Bearing Replacement:

Your main pivot has been equipped with 4 sealed cartridge bearings (3 on Ti models) that offer a smooth ride and minimal maintenance. Over time, your cartage bearings may become worn and allow play or cause your rear end to rotate roughly. In this event, we suggest you replace your cartridge bearings according to the following instructions:

1. Remove your rear wheel.
2. Remove your drive side crank arm.
3. Use a 4mm allen wrench to remove the two Horst-link bolts.
4. Slide dropouts off of the lower swingarm.
5. Remove the 8mm main pivot pin. Be ready to catch the two washers as the pin is removed.
6. Remove the lower swingarm from the front triangle
7. Using a blunt ended punch, tap out the far set of bearings in a top, bottom, left, right pattern.
8. Tap the other set of bearings out of the frame, taking care not to scar the inside of the frame. Do not attempt to re-use the bearings you’ve removed, even if they come out intact.
9. Apply a small amount of grease to the outside edge of the new bearings.
10. Using a vice of press, and a friend to hold your frame still, press in the bearings one at time. Make sure they go in straight and that you’re pressing on both the inner and outer races evenly.
11. Install both bearings on one side of the frame.
12. Re-insert the compression sleeve inside the bearing shell.
13. Press the second set of bearings into your frame.
14. Apply grease to the threads, shaft and head of the 8mm pivot pin.

    Special Note: If you have the stainless steel 6mm solid pivot pin instead of the 6mm hollow aluminum pin, it will be necessary to apply blue locktite to the threads and the head of the main pivot instead of grease.

15. Have your friend hold the swingarm up to the front triangle as you align the washer and insert the pin into the drive side of the swing arm.
16. Align the washer on the non-drive side swingarm and slide the pin through. A gentle tap with a rubber mallet may be necessary, but take care not to hammer the threads into the swingarm on the other side.
17. Tighten the 8mm main pivot pin until snug. Be careful not to over tighten, a standard 3 inch allen tool can generate enough torque to adequately tighten the main pivot bolt. Over tightening may result on crushed bearings.
18. Follow steps 1-4 in reverse for re-assembly.