rear suspension linkage

[dougrs]

I have read a couple threads on the rear suspension linkage....
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2848.0
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=5363.15

I have a few questions still. I am pretty certain it is the linkage/bearings that have just recently started to make a squeaking sound when the suspension is moved. If this is indeed the cause of the sound, can I possibly just add some fresh grease to the existing bearings? If so, is this a task I can likely complete outside ( I don't have a garage at my house and don't like to get into big projects with the bike outside....).

Or should I just plan on replacing on all the bearings? I can do this no problem, just hoping I might be able to avoid it. thanks

[RichBaker]

It's best to take it all apart, clean everything and repack with fresh grease. You could just pull the linkage and grease it, but why not do it right?

[movenon]

Shooting in the dark here because I don't know the tools you have on hand or ability's. My experience doing this job is on a 1990. Basically 89 and up are the same.

The following is out of memory:

Can you do it outside? Yes but I would recommend an area where you can leave the bike unassembled for a day or two if you don't have new bearings on hand. Sometimes stuff happens.... Ever mess a bearing up installing it or receive the wrong bearings...?

Tools:
       Metric wrench's and sockets
       Vice on hand and a drift punch (the bearings are pressed into the relay arm arm and swingarm)
       A can of spray "brake clean" is nice to have on hand
       Grease (I use Yamaha Lube Marine grease) That area is susceptible to a lot of water or any other liquids on the road....
       Clean rags

As for re-greasing them. The answer is yes if they are in good condition.... But you might find one or two with rust and basically in crappy condition.
If that happens you need to replace those bearings.... 4 of the 7 bearings involved are Yamaha only.....   IF you don't have them on hand, then you have a bike parked outside for some undetermined time until you get the bearings... The 4 bearings I mention are a bit over priced for what they are, around 17- 20 dollars each from what I remember.

Most likely the worst bearings (and squeak) will be in the relay arm.

You have to remove the rear wheel.
Remove the swingarm. (actually not to hard to do)
Remove the relay arm. This is the most inconvenient part of the job and of course probably where your problem is. The front bolt holding the relay arm to the frame is the bugger. You have to remove one of the cast AL side plates to pull out the bolt. This is where most of the problems are with rusted out bearings...

Now what I am going to say is NOT the proper way to deal with the problem but if I was in a jam and had no choice I would loosen up the relay arm bolts as best I could and spray in some spayable lube (chain lube?). It will not fix the problem but the squeak might go away.

I would encourage you to find some place where you can take it apart and fix it correctly. To many variables to tear it apart and expect to get it back up and running the same day outside in a driveway or parking lot doing a proper rebuild.

Mods: You can clearance the Al side plate so that next time you don't have to remove it to get access to the relay arm. You can buy longer/wider bearings for the relay arm where it bolts to the frame giving you more bearing area there.

Hope this gives you some insite to doing the job.

George

[dougrs]

George- thanks, very helpful information. Sounds like I will need to plan on replacing at least some of the bearings so I will plan to get the bike in a garage for this project.

[movenon]

George- thanks, very helpful information. Sounds like I will need to plan on replacing at least some of the bearings so I will plan to get the bike in a garage for this project.

Here is picture and aftermarket bearing for the relay arm end that bolts to the frame. This is for a 1990 FJ. The top bearing is the replacement , the bottom is the stock bearing. Note the top bearing is also wider.


George

[ribbert]

It's best to take it all apart, clean everything and repack with fresh grease. You could just pull the linkage and grease it, but why not do it right?

Unlike some places, where you are replacing old grease with new, the CLEANING part needs to be stressed here. Those bearings get a lot or rust and crud in them.

[dougrs]

George- thanks, very helpful information. Sounds like I will need to plan on replacing at least some of the bearings so I will plan to get the bike in a garage for this project.

Here is picture and aftermarket bearing for the relay arm end that bolts to the frame. This is for a 1990 FJ. The top bearing is the replacement , the bottom is the stock bearing. Note the top bearing is also wider.

George

any recommended sources for the bearings, or did you get them locally?

[movenon]

Any local bearing supplier should have them or can get them. Also Type in HK 1816 bearing in Google and you will get a bunch of suppliers. I used VXB and have had real good luck there. http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/PROD/Kit8630.
HK and KOYO are good bearings. (Yamaha uses a lot of KOYO's).
If you are not use to working with bearings the bearing numbers for these thin bearings are usually stamped on the ends. 
George

[dougrs]

I was quickly able to determine which part of the suspension the squeak was coming from today. in the diagram below, it is coming from #9, the cylindrical bearing.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q6h_DnWyGtQ/UhUxgSZfZBI/AAAAAAAAB4g/40QabokqPn4/w738-h553-no/rear+linkage+parts.png

Based on that parts diagram it appears I will need #9 and then 4 of the 3# needle bearings is this correct? I am a little confused because from what I can tell the part that attaches to the frame that George mentioned above does not appear to have bearings based on this parts diagram?

I was able to loosen the bolt, clean up the area, and gets some fresh grease around #9 and this stopped the squeak for now. I will plan on a full servicing soon.

[movenon]

I was quickly able to determine which part of the suspension the squeak was coming from today. in the diagram below, it is coming from #9, the cylindrical bearing.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q6h_DnWyGtQ/UhUxgSZfZBI/AAAAAAAAB4g/40QabokqPn4/w738-h553-no/rear+linkage+parts.png

Based on that parts diagram it appears I will need #9 and then 4 of the 3# needle bearings is this correct? I am a little confused because from what I can tell the part that attaches to the frame that George mentioned above does not appear to have bearings based on this parts diagram?

I was able to loosen the bolt, clean up the area, and gets some fresh grease around #9 and this stopped the squeak for now. I will plan on a full servicing soon.

Bearings #14 are the bearings that attach to the frame (right above the center stand bolts). Bearing #9 is attach's to the shock (kind of a "swivel bearing"). Bearings #3, 2 are in the relay arm and the other two are in the swingarm, they attach the dog bones.  Bearing #3 is Yamaha only. I do not know if bearing #9 is available aftermarket or Yamaha only.

I did not replace the bushings they were not that bad.

When you get time pull the assembly apart clean / inspect and replace as required. Winter project if you can find a garage for a few days.
George

[dougrs]

I was quickly able to determine which part of the suspension the squeak was coming from today. in the diagram below, it is coming from #9, the cylindrical bearing.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q6h_DnWyGtQ/UhUxgSZfZBI/AAAAAAAAB4g/40QabokqPn4/w738-h553-no/rear+linkage+parts.png

Based on that parts diagram it appears I will need #9 and then 4 of the 3# needle bearings is this correct? I am a little confused because from what I can tell the part that attaches to the frame that George mentioned above does not appear to have bearings based on this parts diagram?

I was able to loosen the bolt, clean up the area, and gets some fresh grease around #9 and this stopped the squeak for now. I will plan on a full servicing soon.

Bearings #14 are the bearings that attach to the frame (right above the center stand bolts). Bearing #9 is attach's to the shock (kind of a "swivel bearing"). Bearings #3, 2 are in the relay arm and the other two are in the swingarm, they attach the dog bones.  Bearing #3 is Yamaha only. I do not know if bearing #9 is available aftermarket or Yamaha only.

I did not replace the bushings they were not that bad.

When you get time pull the assembly apart clean / inspect and replace as required. Winter project if you can find a garage for a few days.
George

Great - thanks for the help.