Idea to modify a-arm bushings

Found my front bottom bushings were junk again after not to many miles on them. So I got to thinking there has to be a better way and came up with this idea with some Honda parts I had laying around. I took the stock RZR bushing and cut some off the end to compensate for the thickness of the end caps cut a grove around the inside for the gasket to cover about half the bushing and half the a-arm, then the end cap fits over all of it. I thought if it keeps some of the mud and crap from getting in there they might last longer. I figure it can't be any worse then the stock set up. What do you guys think?

I don't know if it will help at all, but anything is worth a try. Nothing can suck worse than the factory setup.

Looks good. What happens to the excess from greasing?

good idea, keep us posted on what happens

I was thinking about welding extra tabs to the frame so I could do away with the bushings and run cheap heim joints from Summit Racing. I don't know how long they would last, or how noisy they would be. It would cost alot of money and time to do it. They kind of money that would buy a whole lot of bushings. I'm just so sick of working on it instead of riding.

They dealer that has sold me the last 3 Popo's is in Vegas this weekend for the big Polaris convention. He said he is gonna get ahold of some of the engineers there and give them an ear full. I told him to let them know just how pissed some of us are getting over stupid stuff like those bushings. Hopefully they will listen!!!

I know we run these things very hard in the worst conditions, but I run my 450 rhino harder than the rzr because I have to in order to keep up. I don't have as many miles on the rhino, but I have beat on it hard on enough rides that I know the rzr bushings and ball joints would have been toast. I can deal with the ball joints. The bushings get under my skin a little. But, those freakin driveshaft yokes just piss me off! I've had to ride the 450 for the last month, and beat the crap out of it. Don't handle as good, steering wheel position is like a tractor, seats are to high, no suspension travel...but it's ready to go again right now. I'm just a few beers away from selling the rzr and doing some custom work to the rhino, and riding it while someone learns how to build a sport sxs with acceptable qualitiy.

Hump wrote:

I know we run these things very hard in the worst conditions, but I run my 450 rhino harder than the rzr because I have to in order to keep up. I don't have as many miles on the rhino, but I have beat on it hard on enough rides that I know the rzr bushings and ball joints would have been toast. I can deal with the ball joints. The bushings get under my skin a little. But, those freakin driveshaft yokes just piss me off! I've had to ride the 450 for the last month, and beat the crap out of it. Don't handle as good, steering wheel position is like a tractor, seats are to high, no suspension travel...but it's ready to go again right now. I'm just a few beers away from selling the rzr and doing some custom work to the rhino, and riding it while someone learns how to build a sport sxs with acceptable qualitiy.

Sounds like you are where I was with my RZR. Nothing major, just a bunch of little stuff to fix after every ride. If I wasn't such a stickler for finding things that was wearing out and fixing them before they left me stranded on the trail, I might have had more fun. Those bushings were my biggest gripe!!

Sorry CCRider, Didn't mean to hijack your thread!!

Ditto Hump on the Rhino, i just ride it and have to work on it very little... but the RZRs looks so nice and drives like a sports car! Why can't I have both in one!

Thats a great idea....I hope it works....

Thunter wrote:

Sorry CCRider, Didn't mean to hijack your thread!!

No problem, I feel the same way. I probably don't have 400 miles on these bushings,maybe a trip to WV. and the rest is just around the house. I've got almost 5000 miles on my Rincon and have only replaced some of the bushings once. I don't like how the rzr bushings fit in so loose,every quad I've owned you had to grind the old ones out and it took some force to get the new ones in,the rzr ones fall in and out on their own. i don't know if my idea will work but I thought it was worth a try.

I hope it works too. Been thinking about doing the same thing for a while. Either that or just going with Heim joints!

Maybe drill a weep hole , just a small hole that grease can push out of but not big enough for grit to get in . With a small hole its more likely to hold the grease in and not let it all push out .

Might try the weep hole. I have to figure out what part of a 250r the rubber seal came off of. I had it in some parts laying around from when I use to race. I think it's off of the swing arm bushing, i'm going to take it to my dealer and see if he can figure it out.

CCrider wrote:

Thunter wrote:

Sorry CCRider, Didn't mean to hijack your thread!!

