yfz 450 shock installation

[rob_990]

i just got some new shocks off ebay so i figuired id show what has to be done to install them.

[Jersey450R]

on a 400ex :huh

[rob_990]

heres the stock shock next to it

[rob_990]

heres the ride height before with the preload all the way up.its just a little over a foot.

[rob_990]

the bottom part of the shocks fit perfectly but the top i wasnt so lucky.

[rob_990]

this is how much i took off.

DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT THE PART THAT STICKS OUT ON THE BUSHINGS.I GRINDED IT DOWN SO ITS COMPLETELY FLAT.I WAS THINKING ABOUT USING WASHERS?IS THIS A GOOD IDEA FOR WILL IT JUST MAKE THE SHOCKS TO WEAK CAUSE ILL HAVE TO GRIND THEM DOWN MORE AND WHATS THE POINT OF THEM STICKING OUT?

[rob_990]

after that it still didnt fit so i took a little off the inside i actually took off a little more than needed.

[rob_990]

i also got that nut off and used a dremel to grind down the rear shock mount so it would fit better

[rob_990]

here it is with the shocks on!!

[rob_990]

it definitely lowered the ride height but this is with all the settings all the way soft so i should be able to get it a few inches higher.

[400exrider139]

That looks bad a** how much difference did it make compared to the stockers?

[ae13291]

wat is the ground clearance now?

[rob_990]

Originally posted by ae13291
wat is the ground clearance now?

its a little under 11 inches now but thats with the preload all the way up.ill let you know once i get them adjusted right

[rob_990]

Originally posted by 400exrider139
That looks bad a** how much difference did it make compared to the stockers?

i probably wont get to ride till this weekend but i can definitely tell a difference.i had my quad on the grab bar and when i dropped it down it didnt jump up right away the the pogo sticks that were on it before :D

[crxjarred]

are these any good on the trails?

[400exrider139]

I was thinking about doing the same mod and was wanting to hear some feed back so keep us informed!

[ae13291]

i was riding my friends yfz450 and the shocks are real good, i like them alot, its just the ground clearance that isent as good when these shocks are installed, i would rather go with the kfx450 shocks for trail riding, and for mx the yfz450 shocks seem to make the a arms straight witch is better.

[dang400ex]

Yeah when I did this mod, I adjusted the preload tighter to make the ride height about .5 to .75 inches lower than stock shocks adjusted as soft as possible. They are great shocks and ride so much smoother than stock. On trails and whoops they have a lack of travel for the ex it feels like sometimes because they are a little shorter. I really like the lower ride height and you still do not bottom out very easily. It does require quite a bit of milling on the top shock eye however...

[crxjarred]

has anybody ever instaled the kfx450 shocks on a 400ex

There way better than stock. You can adj them to be rock hard or adj them to be soft where you get to much body roll in the turns.

A 400ex with yfz450 shocks vs a 400ex with 450r shocks, the yfz450 shocked 400ex is going to handle the jumps and turns way better. With MX tires I had my ex dropped to about 6" for mx.

[powermadd400ex]

Originally posted by crxjarred
has anybody ever instaled the kfx450 shocks on a 400ex
yes
PM rcatvrider

[ae13291]

Originally posted by HalfAquad
There way better than stock. You can adj them to be rock hard or adj them to be soft where you get to much body roll in the turns.

A 400ex with yfz450 shocks vs a 400ex with 450r shocks, the yfz450 shocked 400ex is going to handle the jumps and turns way better. With MX tires I had my ex dropped to about 6" for mx.

alot of people say the 450r shocks are a bit too stiff, and since the 450r and 400ex have similar front ends, i think it would also be stiff on the 400ex

[rob_990]

yea i heard they are really stiff unless you get them revalved/resprung and they also raise the ride height.that is why i went with the yfz shocks and there alot cheaper than the 450r ones.

[bbender85]

i did the same thing over the winter:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05080.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05082.jpg


soooo much better than stock. like night and day.

[F-16Guy]

Someone should fab up an upper mount adapter that slides into the original shock mount and clamps to the frame tube. It would lower the shock and raise the ride height probably 1.5", and you could make it wider so that you wouldn't have to modify the shock to make it fit. Something like this:

[rob_990]

yea that would save alot of work.i dont know how strong id be though.


bbender85 are those stock aarms?

Originally posted by rob_990
yea that would save alot of work.i dont know how strong id be though.


bbender85 are those stock aarms?

Them are longer A-arms.

