So having spent the last hour arsing round with a new rocker on my ST4 that won't fit...
So the questions:
1. Why do we use bearings on pivots on FS bikes?
They only move a few degrees and are subjected to big side loads. As I understand it cassette style ball bearings are best used when the loading is purely rotational, and the few degrees they move is asking for premature wear of one area of the bearing surface / balls.
Would bushings (like Turner?) or needle bearings or even cup n cone be better? or a hybrid bushing at an angle or curve?
2. Why are they designed to be press fit / fit only when any of thdimensions are perfect?
All pivots I have seen get rammed in against the paintwork, not bare metal. Not accurate(?). Why do we not face pivot surfaces on frames?
Any slack means replacement, not adjustment - so why do we not have an adjustment system (e.g. my old Sub5 you could snug up the swingarm clamps a bit if needed. Surely there is a simple system (like cup n cone) that could take up slack / be adjusted to allow for a mm or so difference in frame size or alignment?
3. Why do we rely on a single bolt at each rotating pivot?
Again, my limited home mechanical knowledge say (like a cup n cone bearing) you should have opposing bolt / nut to tighten down onto and prevent the rotation of the bearing from undoing the nut or bolt.
Come on STW, can we redesign these things?

