The next time you service your shock, take a moment to inspect the DU bushing/shock reducer interface.  The fact that many times special tools are necessary to remove the reducers from the bushings is big clue that this is high friction pivot point on your frame.  With the reducers removed, you may be surprised at the signs of wear inside the DU bushing and the scoring you may find on the part of the reducers that interface with the bushing.  You may even find wear on the rocker arms, indicating that the hardware is rotating in the wrong place.  

 

Our NEEDLE BEARING CONVERSION KITS are a new, better way of doing things.  Our top quality hardened steel needle bearing takes the place of the DU bushing.  The needle bearing is matched with a hardened, polished inner ring (axle) that, when used with the supplied spacers, is a perfect fit between the swing link shock mounts.  When the shock hardware is tightened, the needle bearing axle is locked into place.  No side loading is applied to the bearing or the shock body in any way.  Sealed spacers center the shock and protect the bearing.

 

This Nomad 1 & 1.5 specific needle bearing kit answers the question, "How do I use your needle bearing kit with the 3/8" hardware on my Nomad 1?"  The NBKRWCSCNOM1 kit includes all new hardware and adapters to convert the swing link mount from a DU bushing system to our needle bearing system.  

 

The most critical location on these frames is the swing link shock mount, as that is where the most rotation takes place.  Very little rotation takes place at the fixed frame mount (other end of the shock) so a needle bearing kit is not recommend for that end of the shock.