400 shocks on 250x

why do i need a shock mount kit? I got my friends a-arms and shocks on mine right now and i cant see a problem. i havent ridden it yet cause i sent my motor to be beefed up. so can you guys tell me of any problems before i screw somethin up. thanks

[Giz400ex]

A friend of mine just recently tried to use just 400ex shocks on his 250x but wouldn't work. So he found a set of 400ex a-arms with the shocks and everything works fine so far but for some reason he's bending alot of tie-rods. This summer and fall he has gone through 2 tie-rods and there were opposite sides. I'm not sure if that answered your question????

thanx alot man that helped quite a bit but ill have to look in to those tie rods

[quadfamily]

I don't see how he got the 400EX shocks on the 250X. They are so much longer. Even with the suspension fully extended the shocks are still about 2" too long. What did he do, compress the springs to get them in? If so he's in for a pretty harsh ride I would think plus it's gonna sit really high in the front.

[Giz400ex]

Now you got me thinking here!! He also just bought new work shocks, so maybe your right!!! I would have to ask him because I swear he had those on there but I could be wrong.

[250x]

if you use the 400ex arms the 400ex shocks will work because the mounting point on the 400ex arms are lower to make the longer shocks work. it sits no higher but gives more travel. i also fabed the rear 400ex shock on mine wich is sweet! that takes some work though.

[Giz400ex]

well, then there's your answers there blazen and quadfamily!!! Thanks there 250x!!! I was getting screwed up there for a minute.

thanks for all the help

[Poncho]

I'm lost:huh would a lowering kit help this mod any better?

[Giz400ex]

I would say no!!!

[kabd69667]

So if you have 400ex tie rods, arms, and shocks, they will work on a 250x?

[250x]

yes,yes,and yes.

[quadfamily]

Hey guys, I still have to politely disagree with you. I tried it myself on my 300EX. I put the 400EX a-arms on and let the front suspension hang free. With the a-arms at their lowest point of travel I put a 400EX shock onto the a-arm and put a bolt through the mounting hole. I tried to mount the top of the shock to the upper shock mount but the shock was about 2" higher than the shock mount hole on the frame. I did not try to compress the shock to make it fit because I figured this would not be a good thing especially with the suspension hanging way past where it should normally be already. I think a lowering kit would help very much. You may be able to use the 400EX shocks if you had the 2" lowering kit. I really don't see how you did this 250X. Have you actually finished the swap and ridden your quad that way yet?? Oh yeah, the shock mounting point on the 400EX a-arms is not lower, it is more outboard than the original a-arms though which makes the shocks angled outward at the bottom more. Again, I'm not trying to start a war here, I just don't see how it can be done because I tried it. So don't take this as a flame of any kind.

[250x]

no flame takin, but yea i know the shocks sit more outward wich does the same effect of being lower. but yes i did the swap and have been jumping hard for about a year now. it is fine to compress the shock 2 inches to get the bolt through wich is fine because the shock is softer so when you put the quad back on the ground it compresses to the same ride height as stock 250x. i still have the same "up" travel when i pull up the front as i did before but more compress travel and better ride and handeling.

[quadfamily]

Dan,
Excellent, I'll have to try this. I have the 400EX shocks sitting here. Does your suspension bottom in the front? I was wondering because when you compress the shock you take away shock travel. I know the 400 shocks have more travel to begin with though. And back to this one more time: If you had a 2" lowering kit you would not have to compress the shocks at all. Therefore you would gain 2" of shock travel. Do you think it would be worth it? You might know because you already have the shocks. I'm just trying to think of ways of optimizing the setup and using everything to its potential. Thanks for clearing things up!

[countypark]

I have 400 EX a-arms, tie rods, and shocks on my 300 ex. We made a bolt on bracket kit for the upper shock mount. Side by side my 94 300 is identical in the front as the 400. I do have a problem with the tierod end hitting the left a-arm. I should be able to remedy this, just haven't had the time. Some day I am going to market this and put it up for sale. With my kit you can use any 250R or 400 shocks.

[250x]

you might be better off with a lowering kit but for my riding i dont bottom out. i must not jump as hard as i think. do you 400 guys bottom your front out? this setup works pretty good for me but maybe not everyone, like alot of things. how do you like your 250x? i'm surprised on the way it stays not too far behind the 400 while trail riding, i mean the 400 is alot faster but i thought it would be a escort racing a vette. its more like a camaro racing a vette.it made me feel good about saving the $3500 difference. i would love a shiny 400 but not sure i'd have $3500 more fun.

[quadfamily]

Hey Guys,
I finally got around to putting the 400EX shocks on my quad. I did try it without a lowering kit but it was way too hard to compress the shocks to get them into the mounts. I thought that having the supsension extended under such spring pressure would not be a good thing for me. So I bought a Durablue front end lowering kit for $60. This kit raises the upper shock mounting points by about 2" and it still was not enough to get the 400ex shocks in without compressing the springs. So what I wound up doing is drilling two more holes in the bracket raising the bracket an additional 1/2". The shocks went right in. The jury is still out on whether I like this setup or not. I'm not used to my front end being high. It looks alot higher than a stock 300EX now because it is. I did a quick test ride and everything felt OK but I only rode for a few minutes. When I get a chance to test it more I'll let you know how I like it. The quad definately has a rake to it now, It's nowhere near level. With my 20" rear tires and stock fronts it sits much lower in the back than in the front. I may get a set of those new 20"X6"X10" Razr front MX tires. That'll lower it in the front an inch.