With stock A-arms the yfz shocks are good. After I went to +3 on the 400ex the shocks where 100% total crap. Use yfz450 shocks with stock A-arms ONLY. If you want to go mx wide do it the right way with good arms and shocks. If you go extended A-arms and use yfz or 450r shocks you mise as well also run cut shock coils and run wheel spacers because it will be a total crap set up any ways and will do nothing more than make you look like a race quad when it realy handles like a total pos.

[bbender85]

If you go extended A-arms and use yfz or 450r shocks you mise as well also run cut shock coils and run wheel spacers because it will be a total crap set up any ways and will do nothing more than make you look like a race quad when it realy handles like a total pos.

hmm. i must have magic YFZ shocks cuz mine is 200% better than it was stock. :confused:

[ae13291]

Originally posted by F-16Guy
Someone should fab up an upper mount adapter that slides into the original shock mount and clamps to the frame tube. It would lower the shock and raise the ride height probably 1.5", and you could make it wider so that you wouldn't have to modify the shock to make it fit. Something like this:

that would be a great idea, but like said b4 i dont know if it would be strong enough, maybe it is possible to make it strong? but the most important, would the suspention geometry work the same? the shocks may be a bit to angled

[ae13291]

Originally posted by HalfAquad
Them are longer A-arms.

With stock A-arms the yfz shocks are good. After I went to +3 on the 400ex the shocks where 100% total crap. Use yfz450 shocks with stock A-arms ONLY. If you want to go mx wide do it the right way with good arms and shocks. If you go extended A-arms and use yfz or 450r shocks you mise as well also run cut shock coils and run wheel spacers because it will be a total crap set up any ways and will do nothing more than make you look like a race quad when it realy handles like a total pos.

you make no sense :confused: the yfz shocks are good, longer arms would be more harsh on the shocks and be more prone to bottoming out but the yfz450 already has a pretty good length front a arm, so these shocks can handle it easy.

[BERT306]

i know its not a 400ex but i installed yfz shocks on my 250R with +3 arms and WOW, awesome upgrade from stock.

Bought my shocks already milled on top:D

Originally posted by ae13291
you make no sense :confused: the yfz shocks are good, longer arms would be more harsh on the shocks and be more prone to bottoming out but the yfz450 already has a pretty good length front a arm, so these shocks can handle it easy.


Well once I went to +3's the shocks where to soft for how I ride. From the extra leverage of the longer A-arms the ride high dropped 2". If I set the pre load rings to the top it would sit so low that the A-arms would be level with the frame.

[rob_990]

yes!!!i finally got to go riding today!i set the preload all the way down so now there just a little lower than stock.riding is so much better with these shocks.they work great!definatly one of the best things i have done so far to my quad

[v0lcom13sn0w]

by grinding down the top bolt holes doesnt weaken the shock does it?

[ep250ex]

I ride fast trails and race xc, would this be a good investment for me to put into my 400?

[hypersnyper6947]

Originally posted by F-16Guy
Someone should fab up an upper mount adapter that slides into the original shock mount and clamps to the frame tube. It would lower the shock and raise the ride height probably 1.5", and you could make it wider so that you wouldn't have to modify the shock to make it fit. Something like this:

Yea but lowering it a bit is good. My ground clearance is at about 7.5" at the pegs and thats for trails, for mx in should sit even lower. So the yfz shocks lowering it a bit is a good thing. It will make it corner a lot better.

[v0lcom13sn0w]

yeah i had stock 400ex shocks and could comfortably go through the trails at florence sand dunes in oregon in 2nd and 3rd now with my yfz shocks my bike just is all around better in the trails im pinned in 3rd and 4th most of the time over the whoops and taking corners i just drop down into third and mob. its such a great investment. best investment i've done to my bike other than the sparks timing key.

[rob_990]

Originally posted by v0lcom13sn0w
by grinding down the top bolt holes doesnt weaken the shock does it?

im sure it does a little bit but it still seems alot sturdier than the stock one with the top piece welded on

[ep250ex]

I found some shocks that have been rebuilt by Gtthunder, would these still work? I reall do not to lower it a lot, just a little.

Originally posted by rob_990
im sure it does a little bit but it still looks alot sturdier than the stock one with the top piece welded on

Well grinding down will make the yfz shock mount weaker but it would not be any weaker than the stock 400ex shock.

Originally posted by ep250ex
I found some shocks that have been rebuilt by Gtthunder, would these still work? I reall do not to lower it a lot, just a little.


