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Is your's eating them with alarming frequency too? Tried a cheap bush, a normal one and a 'heavy duty' nylon one. The latter has lasted a dryish Gt black, a gloopy Gt red (mingin off-piste stuff), a wet Kirroughtree, wet Ae and a soaking Mabie - it's now starting to go sloppy again. Not sure if it's just the crappy weather we've been having, but it's really beginning to get on my thrupenny bits!
P.S. to the STW gnar-core, admire that list of trail centre goodness 😉
Had my 2010 Anthem X for almost a year and did loads of miles on it. Replaced the suspension bearings when a couple got a bit noisy but the shock bushes never needed replacing.
You have seen how shonky mine are. I suspect my top hats are worn too.
there's a good point, might swap out the top hats for a stainless pin setup
Yep - Anthem and Reign have had the same issue. I've had Loco look into it, the consensus is that the pivot bolt that goes through the bottom eyelet wears, which causes play in the shock, which in turn wears out the bushes.
It should be said that the Anthem and Reign both do a lot of miles each week, probably more in a month than the average rider would do in the year - so it's exacerbated.
DU bush is a standard item round your local bearing supplier, less than £1.
The cost isn't really the issue, it's just the PITA that is removing the shock from the Maestro linkage after a few long rides to replace the bushes.
RWS needle bearing kit - problem solved
Replaced the DU bush twice in my two years with an Anthem X , also replaced the pivot bushes twice in the same time, great bike the Anthem but mine anyway went through bearings.
Mine eats bushings too, half a dozen sessions around the chase, throw in a little moisture and the buggers are ready for a swap....
Are the RWC needle bearings worth the investment?
It's the movement in the lower eyelet that doesn't have a du bush, moving and causing accelerated wear in the top du bush and spacers, as Rickon said.
Check the bottom axle/bolt for wear it may need changing at the same time replace the upper DU bushes and spacers with heavy duty items and this should keep everything running smoothly for a while, it's also worth checking the rear end bearings at the same time.
Thanks for the advice Loco, I just had my RP2 off at the weekend for service. I didnt notice any wear, but to be honest i wasnt really looking for it.
Although i did damage one of the edges of the silver bushes in the top of the RP2, put it in the vice so i could turn the sleve, didnt notice that the bearing wasn't in the vice jaws fully.
The rear end does creak a bit, so assuming there is some wear somewhere..
Ultimately are you saying the RWC needle bearings aren't worth it?
Cheers