Excessive play on Swingarm and Shock absorber bones

[boosabuser]

My Mot blokes ( Friendly local Suzuki dealer)  said the same but also stressed that Although "they are obliged to advise" not to stress about it, if they find any play no matter how small they have to report it
Veek AL4  22K

Got it back on friday Gleaming! And fully ACF'd at no extra cost 
Result

[stuggyzx10]

I also have a little bit of play in mine but only up and down...this I believe is normal on this type of suspension set up

[sharealike]

There will always be some play. Six individual pivots in series adds up to 0.5mm with brand new bearings. Magnify this by the length of the swing arm its easily 2.5mm or more up and down at the rear wheel.

I'm all for dismantling every few years to check the seals and grease to keep the road muck and corrosion out. Changing bearings and the sleeves they run on is costly and gives little or no benefit unless you find one that's let the weather in.
If concerned they will fail it or make advisories take
the main stand off for the test. Tester will struggle to get a good feel then. Quote the above bearings in series line if they get picky.

[Flanners]

Just had an advisory for this on my 2015 DL1000;

"Rear Suspension rod pin, bush or joint worn but not resulting in excessive movement Slight play in joints on dog bone roller bearings."


having spoken to the Tech at the Suzuki Dealer who did my MoT and reading this thread I am not overly concerned as he said play was minimal but had to be noted, would appear to be TADTS or at least most; nature of the design.

[vstroman]

This video shows the whole process, a job I need to do and it would pass some of these long January evenings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5EHTaK8Jws&list=PLefQD82ckEbz88R8mCLyBNeQlKPvB0CdM&index=10

[porter]

I found when I changed the rear shock any up and down play I had disappeared. The Wilbers shock has two rubber bushes, top and bottom where as the oe shock has one rubber bush at the top and a needle roller bearing at the bottom. Plus I always load the suspension linkage before I tighten it up fully.

[vstroman]

That's interesting, a Wilbers shock would be a great suspension improvement as well as maybe removing some free play in the swing arm into the bargain.

[porter]

Exactly the Wilbers shock is a bit of a disappointment. If I was to do it again I'd buy a different make.
 Not sure it would be as successful in removing any play on a 650 or the older 1000 as I think they have a rubber bush on both shock ends. Not sure why the 2014 on 1000 has a needle roller bearing in the shock, never seen that before.

[Artyman]

I had the all the bearings and sleeves replaced on my 14 DL1000 in November before she went into hibernation. The parts alone cost £180. I was pretty shocked at the cost. The bikes mileage was 35k.

[Flanners]

Have you seen if there is any play since? I have read that some who have had the re-fresh have had the play once again within a few hundred miles? Nice to have it all sorted though.

[mr_diver]

I changed all the linkage and swing arm bearing on the Varadero - cost about £65 and had a mate with a slide hammer help me knock them out and new ones in.

Lower shock mount needs to be done, but I was toying with the idea of a new shock, so skimped out.