You're not going to like what I have to say here, so brace yourself....lol. I've always been a big fan of flipped wheels. Been doing it for a lot of years. I've even had a few arguments with people on the internet lately about it messing up other parts. Last time I was riding, I snapped not one, but both outer tie rod ends. It HAS to be because of the flipped wheels. The only problem I've ever noticed from the fronts being flipped was more bump steer, and you could get crossed up in ruts really easily, and the wheels would turn COMPLETELY sideways. I guess it just made them weak to the point that they failed. I still chalk it up to Yamaha using ****** tie rods and ends on these things. I've never seen this happen before on anything else. The good news is now I'm getting A-arms, axle, Honda style tie rods, and a few other goodies. All out of necessity since the others broke and i crashed. It's a great, cheap mod if they don't break. If they snap you're screwed. BTW: The stockers that broke never had any direct contact with anything, weren't bent, and had no dings or dents in them. They just gave out 2 1/2 miles into the woods.
flipped fronts and back
- Thread starter bickel76
- Start date
Help Support Yamaha Raptor 350 & Warrior Forum:
i hope that they do hold up long enough for me to get some a-arms. i've heard that they are hard on the front end. cant deny that one bit. maybe i should go ahead and order a couple used tie rods and ends. hate for that to happen when were are riding at a place a few hours from home.
m4skinner......yeah, it turns a lot tighter now
m4skinner......yeah, it turns a lot tighter now
imtarnished
Well-Known Member
Mine are flipped, and I've been through this. The reason that they snap isn't because of the added width as much as it is, now that they are wider, they bite on more things especially the sides of ruts. The stock tie rod ends are cheap, and I personally snapped 2 outers and one inner with in a 2 month span. NOT because the flipped rims made them weaker, it's just the my tires cought on more stuff on the trail.
The width of your front end has Very little, if Any effect on the tie-rods, since your not moving/effecting the steering geometry at all just the width of the track. If that puts ANY significant added stress on the tie-rods I'd be Very surprised. One of the main reasons why I'd be so surprised is all of the weight is taken on the a-arms, and the shocks not the tie-rods themselves.
Don't misunderstand me Yakuza, If I didn't have my rims flipped, I most likely wouldn't of snapped 2 of the 3 ends (one was from goin over a berm, and smacking a tree). But I don't think that it had anything to do with added stress/weight on the tie-rods. The tires just catch on a lot more stuff on the sides of the trails and the sides of ruts.
Do a forum search for Tie rod problems, and you'll see my thread, and what Everyone else had to say, Not much of it if any at all had to do with my flipped rims.
~Bill
p.s. I picked up a set of Moose Yamaha styled tie-rod ends (come with an inner and outter in the set), and I have yet to brake any, with like 2 1/2-3 months of pretty damn hard riding.
If what I said is either reiterating what you said, or doesn't show the other side of the arguement, then let me know, b/c that means I read your post wrong.
The width of your front end has Very little, if Any effect on the tie-rods, since your not moving/effecting the steering geometry at all just the width of the track. If that puts ANY significant added stress on the tie-rods I'd be Very surprised. One of the main reasons why I'd be so surprised is all of the weight is taken on the a-arms, and the shocks not the tie-rods themselves.
Don't misunderstand me Yakuza, If I didn't have my rims flipped, I most likely wouldn't of snapped 2 of the 3 ends (one was from goin over a berm, and smacking a tree). But I don't think that it had anything to do with added stress/weight on the tie-rods. The tires just catch on a lot more stuff on the sides of the trails and the sides of ruts.
Do a forum search for Tie rod problems, and you'll see my thread, and what Everyone else had to say, Not much of it if any at all had to do with my flipped rims.
~Bill
p.s. I picked up a set of Moose Yamaha styled tie-rod ends (come with an inner and outter in the set), and I have yet to brake any, with like 2 1/2-3 months of pretty damn hard riding.
If what I said is either reiterating what you said, or doesn't show the other side of the arguement, then let me know, b/c that means I read your post wrong.
imtarnished
Well-Known Member
Didn't want to add to my other post, that one is long enough. Plus this is a different topic.
