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400EX front end - gone wrong
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Posted by: JohnT_98300EX

Well I got together all the parts
a Arms with hubs / spindles complete, tie rods, shocks, and KidsOnQuads shock relocator
It all came together FAIRLY well, straight forward parts swapping. Then I stepped back and looked from the front. Both tires tip in at the top by at least an inch, maybe an inch and a half.
The things that did go wrong all seem to revolve around the shock bracket. It took a lot of grinding to make it fit. The top shock mount would not allow the shock eye to go up far enough, grinder area number 1. The bottom mount bracket had to be ground to clear the frame gussets. My first impression of what may fix it all is that the bracket needs to have a bit more rise and just a little bit more width. Plus I had to hack up my fender support to clear the bracket. To be honest it appears that the bracket design is junk.
Any ideas?
The only good news is that the added travel and the such improved the ride a lot.

Posted by: Cody_300ex

Run a-arms designed for the quad. That usually helps.

Posted by: 300maniac

Hey Cody do you still have those gdh a arms?

Posted by: markvette

the 400 a-arms do that on a 300. has nothing to do with the shock bracket. that is why it is best to buy after market 400 a-arms. they are adjustable and you can straighten the tires up. you can find them used pretty cheap. i have denton 400ex plus 2's on my sons.

Mark

Posted by: TRX-330

Thats why i got the 250r arms=adjustable uppers.

Posted by: JohnT_98300EX

thank you to some for helpful replies. I guess I should have researched more.
I can't picture myself running it with that amount of camber but I do have an idea or 2 to remedy the situation.

Posted by: Cody_300ex

quote:
Originally posted by 300maniac
Hey Cody do you still have those gdh a arms?

I sure do.

Posted by: JohnT_98300EX

I found a set of 250r uppers locally. With 2 shims on each ball joint the camber is pretty much the same. That will be fairly easy to adjust with a few more shims.
It took more time and swearing than I thought it would to get it aligned.

Posted by: hondarider110

[QUOTE][i]\Plus I had to hack up my fender support to clear the bracket. To be honest it appears that the bracket design is junk.
Any ideas?
-------

should of bought a jb with the brackets on the relocater

Posted by: JohnT_98300EX

hondarider,
yep and that does suck having to hack that support. Have to fix that today also.I hate it when $h1+ rattles.If I were to do it again or if someone asked me I'ld go with that other design bracket.

Posted by: doughwarrior

To easily fix the problem of the top of your tires tipping in with all the 400ex stuff. Simply use the 300ex spindles, and hubs. I have built 2 300ex TT bikes with these arms. Find a Diamond J Customs shock relocator bracket, and use 400ex/250r shocks. I use the works triple rate steelers. very good combo.

Posted by: JohnT_98300EX

Now that I have it worked out things are fine. I ended up getting 250R upper a arms and using unilug type wheel spacers in addition to what was on the ball joints to get my camber right.
Now it handles well, rides better than it did stock and looks good. The one and only draw back is that it takes more room to turn around. (wider turning radius) That small trade off is worth it.
I still have my 300 arms and spindles. I have thought about using the spindles so that I can use the neat rock guards that the 300 spindles have.