a arm bushing

[MEL]

can i replace the bushings in my a arms without replacing the whole a arms? and can i replace the ball joints?

[cdalejef]

You can replace the bushings but not the ball joints.

[MEL]

thanks jeff, are they bushings or bearings?

[cdalejef]

They are sperical (spelling?) bearings!

[Teufel]

JEff is correct ( of course) but I would like to help you out here.
Don't replace the spherical bearing with the oem part; they are not suitable for this application. They didn't hold up in the 250r and they don't hold up in the 400ex. Goes to show you how much engineering and development Honda put in to the 400ex..ie using 1989 technology in a 2002 quad. (that could be a thread in it's self) I highly recommend replacing the bearing with metal sleeves and polyurethane bushings. I found these in the back of a magazine. The guy that makes them is Helms ENterprises. You can do the complete front end for around $100.
I started using then a number of years ago in my stock 250r , my laeger's and works shocks. They are the best I have found. :cool:

[cdalejef]

I used those too when I ran stock arms, they work great and last much longer than stock!

[ajr400ex]

I am going to be changing my bushings shortly as well. What is the easiest way to remove the cir-clips that hold the spherical bearing in. Have not had much luck removing them.

[cdalejef]

A small pick and a lotta luck!;)

I replaced my A-arm bushings with the TM Designworks bushings and they have worked great so far. Also, the new bushings with absolutely no play in them made a noticeable difference in how my quad handles versus with the loose stock bushings. Now there's no flexing and hunting for a line when cornering hard, it just sticks and goes where you point it.

As for getting the clips out, I did the same thing Jeff@QuadShop did to remove the circlips. I used a small pick, basically a dental pick with a plastic handle. It probably took me longer to get the circlips out than it did to do everything else:(. You just gotta keep trying to grab one of the open ends of the clip, and when you get one side out of the groove, you can slide the pick around the circlip and the other side will pop right out. BTW, that set of picks I bought have been very handy, especially for removing circlips and stuck O-rings without tearing them.

[MEL]

TEUFEL, do you remember the name of the company that makes them?

[NJ300ex]

I am interested in doing this. How much for the TM designworks bushings and where did you get them from?

[Teufel]

The company is HELMS ENTERPRISE. You can find their ad in the back of the magazine. It is a small type written ad no pics with it.

[MEL]

thanks