new oil seals anyway. Simply Bearings stock the correct size which appears to be 18x24x3. Amb are these springless seals?

Also what size are the needle bearings ?
 
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LEGS said:
Cheers guys.

I'm hoping all will be well and it will just need a clean and lube. I may get some new oil seals anyway. Simply Bearings stock the correct size which appears to be 18x24x3. Amb are these springless seals?

Also what size are the needle bearings ?
Click to expand...

If all's well with the bearings I'd still recommend you flush them out with paraffin and re-grease.

Yep, 18x24x3 is spot on mate and yes I'd recommend using the R21/SC seals as they have the garter spring for support. :thumbup

They never had the correct size seals when I did mine, the 4mm thick ones still fit as you can just push the bearing in another .5mm either side to accommodate the fatter seal.

Can't remember the size of the individual rollers but you can't get them separately anyhow. If monies no object and you're in no rush to get the bike back up and running then you are defo best off using the HK1812V bearings which you can only get from Aprilia.
 
LEGS said:
This is a job i've been meaning to do for ages, so i'm going to remove the rear suspension linkage on my 02 R and give it a good service and relube as it's never neen touched. I'm going to use 2 axle stands and a metal bar through the swingarm pivot on the frame to support the bike then remove the rear wheel to gain access to the rear linkage.

From here it appears to be a simple unbolting proceedure. Is it just a case of removing the pins and rollers and cleaning and regreasing? Is there anything i should be looking out for or need to do? How much play should there be if any? Any tips much appreciated :thumbup
Click to expand...


Take loads of photos during the process and post a 'how to' on this forum.

DT
 
Good luck! mine are all in pieces over the garage floor. They are uncaged and will fall apart! All three roller were shot, I think I paid about £80 from Southern Cross for new bearings, seals and rollers. They were all in stock and I didn't have time to hunt around for a better deal. Check the dogbone and side plates for wear. I bought some M6 Grease nipples and will be fitting to the dogbone. The swingarm bearing will have to wait
 
to bring an old thread back to life a little, I've just replaced the bearings, seals and collars in my dogbone with those from a cbr600rr. Why you may ask, well because i had a new one left over from a lowering kit and mine were totally shot! As separate parts they do not fit, but as an assembly they are a direct swap over. The main differences are that it is one long, caged needle bearing as opposed to 2 smaller bearings and the collar is about .5 mm narrower in diameter than the standard one.
 
not sure how much the aprilia ones are, it was just that i had these kicking around and they cost me nothing!
 
Hi there,
Ive just found out that my dogbone and triangles to swingarm bearings are all knackered and the inner sleeves that the pins go through :angry
So my bikes in bits.
Ive read this thread and im a bit lost about what bearings and seals to get.
Could anyone offer some help/advice please.
 
Well ive not had any relpies to my little plea for help :roll
Anyway, the kit in the link i posted is for 2nd gen models so the double connecting rod pins that the bolts go through wont fit :angry

Ive ordered seals from simply bearings http://simplybearings.co.uk/ R21/SC type. Thanks AREESSMILL wherever you are :thumbup
The bearings 18X24x12 from evilbay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HK1812-NEEDLE-ROLLER-BEARING
Ive had to order genuine Aprilia double connecting rod pins from Aprilia Yorkshire
 
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The stock HK 1812 bearings in your ebay listing will work but can have a shorter life as they are not the same as the Aprilia version. The oem version is custom made for Aprilia and has no cage and twice as many needle rollers as the normal version (Full Compliment).

Very early on aprilia used the caged version but they can twist due to the loads on them which is why they redesigned their own version. Make sure you check and regrease them every now and then as it's the best way to keep them sweet and spot any potential problems. (at least once a year)

Full Compliment version
images
 
Doing mine today, started to squeak on my last run out hoping its just a matter of clean and grease as I'm out on it the weekend :) looking at it though its not great.. looks like it has never been done before :( I've only had the bike 4 weeks and wasnt looking forward to taking a spanner to it soo soon.
Thanks to RSV zone and the handy tips on here I would of probably stripped the back end to do it..now i know better :)
 
Ive just been out and taken my linkage apart after seeing this thread again.
I was just curious to see how the bearings and seals had performed.
Im pleased to report that theyre still in great condition.
There was still grease in there but put some fresh stuff in and re-assembled.
Jobs a good un :thumbup

For the price of the bearings and seals i wouldnt mind if i had to replace them every two years, but lets hope they last longer than that.
 
OH Great!! removed the linkage and there all knackered..I dont think they've every been done..had to WD40 the pin (swingarm) to get it to move and remove it..some bearing fell out the others rusted solid..linkage same..no riding this weekend:angry
 
There are plenty of shock links on ebay, just check they are the same length. My ohlins is 130mm centres but most standard are 120mm I think. Just ask em if the bearings are allright and then give em a grease. I had to put new bearings in mine as I could'nt get a 130mm linkage which has the bigger pin as well. Like yours they were totally rusted and most of he needles fell out and i don't think they had ever been greased. Try MARKSMAN BEARINGS as he knows he's aprilia bearing stuff as he sells headstock sets as well. Good luck
 
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