How to tell if i bent my a arms or my subframe?

[CEMJR2]

Hayter 11, those pictures look just like my sled after last weekend. I have Grizz's gusset kit on mine. I was checking it out last night. I took the upper and lower A frames off ( they were still unbent) to get a look at what might be bent, and there it was , the rear mount of the upper A frame was bent and partly tore away from the frame tube. Grizz's gusset kit did it's job and protected the parts it strengthens but the upper A frame mounts are too weak of a design. The hit was NOTHING !! and should not have damaged anything . I very disappointed with Yamaha's design and this sled is not long for my garage !

 

[grizztracks]

I'd like to see pictures of a damaged frame after it's been reinforced. I'm always looking to make improvements if needed although there becomes a point that something has to give.

I did this last year with a reinforced frame. The frame survived, I just had to repair the mounting hole.

 

[CEMJR2]

Grizz, yes I saw the pics, having some trouble navigating the new site format. Your response came in on my phone but not my I pad?.

 

[1nc 2000]

Look for A bend in the left lower a arm between the shock and aft pivot mount.

 

[Hayter11]

Yeah ok thanks for the info hognit09. My shock is touching the a-arm so I am sure it is not factory. I will be taking the sled apart after the season is over to look everything over. But from looking at the a arms while they are on they look dead straight. I can get the shock centered in the a-arms with a prybar so I do not think I am bending my subframe because it has the gussets in it so it should be stronger than anything else. Is it possible for the bushings to cause all this?

 

[markyb]

IMO one or both of your a arms are bent. I had a 09 vector and once hit a small knob of ice under the snow. I felt that something wasn't right but after searching for an entire season I couldn't find any indication that anything was wrong, even though my shock was closer to the a arm as your pictures show. A year later I saw signs of the paint cracking on the lower a arm so I ordered a new one. When removing the components, I found as well that the upper a arm actually twisted and once dis assembled I could not re assemble without a new upper as well. Basically, if you start to take apart the suspect side, if any of the a arm bolts are at all difficult to remove that should be your first clue. The setups are different on the vector and the nytro, but basic principal is the same. To answer your bushing question, I bought my 09 nytro used with the knowledge that all front end bushings were replaced. I found a lot of play in an upper a arm and sometimes the shock would sit as yours is now, but you would not need a pry bar to re align. I found one bushing was replaced with a wrong one. I went ahead and replaced all with oilites and am very satisfied with the fit. My advice is to check the troubled side by taking it apart and comparing with the good side. As I said, I couldn't tell that mine was bent until I saw the paint. And the oilite bushings aren't a bad idea either to tighten up the front end all around. Hope this helps.