Question about Front Suspension Bushings & Replacement

[Metallicat]

I have 3200 miles on my Vec, and have a bit of in-and-out movement on my a-arms where they connect to the bulkhead. How much movement? Not a lot but it is noticable when I move the arms in and out at the bulkhead point. Do you think they should be replaced this year? Also, the white plastic bushing pieces that are visible, in between the a-arms and the bulkhead, do not seem to be attached to any additional material. They just free float and I can spin them freely. Are they just spacers or are they part of a broken bushing. They are all like this so I think they must just be spacers.

To get to the lower bulkhead bolt, it looks like I have to remove the nose cone, is this correct? I don't see any other way of getting a torque wrench on it for reassembly. It looks like once the airbox is out I can get to the rear facing nuts with a boxed end wrench.

Thanks all!

 

[Metallicat]

Ok, I did another search of the archives and found out there are indeed white spacers on the a-arms so that answers one of my questions. I guess mine probably aren't too bad yet. I'll ride it for another 1000 miles and then I may order the Pioneer set as they are relatively inexpensive and should last a lot longer than the stock ones. The ultimate fix seems to be Ulmer's kit but don't want to plunk down the coin for his solid bushings.

 

[Yamahammer485]

Solid bushings are the best way to go, otherwise, your always going to have the slop unfortunately.

On the plus side, these arms are very strong!, just the bushings suck!

 

[low slung]

Did my warrior a couple of months ago.Not a hard job just make sure you use a METRIC box end wrench on the nuts on the inside of the bulk-head,a standard one will round the nuts off fast.My bushings in the bulkhead(black inserts)were the only ones worn to dust,ones in the a-arm were worn some(replaced these also).The white a-arm bushings were fine.