04/05 spindles are they better?

[bean2080]

i just bought a used 08 450r that was all ready set up for XC. now keep in mind that i have never owned a 450r before so i dont have any previous experience to go off of. when riding i noticed that the quad would take farily wide turns(alot wider than my 400ex) so i was just thinking that is was just a 450r deal and just kind of forgot about it. well i got to talking to some buddies about it and they said it should turn better than that.

so that lead me to look into this a little more, i emailed Josh Houser and sent him a pic of my front end and he said that it looks like i have 04/05 a-arms on my 2008 450r. he said not to freek out because its not a big deal at all, but he did say that if i was wanting better stearing that i should look into getting 04/05 spindles. he said that alot of the pros do this and it helps with the steering.

so my question is, are 04/05 spindles really that much better or is there almost no difference? i trust Josh but i dont want to fork out $150 just for slight better turning. if its a big difference then im fine with spending the money on new spindles.
thanks!

[fastredrider44]

Are your arms camber adjustable? Also, you will need 05 hubs as well, and yes, it will make a big difference. You can also grind down the stops on your stem and get a little more.

[bean2080]

wow thanks for a fast reply!! and yes they are adjustable.

here is a pic i ment to include in my first post.

http://i85.servimg.com/u/f85/14/35/90/20/100_3011.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=2&u=14359020)

[troybilt]

I had the same aarms... and the 04/05 spindles and hubs are night and day better... no BS. I should've take pics of the difference bw. the 04/05 hubs vs. 06+ hubs and spindles. Big difference.

[fastredrider44]

You would also benefit from 4+1 wheels. But the 05 spindles and hubs would do wonders.

[ZBlaster]

Originally posted by bean2080
wow thanks for a fast reply!! and yes they are adjustable.

here is a pic i ment to include in my first post.

http://i85.servimg.com/u/f85/14/35/90/20/100_3011.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=2&u=14359020)


Is it just me or is your alignment off pretty bad?

[bean2080]

it could very well be off, i havent had the time to really tear into it yet. hopefully this winter i will get to check some stuff out on it.

[ZBlaster]

If you look at your bars your left tire is cut with them, but the right still appears straight while the bars are obviously cut... fix that and itll help matters some.

[sameltoe]

Either way(alignment issues) the 04/05 hubs are night an day!! I cant stand riding either one of my buddies 06 an up quads

[bean2080]

thanks for all the help! and yes the front end is not straght, i will be fixing that when i get a chance.

[quad2xtreme]

as somebody else said, grind down the stops at the bottom of the stem too. This makes a huge improvement.

[73watermutt]

How much do you grind off the stops?

[quad2xtreme]

Originally posted by 73watermutt
How much do you grind off the stops?
I grind them slowly until the rim is about 3/8" from hitting the a-arm when the bars are completely turned.

I've gone tight enough on the 400ex to allow the rim to touch the a-arm because I run hiper rims.

Here's the deal though...that front end needs proper alignment and toe-in before you do this. If you grind the stem first and then adjust, one rim might touch the a-arm while the other doesn't.

/Jon

[fastredrider44]

What he said. Remember, You can always go back and take more off, but its much more difficult to put it back on. Also, different wheels and different a-arms, etc will be a factor. I didn't grind my stops until I knew what wheels and a arms I was running.

[Baxter]

If you are going to buy new 04 hubs and spindles then grind the stops down. There is an easier way. Fit TRX700xx hubs and spindles.
I have a 04 450r and fitted the 700xx spindles and hubs. It turns better and no grinding. The steering arm on the 700xx spindle is shorter , so turns more. I have photos if you want to see the differance.

[fastredrider44]

I would like to see.

[Baxter]

this is one pic.
http://www.club700xx.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1056&page=4
Keep reading it's worth ya while.
Could not post pic , Had to do a shortcut. Sorry !

[Baxter]

700xx on left, 450r on right.

[Scro]

Is the camber changed at all with this setup on stock arms?

[fastredrider44]

450R brakes work on it? What hubs?

[Baxter]

No camber change and you have to use 700xx hubs . The brakes are the same.

[Scro]

That's good info...thanks.