R11GS lower rear shock bush.

[desert dweller]

my lower rear shock bush is caned. anyone replaced one? i am told you need to take the swingarm out and use a press to get the shock bush out, bit of a hassle.
i would prefer to do it without taking the swingarm out but don't want to get halfway and find myself stuck.
cheers,
andy.

[Margus]

Do you mean the bolt that fixes the shock to the swingarm?

If so then you do not need to remove the swingarm to remove it, in fact what ever job you need to do on your shock removing swingarm is absolutely NOT needed.

Depending on your setup (aftermarket shock and/or aftermarket exhaust) you may need to remove the exhaust muffler to install or remove your rear shock.

Good roads, Margus

[desert dweller]

yes thanks margus, but it's the bush i need to replace. i've replaced the bolt and/or had the shock out several times each over the years.
any help would be appreciated.
cheers,
andy.

[Gecko]

What bush ? I was just looking at the service manual and there doesn't seem to be one ....? I can't see a bush listed on the parts list either. I can email you a schematic if you want - it's too large to post up here. PM me an email address and I'll send it to you.
Cheers
Gecko

[Margus]

Hi guys,

So it's the rubber part that holds the bolt(?)

Like Marc says not much about it in manuals.

But in any case this should be a doable DIY job and probably doable w/o removing the swingarm - maybe try to heat it with heat gun (the part of swingarm will expand and rubber gets softer) and kick it out with bush first? In theory the (hard) rubber part should be glued into the swingarm hole (I may stand corrected). If so then it's the matter how much raw-force you need to get it out without damaging anything else (more straight-to-the-point method would be just to drill it out with correct diameter of drill). It might be a little bit easier doing it while the swingarm is taken off, but I guess not much if you know what you're doing - you have a relatively easy access to it when the exhaust is taken off.

Once it's off you must do some research puting a new one in - if you can get the correct part from BMW or not (if not I'm sure you can manufacture one yourself with a right diameter tube and a hard rubber part) and what glue to use to make it fixed again. No point on buying a new swingarm because of the worn bush part.

Just my 2c.

Take care, Margus