Front shocks

[BamBam730]

Looking to purchase front shocks. I only know a couple of brands, any suggestions would be welcome. The brands I know are:
*Elka
*Ohlins
*Works

[TRXRacer1]

What's your main style of riding? MX, XC, TT, Dunes?

[BamBam730]

XC with a little bit of MX. Mostly XC

[XXXRACER165]

I would go with the works shocks. Best value for the money, cushy ride yet firm enough for C-B class MX. You won't be disapointed. Here is my recomendation: AT-Steelers with rezzies

[klutch]

I'm not the best with shocks... though you missed one two brands... PEP and Axis shocks

[Ruby Soho]

you could always save some money and go the 450r shock/rebuild route.

[TRXRacer1]

Originally posted by XXXRACER165
I would go with the works shocks. Best value for the money, cushy ride yet firm enough for C-B class MX. You won't be disapointed. Here is my recomendation: AT-Steelers with rezzies Works are nice. I have the same thing but non resi. No complaints here. If you're on a budget get some 450r shocks. They're pretty good stock when adjusted properly and you could always get them revalved later if needed. If budget is not an issue go with the Ohlins.

[BamBam730]

Ruby, you said I should look at 450 r shocks. I did until I learned that you have to cut the shock mount and grind the top of the shock down to make it fit. I read this on the sticky post about 450 r shocks. Is this true?

[procircuit406ex]

I have DeRisi rebuilds and I didnt have to do anything to my shocks to make them fit.

[Ruby Soho]

Originally posted by BamBam730
Ruby, you said I should look at 450 r shocks. I did until I learned that you have to cut the shock mount and grind the top of the shock down to make it fit. I read this on the sticky post about 450 r shocks. Is this true?

No its alot easier than you think.

the first thing you do is knock off the nut that is tacked on on the inside of the shock mount. (a flat head screwdriver and a mallet will do it no problem at all.. theres only like 2 small tac welds on the nut)

after that, get a new bolt, what i used was a small flat head flat bolt and teflon nut, put the bolt through facing up and tighten that down to hold the fenders as they were.

now, you do have to grind away this area (pictured) but its such a small bit maybe 2mm into it and thats it.

they perform great stock and i hear when theyre rebuilt there just as good if not better than elkas.

[BamBam730]

Ruby, If you did not grind that down, was it the weld on the shock that would of rubbed the shock mount?

[Ruby Soho]

all it did without grinding it was prevent the hole from lining up a little bit, it was against the upper mount on the shock that it was hitting

let me know if you need any more pictures or anything

[BamBam730]

Thank you Ruby

[procircuit406ex]

You shouldn't have to do anything to the frame BamBam730

[BamBam730]

Originally posted by procircuit406ex
You shouldn't have to do anything to the frame BamBam730
Pro, what do you mean? Ruby clearly shows he had to grind down the top front shock mounts. I have a 2004 400ex and you feel that I will not have to grind down my top shock mounts to put on 450 r shocks. Do you have 450 shocks on a 400 ex? If you do, did you have to grind top shock mounts? Thanks for any help

[Ruby Soho]

Originally posted by BamBam730
Pro, what do you mean? Ruby clearly shows he had to grind down the top front shock mounts. I have a 2004 400ex and you feel that I will not have to grind down my top shock mounts to put on 450 r shocks. Do you have 450 shocks on a 400 ex? If you do, did you have to grind top shock mounts? Thanks for any help

Just to add, the amount you have to grind is very little. You probably could squeeze it in there but it was being a pain and it would rub so I figured I mine as well make it right. Plus its not much at all if you'd like i can take one of my shocks out of the mount and snap a picture of what needs to be done

[Bigdaddy52302]

I would love to see pics. I have a 2001 4ooex and a pair of 04' 450R shocks, I havent attempted to install them yet cause the quad is still at the shop getting a rebuild should be back wesnesday.

[BamBam730]

Originally posted by Ruby Soho
Just to add, the amount you have to grind is very little. You probably could squeeze it in there but it was being a pain and it would rub so I figured I mine as well make it right. Plus its not much at all if you'd like i can take one of my shocks out of the mount and snap a picture of what needs to be done
Ruby, I would appreciate if you could do that.

