Ball Joint Mod

[willyswagon]

Has anyone done the ball joint mod to their MTX or XTX?
I see lots of people are doing it to the short track sleds to improve cornering on trail. I ride mostly fields and meadows but do ride trails from time to time and would like to be able to go into the corners without the feeling that it is about to high side. I just find it has so much push.

Thanks for any in put.

 

[weldion]

Do you mean to shorten the upper A arm ball joint in the lathe? I did this to my MTX a couple of days ago. 4 mm on each side and I think it's a nice mod with very little effort.

 

[willyswagon]

Yes that was what I was meaning. Many people with the short track Phazers have taken 2-2.5 mm off of the ball joint shoulder(next to the threaded shaft) to give better handling in the corners. I was just wondering if anyone with the longer track machines(MTX &XTX) have done it and how the machine now handles in either the corners on trail, and off trail?

 

[Black7]

I've been watching this mod also. Are they undercutting the balljoint shoulders so that they thread them back in, past the original shoulder? Hope that makes sense.

I'm in the same boat, er sled, about the "push" into the corners. I find that if I get up close and hug the fuel tank, it corners pretty decent.

If you sit back on the seat, like on an older sled, it does not respond very well.

 

[weldion]

If you remove material from the ball joints the steering will feel more dull. It will not be as aggressive in the turns, it would be more under steering than before. If you want more over steering you should shorten your limiter strap and get skis with a deeper keel.
The advantage with this mod is that it feels more sturdy to ride the sled.
It's not a night and day change, but I like the behavior of the sled now.

 

[kallholmen]

I disagree. It's a huge improvement. But I do recommend a lot more negative camber. Guess I have 15-18mm now.
But you do have to set toe-out afterwards, should be about 15 mm.
I have also changed the caster (spindle from Nytro) and shimmed the ski rubber to put pressure on the back of the ski.

 

[campsleder]

yes I have done the 2.5mm off the ball joint with great success ! shortened the limiter strap and Nytro powder skies with Bergstorm carbides (shimmed ski)corners like on rail road tacks !

 

[yamahamm]

I did this mod on my nytro mtx and its a new sled to ride, now i have the skis on the narrowest setting and i still can ride hard in the corners. And its super easy to play in the trees Feel like i am rasmussen or burandt att some times
Ps. i remowed 7mm on each side. Maybe too much on the phazer..?

 

[kallholmen]

Na, I've got about 7 mm per side (14 total). Tried more but settled for 7 since I didn't gain any stability by adding more.