Hi, new guy here with a 2000 440ex

[Moparornocar]

I am a new owner of a 2000 400ex, 440 kit, hot cams stage 2, dmc alien exhaust and a few other tidbits. My main question is I ride mostly flat trails with quite a bit of mud. The quad eats the mud fine, but ground clearance is an issue. Along with my live of the big rim/ tire look on all the utility quads, I want to swap my wheels and tires for a set of 14" ITP ss112's and a 25-27 inch all terrain tire. Any clues on how to make that happen? I believe i will likely need to extend the swingarm in the rear. I think with a bolt pattern adapter the fronts will clear. Anybody done this?

[Zakradu398]

I am a new owner of a 2000 400ex, 440 kit, hot cams stage 2, dmc alien exhaust and a few other tidbits. My main question is I ride mostly flat trails with quite a bit of mud. The quad eats the mud fine, but ground clearance is an issue. Along with my live of the big rim/ tire look on all the utility quads, I want to swap my wheels and tires for a set of 14" ITP ss112's and a 25-27 inch all terrain tire. Any clues on how to make that happen? I believe i will likely need to extend the swingarm in the rear. I think with a bolt pattern adapter the fronts will clear. Anybody done this?

Nobody has done this because it is not in the least bit a good idea. The quad will in turn handle horribly and be down on a lot of power with tires that big..

If you want the most clearance on a 400, go with some extended gullwing a arms (such as alba) and go with a 450r swingarm/ axle. Reason for that is you can then run rotor and sprocket guards instead of a swingarm skid, that will likely be the most clearance with stock sized tires. Also the best choice IMO.

[CJM]

22" rear tires and 23" fronts.

[400man]

and tighten the preload on the shocks to make the ride height as high as possible

[Moparornocar]

thanks for the advice guys. That is what i needed to hear. I really wanted to do it more from a looks standpoint, but with the added benefit of added ground clearance. I have been looking at upgrading the shocks and have been told the lt450? were a direct bolt on. Any thoughts?

[CJM]

Honda 450r shocks are direct bolt on, all you have to do is take a large flathead and hammer and knock off the nut on the underside of the top shock mount and replace it with a carriage bolt and a nut. They make the quad ride better, but the ride is harsh unless your 200+lbs.

[Moparornocar]

I only weigh about 180. I may stick with the stock shocks then, i really like the soft ride it has now.

[Moparornocar]

A few pics of my beast, with one of the wife and I out trail riding last weekend.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll286/750chop/Mobile%20Uploads/20141024_153321_zpscwgexmmq.jpg (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/750chop/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141024_153321_zpscwgexmmq.jpg.html)


http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll286/750chop/Mobile%20Uploads/20141030_204519_zpse9qt6rex.jpg (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/750chop/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141030_204519_zpse9qt6rex.jpg.html)

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll286/750chop/Mobile%20Uploads/20141030_204535_zps3c6jjznb.jpg (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/750chop/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141030_204535_zps3c6jjznb.jpg.html)

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll286/750chop/Mobile%20Uploads/20141024_153334_zpsaoet74ut.jpg (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/750chop/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141024_153334_zpsaoet74ut.jpg.html)

[Moparornocar]

looking at doing some upgrades this winter, ITP SS112 wheels, new A arms and taller tires. Any suggestions for the best parts to look for?

[wilkin250r]

I've run into lots of ground-clearance problems with my 400ex. Unfortunately, I never got around to actually solving them, I'm still running 20-inch rears.

Most of your ground clearance problems are going to come from the rear, and the only thing that will help you is taller rear tires. I've seen a few 23-inch tall rear tires, but they aren't very common, and the tread pattern sucks. For a tire designed for a sport quad, 22 is about as tall as it gets. Anything larger than that is going to be designed for a utility quad, and likely require 12-inch rims.

[DragonGunner]

I saw a picture in dirt wheels magazine someone sent in of their 400ex. Had big mud tires on it, looked like 25" or bigger, he had put something like a 48 tooth rear sprocket on it and used to for mud. No way you could run nerfs on that though.

[400man]

the carlisle trail wolf tire comes in a 25-12x9, its got a great tread pattern for mud.

http://www.atvtirestore.com/carlisle_trail_wolf_atv_tires.html

[MtnEX]

Believe it or not.... I actually know a guy who can help you with this.

There is WAAAAAYYYY more to this change than what is on the surface to be able to run the tires and retain the handling.
Turns out looking a little home made Frankenstein but it works.

If you're good with your hands and have access to all kinds of tools for metal work and such, I'll get you in touch with him.

If not, I would highly recommend 22/23 tire combo, or just trade for an Outlaw 525 IRS or a Utility 4x4.

[JOHNDOE83]

if you buy a dura blue rear lowering strut you can actually adjust it to raise the rear of the 400ex pretty high if you want to!

it goes were the dog bone is for the rear suspension, the shorter you adjust the dog bone the higer the quad gets, the longer you make it the lower it gets, pretty sweet actually!!