Hi, this should'nt happen in the real world, but are you using 1/2 in drive stuff, I only ever use 3/8 sockets and ratchets, because of the lower torque settings for most motorcycle bolts. and always hex sockets so you don't round off the corners. I've had my shock linkage off several times and not had this problem, maybe someone overtightened them before you got it. most Jap m/c bolts are fine thread, these being 10mm x 1.25 I think, but stand corrected, no doubt the God of the Fazer (sorry Mike, how are you BTW?) would tell us. Replacements are cheap, but probably unobtainable until next week, which is no help, maybe the local hardware shop has some similar, just so long as they are high grade steel. hope this is of some help. Pete..