[450r_rider]

Where did you purchase the lowering kit? I've been riding on the 250x shocks because the 400's wouldnt fit. I've found the kit at several different places however they all want $75 to $80 for the kit. Also did the kit say anything about it not being intended for jumping or motocross? One of the sites i found the kit on made that claim and I wasnt sure if was the sites opinion or a disclaimer by Durablue.

[lil400exman]

well everyone we have had alot of threads about this. To make this work right you need to get a shock re-locator that they sell on ebay alot. It bolts onto your exsisting mounts and raises the shock eye up to compensate to get it back to stock 300 ex ride height. hope i could help!

[quadfamily]

lil ex man is right but mine works fine. It did say it was meant for flat track but I haven't had a single problem with it in 2 years. I get a real good discount at my local dealer so th eprice you were quoted is probably pretty close.

[cdalejef]

Quadfamily....be very careful, lowering kits were designed for flat track and TT not trail riding or racing/jumping.

I have warned people about swaping a-arms from one model to another till I was blue in the face, but some people still don't want to listen. :(
Just because something bolts together doesn't mean its safe!

[countypark]

Listen to Jeff,

He definately knows what he is talking about. You can use the shocks with an upper mount but you need to use 300ex a-arms, stock or aftermarket.

Only way to make it right.

County Park

[ZSK]

Originally posted by Jeff@QuadShop
Quadfamily....be very careful, lowering kits were designed for flat track and TT not trail riding or racing/jumping.

I have warned people about swaping a-arms from one model to another till I was blue in the face, but some people still don't want to listen. :(
Just because something bolts together doesn't mean its safe!

I'm one of them I tried arguing with jeff about this, I see his point completely now. The 400ex a-arms are a cheap way out. Use 300ex extended a-arms with 400ex shocks. Your stock geometry will be retained if you use a-arms designed for your wheeler. 400ex shocks will give you more travel.

[toby400ex]

I dont know how you are still using that durablue lowering kit. When i used a lowering kit it was pretty bent up within a month of riding.:confused:

[quadfamily]

i don't know either, I must land softly..........

[450r_rider]

After putting a Durablue extended rear axle on my 250x it felt uneasy in the turns. Then I broke a front shock and thought well now is my chance to push the front end out to help compensate for the rear….. Used all 400ex parts and obviously I’m in the same situation as the rest of you needing a lowering kit. I can definitely appreciate Jeff's advice on not using the lowering kit for safety reasons. I’ve landed hard enough several times to bottom the 250x flat out and scrape the frame. I think a 14 or 15 inch shock may solve the problem. I’ve had rough time trying to find shock lengths on quads from internet sites. Does anybody know of a stock shock from another quad that is this length?

[ZSK]

I've read a couple people using blaster shocks but it just isn't the same. The mount isn't that hard to make at all. Here's a picture of mine.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid74/p09b3e9d97304796562b862f8dea71550/fb5fb4ce.jpg
And it is plenty strong I've managed to bottom out the 400ex shocks and still the mount is exactley as we made it. If anybody is worried about it bending look at it like this. The stock shockmounts are 1/8" thick, my mount is made of 1/4" stock, bolted on with hardenend bolts 14mm shafts.

[450r_rider]

I thought about fabricating my own also. It's good to hear yours is holding up. Do you have any more pics that have a clearer view of the fabrication?

[ZSK]

I don't have any better ones. I'll be at home this weekend and I'll take some better pictures.

[ZSK]

Just took this one tonight after I put the works on (thanks CHAUNCY), gives you a better veiw.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid102/p6a43293e450a569053eabb2988523847/f9c6cdda.jpg

[450r_rider]

Great pic and thanks!!!!!

[ZSK]

Here's the dimensions
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid102/p585cde2cecc8881ab2ed9bd6ad44bc32/f9c27578.jpg

The holes aren't the correct measurement because they vary with the bolts you use. My mount is 1/4" steel, has held up almost a year now still the same as the day it was made. To hold on the mount I used 18mm head x14mm shaft (little over 1/2") hardended bolts not bending or breaking. The top is 1x1 1/2 or 1x2 I can't remember. I hope this helps.

[450r_rider]

Is the top a piece of u-channel? I'm guessing so... Also is there matching brackets for the back to bolt to the frame?
Thanks

[300exOH]

I have a custom set of Works shocks that are 14.75" long. They are made for the 300ex with 400ex/250r a arms. You will NOT need a shockmount for these shocks. Like new. $275 if anyone is interested.

[bradley300]

Originally posted by cleanshave300ex
I'm one of them I tried arguing with jeff about this, I see his point completely now. The 400ex a-arms are a cheap way out. Use 300ex extended a-arms with 400ex shocks. Your stock geometry will be retained if you use a-arms designed for your wheeler. 400ex shocks will give you more travel.

welcome to the bright side:) i knew you'd come around!

[swamprider7]

Don't use Durablue lowering kits to do this conversion unless you don't plan on jumping! They are very weak. I am the guy that sells the shockmounts on ebay. I have sold over 80 now and have not heard any complaints at all. They are MUCH stronger than durablue lowering kits and a lot cheaper too. $60 shipped to your door. Just send me a pm if interested.
Thanks.

[ZSK]

Originally posted by 450r_rider
Is the top a piece of u-channel? I'm guessing so... Also is there matching brackets for the back to bolt to the frame?
Thanks

Yes it is a piece of U channel. There are matching bracket on the back. Theyhad to be angled slightly and a little ground out to fit around the welds. It's not hard to do you just have to trust the welding.

[450r_rider]

Thanks again!