*Rear Suspension Arm Failures* PLEASE READ
- Thread starter JSP
- Start date
pigdog
New member
i got an e-mail from NHTSA after reporting this problem & they will stay in contact. please contact them & voice your concerns so we can move forward to correct this deadly defect. we all need to act now. those of us with pics of any rubbing, cracks, or bent parts should be included with your complaint. thanks.
master paper clip
New member
Have to take a good look at mine tomorrow
Here is mine
I just checked mine and it looks like 97audia4's. The arm doesn't look bent, just some light scuffing on the right side of the swingarm connection point.
30,000km of normal street riding, I'm 75kg and never carried a pillion.
alexk
Weekend Rider
Mine looks OK still, but I'd be interested in some data gathering. If you've had some warpage/damage of the part, please do post some info:
For me it would be:
Bike: US 2013 FZ8-N (not CA)
Miles: 7,085 (11,402km)
Rider weight: 240lbs geared (109 kg)
Max including passenger: 410lbs geared (186 kg)
Significant events: no crashes, drops, major potholes, etc.
Suspension:
Please note, I'm still fine - I'm just trying to gather some ideas as to what might be causing this. Ideas I'm floating:
For me it would be:
Bike: US 2013 FZ8-N (not CA)
Miles: 7,085 (11,402km)
Rider weight: 240lbs geared (109 kg)
Max including passenger: 410lbs geared (186 kg)
Significant events: no crashes, drops, major potholes, etc.
Suspension:
Stock
Rear preload: max
Front preload: +4.5 flats (not sure how to measure this)
Damping: factory settings
Static sag: 41mm front / 41mm rear
Rear preload: max
Front preload: +4.5 flats (not sure how to measure this)
Damping: factory settings
Static sag: 41mm front / 41mm rear
Please note, I'm still fine - I'm just trying to gather some ideas as to what might be causing this. Ideas I'm floating:
- Spring/damping too soft, causing it to bottom out
- Preload too high for rider, increasing momentary shock
- Wrong metal provided by supplier (any metallurgists watching?)
07cobaltLScoupe
New member
welp just checked mine and it looks like it's starting to slightly rub on the right side, you can see the scoring in the metal
2012 FZ8
currently at 2460 miles or so
i'm 6'2" 150lbs
all stock suspension, only mods are in my sig. here's a pic
2012 FZ8
currently at 2460 miles or so
i'm 6'2" 150lbs
all stock suspension, only mods are in my sig. here's a pic
The suspension settings are irrelevant as is the weight, unless grossly overloaded. As the owner of a new bike this should be the last thing you should be thinking about! I may look harder at the FZ 09 for my next bike now with this going on.....
My best guess is the parts were faulty metallurgy wise, otherwise I would think this would be more widespread. The piece also looks a bit under engineered ie; too thin.
I did some further investigations today and I'm happy to report that everything is perfectly normal and there is no impending doom. With my bike anyway.
I took my relay arms off and had a look. They are both perfectly straight, not bent and no sign of cracking. They do have some wear marks where they have been rubbing against the swing arm mount and dog bone though.
The rubbing on the swing arm and dog bone is normal because there are no thrust washers on the bearings. So it's possible to move the relay arms from side to side because the bearing inner races can slide from side to side through the bearings. This means that the relay arms will rub against all the other linkage components.
It seems like a really dumb design from Yamaha as, over time, the swing arm mount and dog bone will wear but that's the way they've designed it. I've never checked if there has been any side to side play in the suspension linkage of any of my other bikes but if they didn't have thrust washers then I suspect there was.
I took my relay arms off and had a look. They are both perfectly straight, not bent and no sign of cracking. They do have some wear marks where they have been rubbing against the swing arm mount and dog bone though.
The rubbing on the swing arm and dog bone is normal because there are no thrust washers on the bearings. So it's possible to move the relay arms from side to side because the bearing inner races can slide from side to side through the bearings. This means that the relay arms will rub against all the other linkage components.
It seems like a really dumb design from Yamaha as, over time, the swing arm mount and dog bone will wear but that's the way they've designed it. I've never checked if there has been any side to side play in the suspension linkage of any of my other bikes but if they didn't have thrust washers then I suspect there was.
Gem rod
New member
welp just checked mine and it looks like it's starting to slightly rub on the right side, you can see the scoring in the metal
2012 FZ8
currently at 2460 miles or so
i'm 6'2" 150lbs
all stock suspension, only mods are in my sig. here's a pic
Mine has this too. On the LHS there appears to be a small gap so no abrasion can occur there. Will greasing help? I realise that will attract dirt but can't think what else would work?
07cobaltLScoupe
New member
well from what Garry said the link is able to slide on that bottom bolt from side to side so greasing wouldn't really help. the only thing that will help is to put a washer on each side of the link to keep the space even on both sides but i haven't looked at mine good enough to see if that's possible. maybe i'll get a chance to look later on today or Garry can chime in again and say if it's possible to be spaced with washers or not
Gem rod
New member
OK - at least it's all accessible. There does appear to be enough threads to get a washer on. Is the nut some kind of self-locking type?
FZ8Ryder
New member
I was looking into info on the problem and I found these if anyone is interested.
Yamaha FZ8 lowering kit | FZ-8 lowering kit - Only 54.95 + postage! for FZ8 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 | LustRacing.co.uk
Yamaha FZ8 lowering kit | FZ-8 lowering kit - Only 54.95 + postage! for FZ8 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 | LustRacing.co.uk