Better suspension on 300ex?

[justinmill14]

What can I do besides go out and buy brand new suspension? I just don't have the money to spend on new shocks. I have read some things about putting raptor shocks on there and was wondering how much that would help. Is it alright just to get a new rear shock, and leave front at stock? My main problem is the back, as I bottom it out quite a bit. Thanks for any tips

[shiley55]

i know this is an old post and may have already been replied to in pms or what not but my reply is also to help others in this same spot. to start with the rear yes you can use a raptor660 shock but it must be an 01 shock with the remot res but you are gonna have to extend the line running from the res to the shock body you can find these around for usialy under 100 dollors and this should help a good bit with your bottoming out because it was built for a heavyer bike .now for the front the cheapest way would be to just get a set of stock a=arms and shocks that someone is replacing you would need tierods and other little parts but chances are you will be able to get all or this from the same person but if not there are plenty of ppl redoing front ends on 400exs across the country you would also need a shock relocater and you would be able to get all of this for around 150-200 and the relocater for around 100 shipped and you can do all the work yourself to save money there. and later on if you want you could get a good set of used aftermarket shocks for the front.

[sd1]

xlnt advice :)

[shiley55]

also i have heard that you can use any raptor shock but you have to cut off the rear drivers side airbox support but i havent seen many of these done and so i wouldnt really sugest it

[414tinner]

Has anyone done the newer raptor shocks with the piggyback reservoir?

[shiley55]

yea with the piggyback res you have to cut off the air box support but ive heard that it is still strong and dosent move around or anythign

[414tinner]

Thank you!! That is what I needed to know.

[shiley55]

also if your looking for a good set of piggyback shocks for the front you can go with a set of yfz450 shocks ive seen 2 builds with these used 1 person said that they went on no problem and the next build said they had a slight problem with a bushing but got it worked out i wouldnt sugest using 450r shocks because ive heard that someone tried them and they were so stiff that they pretty much only compressed when he was jumping on the front bumper at 190lbs

[414tinner]

Do the YFZ shocks bolt on to the stock travel a arms. I have + 2 a arms, but they are std. travel.

Thanks again, I really do apprecieate all of the advice. I am building this for my nephew and I really need all of these tips.

[shiley55]

well i know they were using a shock relocater bracket and im pretty sure it was 400ex arms. what shocks are you using with your set up and are you using a shock relocater bracket? and also are you using 400ex arms or 300ex arms

[414tinner]

I have 300ex LSR +2" a arms Std. travel. Right now I just have stock shocks, I have been trying to fine either a set of 300ex std. travel aftermarket shocks or a set of 250r 400ex 450R std. travel aftermarket front shocks with a shock relocater bracket.

For the rear I think I am now going to have the swing arm lengthened +2" and go with the raptor rear shock and possibily re-spring it for him.

[shiley55]

ok if your running the standard shocks then you would be able to use 400ex or yfz450 with a relocater for sure but im woundering if you could use 450r shocks with that +2 inches of leverage and also for the rear you could look at a 450r swinger and then you can get a real good shock the extended length and you will get a wider axle thats what ill be doing for my 300ex im building for my wife but it all depends on how much money you have to spend and what your future plans are for the quad

[shiley55]

also your gettign a much stronger axle for not a whole lot of money. another thing that bothers me is where i read that the guy had the jump up and down on the front to get the shocks to compress i wounder if the shocks were bad and thats why the guy that sold them to him . i know that the suspension geometry is diffrent from a 300ex 400ex and 450r but you dont have to jump up and down on the front of a 450r to get the shocks to compress so im prob just gonna get 400ex yfz450 and 450r shocks and try them all and then we will have a answer with test facts to back it

[414tinner]

When you get done with yours, if you dont mind could you throw some pictures up here. I would be interested in the 450R rear end because I race the 450R and I have most of that stuff. Would 04-05 be better or 06 and newer. I have a couple of 04-05 set ups laying around because I use 06 and newer on my race bikes.

[shiley55]

im not sure what year would be the best to use but would you be intrested in selling any of the other sets i will check tomorrow about what is best/most used

[414tinner]

If you need a 04-05 swing arm and linkage I could set you up. 06 and newer i dont have any extras.

[shiley55]

wel i guess you can use the 450r linkage and shock of 250r linkage and shock

[sameltoe]

Originally posted by shiley55
wel i guess you can use the 450r linkage and shock of 250r linkage and shock What? spit it out kid.lol

[shiley55]

ya im not sure what was going on at the time but sometimes i just cant spell lol