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[ltank]

I am reworking my 98 Road King. I am inspecting all the chassis bearings and wheels. My question is should I replace the Swingarm bearings with the stock or use the other aftermarket bushings or bearings. The others increase vibration a lot but they claim to prevent the lateral movement that cause the Death Wobble?  Pros?
Cons? Of stock vs aftermarket. Thanks

[Twolanerider]

"How much you willing to change here" is the first question.  The upgrades over the original bits are marginal improvements.  Improvements yes, but I never felt they helped tremendously.

If I'm working over a swingarm on an 01 and back touring bike I either just do it (relatively) inexpensively and use good replacements for the stock stuff.  The option to that for me is to upgrade the swingarm to the better swingarm from the 02 to 08 bikes.

Have seen too many of the old swingarms twist or even break.  It's really not an uncommon thing at all.  If someone is rebuilding the ass end of a touring bike I always try to convince them to at least consider this retrofit.

Be forewarned; it's not the easiest of chores.  It's an all day on a Saturday kind of task the first time you do one.

You'd need the swingarm, a 1" rear axle, and new wheel bearings and bearing spacer.  You'll also need either access to a drill press and a 1" bit to bore out the hole in the caliper mounting bracket or an 02 and newer caliper as well.  There's also a difference up front where the fork shaft goes through the transmission.  The older bikes use a smaller OD shaft than do the new bikes.  You DO NOT try to make a long bore or hone through the transmission housing to use the newer larger OD shaft.  There are bushing kits to make this part straightforward and do double duty as also being the new and improved bearings/blocks/sleeves/whatever (depending on what parts you buy) for the swingarm attachment.  I've most commonly used a kit from a place called Sta-Bo (it's their sta-bo III) kit but there are others.

All this will gain you best overall improvement.  It is more work though.  And more cash.  All the improved bearings, spacers, bushings or whatever else you might do at the front of the swingarm won't help a tiny bit when stuff like this happens at the ass end though.

[Twolanerider]

Ooops, one more thing.  Some of the old wheels accept the large spacer for the 1" axle.  Some don't though.  For me it's a craps shoot.  I've done it as many times that the wheel was fine as that it was not.  If not you can machine the wheel too.  Big bit and a large drill press and it's done.  I've got the bit if you want to borrow it.  It is not something you'll do with a hand drill though.  Don't even try.

[ltank]

My local shop had rework the rear of the Swingarm that was slightly
Mine in not as bad as the one in the pic. I would have thought that with the correct Swingarm bearings I could have used the late Swingarm with a smaller diameter shaft of the earlier transmission.
I don't want to drill out the pivot point in the case. Harley no longer makes them. The only way to get one is to buy a used transmission.

[Twolanerider]

My local shop had rework the rear of the Swingarm that was slightly
Mine in not as bad as the one in the pic. I would have thought that with the correct Swingarm bearings I could have used the late Swingarm with a smaller diameter shaft of the earlier transmission.
I don't want to drill out the pivot point in the case. Harley no longer makes them. The only way to get one is to buy a used transmission.

There is zero need to bore the case or buy a new shaft.  Use the original .625" shaft and the Sta-bo III kit.  That solves all the problems up front to use the newer swingarm in the older bike. 

The other kit I know to accomplish the same thing is something from Drag.  It is Drag # 1302-0257.  For reasons both tangible and a little intangible I actually prefer the Drag Kit over the Sta-Bo III kit.  It's a small perception though and I can't say I've ever "felt" a noticeable difference in how either ride out after the work is done.  I've installed the Sta-Bo kit more often only because it costs a little less and it's easier to do.

Link to the Drag kit here:  http://www.dragspecialties.com/products/?productId=414315&partNumber=13020257

Link to the StaBo site here:  http://www.sta-bo.com/products/

[ltank]

I bought a 2002 swingarm and will buy the CCE updated bearings to replace the Cleave Blocks. I bought a Brembo rear caliper and mounting bracket. I was told by my local shop that they could make axle spacers to fit everything.  Oh yeah I gotta get a 11.8" rotor and may have to enlarge the center hole of the rotor.

[Twolanerider]

I bought a 2002 swingarm and will buy the CCE updated bearings to replace the Cleave Blocks. I bought a Brembo rear caliper and mounting bracket. I was told by my local shop that they could make axle spacers to fit everything.  Oh yeah I gotta get a 11.8" rotor and may have to enlarge the center hole of the rotor.

You only need to make one spacer.  The spacer between the swingarm and the wheel.  The left side you can use the stock spacer.  I may have one left though.  Made up 20 a couple years ago when I did the Brembo change to both of mine.  Will check tomorrow to see if there's one left.

You'll still have to bore the axle hole in the caliper mounting bracket.  Brembo bikes had the 25mm axle.  You'll need to run a 1" bit through the center hole. 

______________________________________

Ok, just checked in the shop.  Do have one of those spacers left.  $10 will have it at your door!

Also checked to see if I had any more of the caliper mounting brackets already bored and honed to size.  No luck there.