400ex front end messed up

[300exBorg]

Well I went out to test my 450r shocks I put on the other week and was riding down a trail and hit a rock pretty hard. It instantly popped my right tire and now my front end is pretty warped. I am new to these quads and am not exactly sure where to start. I know tie rods are supposed to be a "weak point" in the front end but it does not seem to be bent. I look at my front end and can't really tell if the a-arms are bent or not. Something is obviously not right since my tire is crooked and if you look closely at the picture I am going to post it looks as if the hub is lower on the side that I hit earlier. I am not even sure where to start. I just want some other people to look at the picture to maybe see something that I do not see. The side that is messed up is the right side when sitting on the quad (left side in the pic tho).

http://s821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/borgeyyayo/?action=view&current=IMG_20120730_173707.jpg

[dxcody]

maybe blew out the wheel bearing?

[jgar]

Could just be the pic..... But the knuckle on the left in the pic looks bent. I would also check out the upper ball joint on the same side.

[300exBorg]

Nah it's def. not just the picture. It looks exactly like that in real life. I don't know too much about these things (not that they're too complicated but) I would like to avoid just throwing parts at it as much as possible. I know when it comes down to it that it's up to me to figure out exactly what's going on but I figured I'd see what you experts and fellow riders had to say about it.... Do you think it's safe to say my bottom a-arm is not bent?

I can also get a picture that is closer to the arms if needed.

[CJM]

Mines also slightly like that, knuckles bent I think slightly as the same side of mine got a new tie rod not to long ago.

Id not worry about it unless it leans ALOT. I have new knuckles I picked off of ebay for a steal (sure you can find some too) that I plan to use with some +1 arms sooner or later.

So long as the handling isnt really effected I wouldnt lose sleep over it.

[jgar]

I would focus on the knuckle.
The lower a arm looks ok but its just one pic. If you think the a arm is a issue get a tape measure and straight edge and compare both lower a arms.

[300exBorg]

thanks for the replies everyone. I am going to measure the a-arms like previously mentioned but now that you guys mention it, it does seem like the knuckle is messed up. It would make sense that it's the knuckle that's bent since the inside of my rim is what hit the rock (put a wicked big dent in my rim and popped my tire) so I would imagine that the impact def. could have bent that knuckle. In real life it looks A LOT more crooked than in the picture. I think tie rods and knuckle will be my first items purchased. I'd really hate to start putting $ into the front end since I plan on buying some aftermarket a-arms in the upcoming months. I am posting another picture that is more close to give a better view.

http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz139/borgeyyayo/IMG_20120730_201606.jpg

[hondaREX]

Where do you guys think the knuckle is bent? Where the axle shaft goes into the knuckle? Or the knuckle itself? Measure the flat spots on the knuckle where the ball joints go through. Comparing the measurements from both sides. If it's the shaft you think is bent, raise the front end and spin the wheel and watch the hub for wobble.

[jkosakowski]

Im also gona say its the knuckle because mine is like that also.

[300exBorg]

Yeah the shaft I don't think is bent because it doesn't "wobble" on it at all. How hard is it to replace those knuckles? It doesn't seem like it's too hard of a job but then again I am new to all this. I am going to measure everything and take a really good look at it with the info you guys have given me tomorrow when I get out of work. I really hope it's just this knuckle.

[CJM]

Gotta get off the balljoints. All you need is a bolt and nut and some sockets and it pops right off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDcRpSXpDcg

[hondaREX]

Good video CJM. Not a bad idea at all.

Another thing to measure borg, measure the wheelbase. From centerline of rear axle to centerline of front axle. If your a-arms are tweeked, measurements will be different from side to side. But thats only if both upper and lower are tweeked that it will really show up. If only your lower is tweeked, it will only throw the measurements off by a very small amount. Kind of a PITA but with 2 people you can eye the 2 centerlines up or remove the wheels and its a piece of cake. Removing the wheels is probably the only accurate way to do it.

And another, remove the front bumper. If your frame is in good shape, put the front bumper mounts against a known straight wall or structure and take measurements from the wall or structure to various points on the front end, comparing to the known "better" side. Too may bumpers are tweeked to rely on them as a straight base to measure from. My DG is tweeked and if you put it against a wall or the front of a pickup bed, the front end looks all out of wack. Good luck and report back.

[300exBorg]

CJM thanks for the video man! That makes it look pretty damn easy. I have the day off tomorrow and plan on spending some time with the quad to see what's really going on now that I have a better idea of what to do.

hondaREX I am def. going to do all that tomorrow when my buddy comes over. I am hoping my a-arm is not bent since I do not want to buy a single stock arm. I plan on putting Houser arms on in the next couple months.

Oh by the way how do you put the ball joints back together? Just tighten them back up pretty much?

[CJM]

yep, tighten them back up. They use cotter pins, make sure you put them back or replace them when done.

your welcome for the video.

[300exBorg]

Hey hondaREX I noticed you're from Mass. What part do you live in? Any good riding spots where you live? I am right on the RI/Mass border.