800GS shock bolt design flaw?

[jttele]

Originally Posted by Indy Unlimited

Most likely needle bearings are shot.
I am recommending moly paste for lubrication these days.
Post pics and PM me for any parts you need for free.

I have seen a few shafts over heat treated and have brittle flaking failure that can damage the needle bearings.
Since you ride 2 up loaded a lot and mostly off road that is the toughest loading on the shock mounts.

Well it's probably overkill, but I got an extra needle bearing to put in the top shock mount to share the load so now it has three bearings instead of the two in the Indy kit. The two outside bearings stick out about 2mm, but the running surface of the needles is still well inside the bore of the shock they're inserted into. This is on a stock shock by the way. The bearings might not even be the problem for Snowy, but I guess we'll see soon enough.