Squeaky swing arm

[blue03]

New to the forum. I have a 03 Fat Boy with 12,000 miles. The rear end squeaks like old bed springs. I am wondering if this is normal or if I need lube on the through bolt. Thanks

[paul_tracyposer]

Originally Posted by blue03

New to the forum. I have a 03 Fat Boy with 12,000 miles. The rear end squeaks like old bed springs. I am wondering if this is normal or if I need lube on the through bolt. Thanks

Mine squeaks too....its the bushings in the rear shocks(usually), underneath, spray some kinda lubricant on the rubber bushings...not too much as to get on the rear tire .


---ptp-----

[Maxum96]

Originally Posted by blue03

New to the forum. I have a 03 Fat Boy with 12,000 miles. The rear end squeaks like old bed springs. I am wondering if this is normal or if I need lube on the through bolt. Thanks

It's most likely the the bolts that connect the shocks to the swing arm. The shoulder (smooth part of the bolt between the threads and the head of the bolt) is supposed to have anti-sieze compound on it. It dries up and then usually causes the squeak. You can pick up the anti-sieze compound at any auto parts store. Remove one bolt at a time and lubricate the shoulder and re-install it. Don't put any of the compound on the threads. The bolt should use a 3/4 wrench to remove. I did mine recently and it took all of about 20 minutes to do both sides.

[blue03]

Originally Posted by Maxum96

It's most likely the the bolts that connect the shocks to the swing arm. The shoulder (smooth part of the bolt between the threads and the head of the bolt) is supposed to have anti-sieze compound on it. It dries up and then usually causes the squeak. You can pick up the anti-sieze compound at any auto parts store. Remove one bolt at a time and lubricate the shoulder and re-install it. Don't put any of the compound on the threads. The bolt should use a 3/4 wrench to remove. I did mine recently and it took all of about 20 minutes to do both sides.

Thanks for the tip. I hadn't thought it was the shocks but it makes sense. I will give it a try. I was thinking of getting some new air shocks anyway, so that might fix the squeak. I really don't want to take the swing arm off to lube anything there.

[blue03]

Originally Posted by paul_tracyposer

Mine squeaks too....its the bushings in the rear shocks(usually), underneath, spray some kinda lubricant on the rubber bushings...not too much as to get on the rear tire .


---ptp-----

Thanks for your input. I guess others have had problems with shocks too, so I will give it a go. It's the easiest things you want to try first. Thanks

[Maxum96]

Originally Posted by blue03

Thanks for the tip. I hadn't thought it was the shocks but it makes sense. I will give it a try. I was thinking of getting some new air shocks anyway, so that might fix the squeak. I really don't want to take the swing arm off to lube anything there.

You don't have to take the swing arm off to lube those bolts. Just take one off at a time, lube it, and reinstall it. Then do the other one. It's about a 20 min job.

[blue03]

Originally Posted by Maxum96

You don't have to take the swing arm off to lube those bolts. Just take one off at a time, lube it, and reinstall it. Then do the other one. It's about a 20 min job.

Thanks for the info. I have a lift and should be able to get the job done myself. Are you talking about the end of the shock that goes through the swing arm itself? That looks like a nut on the end of a shock spindle. What type of anti-cease lube do you recommend?

[Maxum96]

Originally Posted by blue03

Thanks for the info. I have a lift and should be able to get the job done myself. Are you talking about the end of the shock that goes through the swing arm itself? That looks like a nut on the end of a shock spindle. What type of anti-cease lube do you recommend?

Yes, it is the bolts that go through the shocks and bolt into the swing arm. They should use a 3/4 wrench to remove the bolts. Don't take the nuts off the front of the shocks where they're right behind the bottom of the motor. I went to the local auto parts store and picked up a tube of anti-sieze lube for about $2.

[fourhour]

And if that don't get rid of the noise buy new pipes!ennis

[blue03]

Originally Posted by Maxum96

Yes, it is the bolts that go through the shocks and bolt into the swing arm. They should use a 3/4 wrench to remove the bolts. Don't take the nuts off the front of the shocks where they're right behind the bottom of the motor. I went to the local auto parts store and picked up a tube of anti-sieze lube for about $2.

I took everyones advice and took my shocks off, one at a time. I wanted to try the 3 ea. 7/16" washer stack up going back on to lower the bike. I coated the bolts and the rubber cups on the forward end with anti-seize C5A. The squeaks went away and the bike was noticably lower. The only problem with the 3 washers was that the thread engagement on the shocks was below the nut, which did not make me confident in the integrity of the shocks. I rode around on the lowered stock shocks and felt every pebble and bump. The ride was not what I expected. It was cool being lower, but not at the expense of my back. Well, I switched back to stock height shocks and no squeaks. So thanks all of you who helped..