rear wheel dampers

[6adan]

 I have the rear wheel off for a tire change and service. The dampers have some back and forth looseness in them. Should there be any play be in dampers?

[pancho]

Get yourself some new ones, you will appreciate how smooth the bike will feel. The less play in the drive train, the smoother it will be.

[..]

Buy the all in one units for an I/S if you have a standard or tourer. Cheaper.

[Jess from VA]

Buy the all in one units for an I/S if you have a standard or tourer. Cheaper.

I believe the all-in-one dampers for interstate have now superseded the original parts for standard and tourer, which were in two parts (the rubbers and the grommets separate).

If yours are still in good shape and not crumbling, some have shoved strips or rubber inner tube in them to snug them up, but I'd rather have new.  Also, make sure to get the cover plate on correctly (upside down is wrong).