YFZ shocks don't lower you much. They only lower you about 1/2 inch only because there slightly shorter. They just allow you to set the ride hight really low if you want.

[brian76708]

Originally posted by HalfAquad
Them are longer A-arms.

With stock A-arms the yfz shocks are good. After I went to +3 on the 400ex the shocks where 100% total crap. Use yfz450 shocks with stock A-arms ONLY. If you want to go mx wide do it the right way with good arms and shocks. If you go extended A-arms and use yfz or 450r shocks you mise as well also run cut shock coils and run wheel spacers because it will be a total crap set up any ways and will do nothing more than make you look like a race quad when it realy handles like a total pos.

dont think this guy has ever heard of, revalve and sprung. and anything is better then the stock pogo sticks.

[Eviltanker]

I've been running the YFZ shocks for 2 years now and they are still holding up great. I've riden a 400 with the 450R shocks and like the YFZ shocks more. Better ride in my book.

[flyboy1294]

What are you guys paying for the Yfz Shocks?

I have been looking for a while, and have found a guy that said I could have them for $175, but I don't know if that's a good price or not...

[bbender85]

i got mine from a friend for $150; they were pretty much take-offs tho... he was a drag racer who soon after purchase went to marvin shaws.

[flyboy1294]

Originally posted by bbender85
i got mine from a friend for $150; they were pretty much take-offs tho... he was a drag racer who soon after purchase went to marvin shaws.

So should I hold out for a lower price? I have had a hard time finding them on the Bay for under $200...

[bbender85]

if they don't have a ton of hours on them i'd do it; i was ready to spend $200 when i bought mine.

[DominicD400ex]

I just bought a set from a guy on here for 60$ shipped to my door.

They came with alba shockwears and the only damage is some slight wearing down of the white paint on the shocks from the shockwears rubbing.

[BEAVER.989]

Which years shocks work?

[rob_990]

i think all of them im not sure on the new ones though

[rob_990]

Originally posted by flyboy1294
What are you guys paying for the Yfz Shocks?

I have been looking for a while, and have found a guy that said I could have them for $175, but I don't know if that's a good price or not...


120 but they werent in that great of condition.

[flyboy1294]

Whoa you guys are getting these things cheap... I'm going to keep looking

[DominicD400ex]

when grinding them down, do you just leave it al intact and hit it with a grinder or did you take some precaution to save that bushing.

[flyboy1294]

Btw,

I am looking for a set of yfz 450 shocks, if anyone has any offers, PM me. :o

[DominicD400ex]

I just installed my yfz shocks on my 400ex today!

Thanks for the tutorial!

I'll post pics soon.

[DominicD400ex]

These feel so much better than the stock shocks.

[DominicD400ex]

front

[dirtmerchant42]

ha i got lucky and got my yfz shocks fo FREE they helped out a lot but i dont ride my quad that much anymore because i got a bike now

[quadmad16]

does yfz 450 shock fit the back or are u guys using the stock ex shock??:ermm:

[rob_990]

ive never heard of anyone running one in the back.id just send it in somewhere if i was you.

[EXRacer247]

I got mine for freeeheee as well. One man's trash i guess... But I was wondering if anyone has ever thought of doing yfz a-arms as well? I don't even know if it would help but if it was worth it I could probably snag up the a-arms from the same guy for almost nothing. I wouldn't be afraid to make new mounts if I had to.

[pbblaster2]

i plan on posting my set up tomarro, it will blow your mind total cost was 0, i didnt have to buy my shocks,
gtt 08 yfz 450 shocks( didnt mill or grind) =)
05 450r aarms
pics will be up tomarro

[katch26]

how are you managing to put 450r arms on your 400?

[racer 557]

why dont you all like the honda i had the newer rs soften the preload and all the adjustments and i thought they road better than my works triple rates! plus there better for xc they dont lower you and i dont get why you all say there stiff the 400 is like 20-30 pounds more that should help out i mean the ones i got were take off but amazing

i had a yfz i positivly hated the suspension i thought it sucked i had the stuff the softest you could do and i honestly thought they were like haveing rods in them just my oppinion tho

[monster400ex]

the yzf shocks are bas *** i put a set of kfx 700 shocks on just cause i had them
i had to cut the top shock mount but worked beautifully you dont get the adjustment but they work great for trail and freestyle
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk200/boostintrdstyle/101_4818.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk200/boostintrdstyle/101_4817.jpg

[pbblaster2]

bend the lowerer arms, the top arms fit, sorry pics i was busy