[XXXRACER165]

Yeah after thinking about it some more go with the 450R shocks BamBam. It might cost a little more to get a pair & have them resprung/revalved but in the end, you'll be happy that you still have all the adjustability. To get the same in a aftermarket shock you would have to pay at least a grand or more. Good Luck!

[Ruby Soho]

heres some pictures bambam

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7793/450rshockinstall002fc7.jpg
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7966/450rshockinstall003sp6.jpg
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/830/450rshockinstall004ak4.jpg
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1662/450rshockinstall005mf4.jpg

[BamBam730]

Thanks Ruby.

[BamBam730]

Can anyone tell me the measurement on a stock 400 ex shock, eyelet to eyelet?

[Myrkk]

Ruby,

Great picts looks pretty easy to do. I have an 02 400ex, how much better is the 450r shocks on dunes?

[hornetgod13]

I tried 450R shocks and wasn't happy how they felt so I went out and bought a set of shocks that were made specifically for the 400EX.

I went with a set of HydroDynamics USA Multi Rate F-8 iShock. They sell for $699 to $999

They were custom sprung and tuned for my riding wieght and style of riding.

Here's some of the features.

Increases wheel travel even with stock arms
Piggyback reservoir design
16mm body hard chromoly shaft
Adjustable compression damping
Adjustable rebound damping
Adjustable spring preload
Aircraft grade 6061 aluminum body
Japanese NOK brand seals
Spherical bearings at mounting points
Chrome silicone progressive rate primary spring
Chrome silicone secondary spring
Completely tunable and rebuildable
100% rebuildable
Lifetime Warranty

[klutch]

We have 04 450R shocks on our 03 400EX we actually grinded the top of the shock....

[REDRIDDER]

Originally posted by Ruby Soho
all it did without grinding it was prevent the hole from lining up a little bit, it was against the upper mount on the shock that it was hitting

let me know if you need any more pictures or anything x2 i had to do the same thing why grind a perfectly good shock when you can avoid that and the resale of shocks not ground down would bring more money as well lol...

[mad440]

I have never been a big fan of the 450r shocks on a 400ex. only because grinding the frame which is under enough stress as it is removes material that is needed to maximize the structural stability of the mount if your ride is that bad, you can buy a set of works as suggested before AT steelers with rezzies or without, both will handle the job until you can purchase a set great shocks designed and made for the 400 so there is no grinding involved in mounting. if money is not an object then get PEP or Ohlins my opinion

[Ruby Soho]

Originally posted by Myrkk
Ruby,

Great picts looks pretty easy to do. I have an 02 400ex, how much better is the 450r shocks on dunes?

It is very easy.

I can't tell you anything about dunes cause I've never been to them:p

[trx400EXtreme]

450r shocks will be pretty stiff on the dunes. i bought the PEP race series for my quad. 650 bucks. best shock for the price IMO. for someone who isn't a hardcore racer, these are perfect. PEP and works use the same kind of valving system and stuff but i think PEP's are higher quility. plus they come with big bottle rezzies. heres a pic of mine.

[gcart2]

fox floats are worth the money.

[RaginRedneck]

It sounds like upgrading to the 450R shocks is a good mod if you're on a budget, but why do they need to be revalved?

I've seen several posts where guys are saying that if they are not the shocks are really stiff and beat the piss out of you on small bumps. Do the 450R's have a different design so that is not the case? or are the 450R riders getting pounded to dog crap as well? If so, what is the difference in the setup?

Thanks, any info you all could provide would be much appreciated.

[BamBam730]

Just want to say thanks to Ruby for all the help. I finally decided and bought these triple rate works shocks. After riding last week on the stock front shocks I just could not take the poor ride quality any more, so I bought these brand new for $389.00 and they will be set up for my riding style and wieght. They claim to add 2 inches of travel, well see. Thanks again Ruby.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/bambam730/atv_pair_atsteeler_trs.jpg

[400exMO]

If i were to buy shocks again I would search for used. You can get a set of nice used aftermarkets for around 400, ride them for a while and save up money. Then have them revalved.

[gcart2]

think about it this way.. you are buying shox only one time and this buy will strongly affect you and howyou enjoy riding your bike. invest in a nice set.