rocz Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 I went to put my new front shocks on my 88 the other day and i noticed that the left one as your sitting on it went right in with out having to unbolt anything, but the right wouldn't go in without unbolting the upper arm. I looked everything over when it was all apart i didn't notice anything bent. Any ideas on what might be wrong?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRed350x Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 Could be a tweaked frame, bent arm, worn out ball joints, bent shock mounts.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locogato11283 Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 Post pics from several different views. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYUK Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 most likely it`s a bent j arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocz Posted December 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 (edited) I had it all taken apart, cleaned up everything, made new bushings for the j arms and a arms. It did have a bent shock on the right side when i got it, but the ball joints feel real nice and i just don't see anything that is bent. You guys see anything im missing? How do the shocks go in on, do they go in easy with everything bolted up or do you have to unbolt the j arms? Edited December 29, 2010 by rocz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ban99 Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 I think you should just start pulling measurements. Take the wheels off and find a good referance point (I like to use the foot pegs because it is unlikely they are bent) and measure from that point to the center of the spindal. Write your measurements down and do both sides. You need to do this from several points and to all the questionable mounting points of the suspension components. Basically what you are doing is triangulating these points and comparing from one side of the bike to the other which should pin point the problem. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starwriter Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 (edited) Run your finger over the back side of the J arm just outside the reinforcing gusset. (about 3" out from the bushing) If you feel ripples in the tube, the J arm is bent. It's unlikely that the frame is bent. I've seen some pretty mangled J arms, and the frame was fine. In the 4th pic, it kind of looks like what I'm talking about. In the top left corner of the pic, you see 2 shiny spots with a dark spot in between on the J arm. Edited December 29, 2010 by Starwriter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRed350x Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 The angle of your arms in the pic taken from the front looks really steep. Are you sure your shocks are the correct length? They might be an inch or two too long and its throwing off the alignment of everything. The paint chipping off around the j-arm mounts on the frame also makes me think your whole frame might be tweaked from a rollover. Given its a J-Arm frame, its been around for over 20 years now. Chances are its been rolled or crashed in those 20 years. Maybe its time to just invest in a new frame if stuff isn't lining up or appears crooked. What the length of your shocks eye to eye? Maybe I'm just used to seeing our banshees with the +2 and +3 a-arms and I've forgotton how steep the stock a-arms sit, but yours look odd to me for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocz Posted December 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 Run your finger over the back side of the J arm just outside the reinforcing gusset. (about 3" out from the bushing) If you feel ripples in the tube, the J arm is bent. It's unlikely that the frame is bent. I've seen some pretty mangled J arms, and the frame was fine. In the 4th pic, it kind of looks like what I'm talking about. In the top left corner of the pic, you see 2 shiny spots with a dark spot in between on the J arm. good eyes it does have some ripples back their, and looking down it, it just doesn't look like it has the same bend as the other side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocz Posted December 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 The angle of your arms in the pic taken from the front looks really steep. Are you sure your shocks are the correct length? They might be an inch or two too long and its throwing off the alignment of everything. The paint chipping off around the j-arm mounts on the frame also makes me think your whole frame might be tweaked from a rollover. Given its a J-Arm frame, its been around for over 20 years now. Chances are its been rolled or crashed in those 20 years. Maybe its time to just invest in a new frame if stuff isn't lining up or appears crooked. What the length of your shocks eye to eye? Maybe I'm just used to seeing our banshees with the +2 and +3 a-arms and I've forgotton how steep the stock a-arms sit, but yours look odd to me for some reason. the shocks are the same length as the stock ones i checked that when i put them on. I looked over the frame today, i don't see anything or feel anything wrong with the frame. I'm going to start taking some measurements of stuff to make sure the frame is good. I think the problem is in that j arm like Starwriter said it even looks like that tire is cambered in and the spring comes real close to the j arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocz Posted January 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2011 I took some measurements on it today the frame is ok the right J is where the problem is. Does anyone have one laying around or a extended set of arm's for sale?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starwriter Posted January 1, 2011 Report Share Posted January 1, 2011 J arms are getting stupidly expensive. People want $50 on ebay for arms that are bent worse than yours. I was shocked to see that new retail is $274 each. Here's a nice pair of D arms for cheap at this point, but keep in mind that if you whack something really hard with these babies, you will probably bend your frame. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_rdc=1&item=110630322930 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papa_smurf49319 Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 ever think of converting to a arms? Nice shee by the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocz Posted January 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 J arms are getting stupidly expensive. People want $50 on ebay for arms that are bent worse than yours. I was shocked to see that new retail is $274 each. Here's a nice pair of D arms for cheap at this point, but keep in mind that if you whack something really hard with these babies, you will probably bend your frame. http://cgi.ebay.com/...em=110630322930 Thanks for the link ill be keeping a eye on them, its crazy what people want a bent J ive looked at some on their that do look way worse i cant believe they even try to sell them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocz Posted January 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 ever think of converting to a arms? Nice shee by the way Thanks. I thought about doing a swap, I just don't want to spend the money on a different frame if mine is still good tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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