1980 KDX 175 Suspension Link Bearing

[mikeikedc]

This one is a little down in the weeds..... I needed to replace the sleeve bearing in the center of the horizontal suspension arm. I found one at a Kawasaki dealer (NOS I assume). The outer part of the bearing pressed into the arm ok. The inner race is very snug when I insert it. I can get it in with my hands just barely and I can't make it turn with my fingers. The outer race appears to be lined with teflon. Seems to me that the bolt is just going to turn inside the inner race instead of the bearing. Anyone have experience with this type of thing?

[david]

The outer race may be too tight in the arm. There may have been some corrosion or a deformation of the arm or just a tolerance difference in the bearing shell. Getting the bearing back out of the arm without destroying it would be the trick, or you can try to polish the inner piece with some emery cloth while mounted on a drill (you would have to get creative). It definitely needs to rotate smoothly in order to work properly.

[mikeikedc]

Thanks for the response. I ground out some of the liner in the larger bearing until it would move freely. Must have just been old. Risk you take buying NOS.