But yea, it will make you turn sharper since the outter tire on the turn is now being pushed to a more drastic degree since the wheel is now 1 1/2''+ further out, with the same center point spindle/hub). If you would like me to explain it a little better lemme know, I should be able to do so.
~Bill
No, i agree with you that they don't break because it's wider. They break because they **** sideways on all kinds of stuff. I've had the bars damn near rip out of my hands when my tires wedge between two rocks and the tire turns totally sideways. Can't be good on the tie rod ends....lol. They'll also grab real hard in ruts and turn the fronts sideways, way further than they'll turn without being flipped. It's gotta be hard on the ends. Oddly enought though, like I said earlier, they never bent or anything. They just snapped. I figure if I upgrade now that everything is broke anyways, I won't have to go thru it again. Chances are if I just went with the HD Honda style rods and ends, I'd never have another problem again with flipped wheels. Like i said, I've never seen this happen before. I think they just gave our quads really crappy rods and ends from the factory. And when I questioned Yamahahaha about the tie rod ends being weak they basically told me to go get f@$#@d. Thanks Yamaha... :'(
imtarnished
Well-Known Member
Ahh ok, then Yea, the Same things were happening with me. Mine would just snap, but only because they bent so far so fast. I want to swap to the honda style ones, but the kit is like $100, and the moose ends are like $30 per side, so with the extra $40 I got myself a Much needed swing arm skid.
~Bill
~Bill
imtarnished, how much were your aftermarket tie rod ends? if you dont remember, it's no biggie. i can look around for them. i am assuming that it depends on the tie rods of the aftermarket a-arms, but would the moose ends fit? just wondering if maybe there is a standard thread size on tie rods. guessing probably not, but never know.
imtarnished
Well-Known Member
The Moose ends I bought were like $30 for an inner and an outter, and you get both in the kit, you can't buy just one, unless the store itself will seperate. The Honda style swap was like $100 and change. When I bought mine the guy at my local shop just sold me the ones off of the shelf, so I would assume they are standard, both thread count per inch, and width of the tie rod threaded end itself. I would suggest buying 2 sets, since it's most likely that your other set will pop, or atleast one of them. So buy the other set, and keep them under your seat, so you have them while out on the trails.
Ohh, and the outter and inner have opposite threads, ones right handed, the other is left handed threads. You can't mix the 2 up, and can't use 2 outters, or 2 inners on the same side.
~Bill
Ohh, and the outter and inner have opposite threads, ones right handed, the other is left handed threads. You can't mix the 2 up, and can't use 2 outters, or 2 inners on the same side.
~Bill
http://www.trailtracksand.com/html/a-arms___suspension.html
Honda style rods and ends, the whole kit, for $89.99. When I replace my arms and rods I'm using these. It's the best price I've found so far.
Also, to the original poster: I feel like we jacked your thread, so I apologize. I just wanted to chime in with what happened to me. I'd hate to see someone else pop a tie rod end at top speed. Shortly before my first one broke we hit (according to the GPS) 71.7mph. I'd have been roadkill had it broke then. I know it's more expensive, but from now on I'm going with A-arms. At the very least I'll sleep well at night not worrying if my ends will break and I'll eat a tree. You can't put a price tag on safety.
Honda style rods and ends, the whole kit, for $89.99. When I replace my arms and rods I'm using these. It's the best price I've found so far.
Also, to the original poster: I feel like we jacked your thread, so I apologize. I just wanted to chime in with what happened to me. I'd hate to see someone else pop a tie rod end at top speed. Shortly before my first one broke we hit (according to the GPS) 71.7mph. I'd have been roadkill had it broke then. I know it's more expensive, but from now on I'm going with A-arms. At the very least I'll sleep well at night not worrying if my ends will break and I'll eat a tree. You can't put a price tag on safety.
I found that the turning radius almost doubled It felt like it turned better because it was wider but also made it a **** ton harder to steer in very tight situations. wider a arms would do the same thing so Im not knocking it!
warriorspeed350
Well-Known Member
DOOOD!!!!!, you suck, that is sick nasty wide
bberck
Well-Known Member
Looks good ;D
I never fliped my fronts but have the backs flipped on my warrior and never had any problems.
I never fliped my fronts but have the backs flipped on my warrior and never had any problems.
