Motorcycle Repair: My swingarm is crooked?, swing arm, bolt


Question
87 Softail

The other day I noticed I was taking bumps rather hard.I thought maybe my shocks were no longer any good. That night in my garage I put a light under the frame to take a look and noticed something scary. My left shock was not mounted to the swingarm assembly. It seems the head of the bolt snapped where the shock mounts to the swing arm. There doesnt seem to be any damage to the shock or the swingarm. I had to drill out the bad bolt but I still have a problem. It seems my swingarm is slightly cocked to the right. Because of this remounting the shock is impossible. I am short by 2 inches. I measured the curve of the swingarm to the frame on both sides and I did find a difference.

How is it the swingarm is crooked? Could I have bent the axle for the swingarm?

Answer
I think I would pull the swingarm and do an inspection on it. I have never seen a axle on a swingarm bend, but its not impossible. The shock on  the bad bold side might be damaged too, so I think I would replace them while you hae it apart.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike