GS Rear Drive Pivot Bearings

[GRAHAMM]

Hello All

1992 R100GS

While servicing the splines I found my rear pivot bearings (#4 in diag) a bit "notchy" I remember seeing alternatives out there that might be more "robust"... can I ask for your experience on this matter before I make a decision on what to replace these with? As I recall I remember seeing an add stating their tapered bushings are better compared to the stock roller bearings.

[Visian]

There is a bit of controversy over this issue, centered on whether the brass bushings score and move on the pins that hold them in the swingarm housing.

I don't know if this has been hashed out here, but it has on ADVrider.

It appears to boil down to how well you follow the instructions for installing them. Using the correct thread locking product and torquing/adjusting procedures is critical.

I ran them in my 1150GS for about 20k miles and they did well. However, my dealer, who installed them at my request, said that I should go back to stock when I put on a new final drive (the drive was out on for preventative reasons). The bushings had the most minor of scoring on the outer surface... It caused me no concern, but the dealer was wary.

So that's what I did, since the first set lasted 73k miles.

This is not to say the brass bushings are not good, or that the stock bearings are better, just that I tend to listen to my dealer and have had success with the stockers.

Ian

[20774]

It seems that the bushing is the way to go:

http://rubberchickenracinggarage.com/bushings.html