No problem, I feel the same way. I probably don't have 400 miles on these bushings,maybe a trip to WV. and the rest is just around the house. I've got almost 5000 miles on my Rincon and have only replaced some of the bushings once. I don't like how the rzr bushings fit in so loose,every quad I've owned you had to grind the old ones out and it took some force to get the new ones in,the rzr ones fall in and out on their own. i don't know if my idea will work but I thought it was worth a try.

Maybe we need to start an email campaign to get Honda or Yamaha to throw their hat into the Sport SXS market. Competition is a good thing, thats why I'm happy Artic Cat stepped up. Hopefully Can Am will soon follow!! Correct me if I'm wrong but only Polaris and Artic cat make a utility machine and a sport machine. All the others try to put both into one package.

CC let me know how this works for you. I replaced my lower front lower A-arm bushings about a month ago and I am trying a little experment of my own. I am keeping a log of what I do. I replaced the bushings after 830 miles. There are guys on the RZR Forums that swear by not greasing the bushings. So I'm not gonna grease this lastest set I put in and I'll see how they do. I figure the most it can cost me is new bushings and sleeves, but at least I'll know if it does any better.

Thunter wrote:

CC let me know how this works for you. I replaced my lower front lower A-arm bushings about a month ago and I am trying a little experment of my own. I am keeping a log of what I do. I replaced the bushings after 830 miles. There are guys on the RZR Forums that swear by not greasing the bushings. So I'm not gonna grease this lastest set I put in and I'll see how they do. I figure the most it can cost me is new bushings and sleeves, but at least I'll know if it does any better.

Terry, most of them ride in DRY conditions, it's the grit the water carries in that does the damage.... I have switched to the synthetic green grease.. marine grade, gonna see if that help, I know it has been mentioned on here before.

ElmoEOD wrote:

Thunter wrote:

CC let me know how this works for you. I replaced my lower front lower A-arm bushings about a month ago and I am trying a little experment of my own. I am keeping a log of what I do. I replaced the bushings after 830 miles. There are guys on the RZR Forums that swear by not greasing the bushings. So I'm not gonna grease this lastest set I put in and I'll see how they do. I figure the most it can cost me is new bushings and sleeves, but at least I'll know if it does any better.

Terry, most of them ride in DRY conditions, it's the grit the water carries in that does the damage.... I have switched to the synthetic green grease.. marine grade, gonna see if that help, I know it has been mentioned on here before.

Yea I know, but the guys that swear by it say the grease becomes a magnet for the dust and all that grit is like sand paper. It kinda flies in the face of logic to me though. I would think that those bushings not being lubed would wear out very quick. I have been applying grease after every ride and it hasn't helped much. I have been using the Lucas extra heavy duty. Like I said what have I got to lose besides bushings. Will let you know how it turns out.

I think it's a great idea too Thunter... good pics showing set up too. If that seals pretty good I think it'll be much better!

Hump wrote:

I know we run these things very hard in the worst conditions, but I run my 450 rhino harder than the rzr because I have to in order to keep up. I don't have as many miles on the rhino, but I have beat on it hard on enough rides that I know the rzr bushings and ball joints would have been toast. I can deal with the ball joints. The bushings get under my skin a little. But, those freakin driveshaft yokes just piss me off! I've had to ride the 450 for the last month, and beat the crap out of it. Don't handle as good, steering wheel position is like a tractor, seats are to high, no suspension travel...but it's ready to go again right now. I'm just a few beers away from selling the rzr and doing some custom work to the rhino, and riding it while someone learns how to build a sport sxs with acceptable qualitiy.

i have drove them all....come drive mine once and you will have nothing else....or ride with me and you will see it will take it its like a tractor with a blower ..

a cam for a rhino is cheaper than one set of bushings ...................

Wish I had a metal lathe and the know how to use it so I could make the bushings myself.

THUNTER I'LL HAVE TAKE YOU FOR A RIDE IN A REAL MAN'S MACHINE.

JimBob wrote:

THUNTER I'LL HAVE TAKE YOU FOR A RIDE IN A REAL MAN'S MACHINE.

What is HHR gonna loan you his Rhino for a couple days? If not where are you getting this machine??