Why is My Steering So Stiff?

[D-4our]

I just installed some +3/+1 a-arms with axis long travel susp. and when i was all good and done my steering was really stiff. when i turn the wheels its more of an effort than it should be. Do i just need to break it in because its all new? please help, thanx-Baldwin

well i dont think the arms or shocks could really effect that, is your steering stem bent? id take off the steering stem clamp and grease up the bushing, check out that lower bearing if that doesnt help

[D-4our]

thanx but the steering stem and everything is perfectly fine. i know for a fact that its where the ball joints bolt on to the spindles because when i turn it with the tie-rods dis-connected and the tires off it takes some effort.

[Ralph]

grease up the green bushing up on the top steering stem mount

[muff]

try riding it for a little bit first, the ball joints may need to get broken in first before they are easy to turn

if this doesnt solve it try unbolting the tie rods and then turn the stem...this will help narrow down the problem

[D-4our]

thanx

[muff]

Originally posted by D-4our
thanx

np, let us know how it turns out, I am curious to see if it is just the ball joints that need breaking in

[D-4our]

i hope thats all it needs, too bad i wont be able to see for a week because im waitin' on my brake lines and fittings for my shocks to come in but ill post the results asap. thanx again-baldwin

[muff]

how much did the LT front end cost ya?

[D-4our]

well i got the a-arms and tie-rods for about 750 and i bought the shocks off of steve abbot from Quad-central II for 1100. theyre a BIG step up from the 17 year old susp. that i had on the ol' 250r:cool:

[EXrider03]

what is there website

pull the top steering bracket off. put a washer inbetween the brackets on ONE side, and one side only. This should make the steering smooth as silk...:cool:



Washer thickness may vary. Mines about as big as a dime in thickness. This is a cheap and very effective way to make steering easier..

[brandonpeake]

what exaclty does that do rico?

[muff]

Originally posted by brandonpeake
what exaclty does that do rico?

it will reduce how tight the clamp is on the stem..not a bad idea if i may add :D

Originally posted by muff
not a bad idea if i may add :D


Beer hasn't killed all ma brain cells yet....:o


This is almost a must for stems that are PC'd since the stem is thicker..

[muff]

Originally posted by Rico
Beer hasn't killed all ma brain cells yet....:o

lol any other hidden tricks you got? :cool:

[KandK952]

Does it do it all the time, or just when the front end is lifted up and the sag is all let out? If that is the case your balljoints are probably binding inside the housing and grinding metal to metal... this happened to a friend of mine, it is because the shocks weren't the right length. Did you have to pick up on your a-arms just a tiny bit to get them into the mounts of the a-arms? (like 1/4")

[D-4our]

no, i can disconnect the tie-rods, take the shock off, take the tire off, and when i give it a turn it isnt easy.

[muff]

its either 1. the bearing in the bottom is shot, or 2. put some kind of lube in the steering stem bushing

[D-4our]

the problem isnt in the steering stem its in the brand new ball joints and spindles. ill be able to find out for sure this weekend.

[muff]

ohh ok yea that what I originally thought...but in this post you said you disconnected the tie-rods and it still wasnt easy


Originally posted by D-4our
no, i can disconnect the tie-rods, take the shock off, take the tire off, and when i give it a turn it isnt easy.

[D-4our]

oh i meant when i turn the spindle or the hub with my hands. my mistake