steering oil lite bushings

[APEX 06]

I went to the OFT Racing website.

http://oftracing.com/OnlineStore/index. ... ucts_id=93

Looks like they are $40.95 each and I will need three. It does not look like they have anything for the bushing mount in my attached pic DSC01055.JPG

Is this bushing not an issue?

Yamaha is the only the only one that makes that one, its a nylon bushing and it seems to be the one with the most play.

 

[Super Sled]

Super Sled,

You are really quick. Please see my above post right before yours regarding the bushing that is not offered by OFT and why.

OFT says on the website that these never need lube yet I see lube on yours.

Hey sorry Dave, just saw this! Ive always put lube in these and the front end bushings. I know the instructions say not to worry about it b/c the metal in impregnated with lubrication, but it was a tip I learned here on TY to lube them anyways. I've always lubed the steering blocks and oilite front end bushings. Might be overkill, but can't hurt and will keep moisture out of the parts too.

 

[Blue Dave]

I have already purchased and will be installing Ulmers oilite front end bushing kit and his oilite ski bolt bushing kit. I will also be installing the three OFT steering bushings as well.

All that is left besides the unaddressed steering shaft bushing in my picture would be worn out rod ends that I could replace.

I am hopeful however that between Ulmer and OFT that I will have much tighter steering for my $275 USD.

 

[Dasher]

When I had my 07 Attak, I installed the OFT bushings and the suspension bushings with Ulmers oil lites. You will be amazed at how much slop it will take out of your steering.

 

[Super Sled]

I replaced 3 of those rod ends this summer on my Attak as they seemed to have a lot of play in them. I'm not sure if it was worth it or not, only time will tell. I can tell you, it's a pita job as seperating them is a real bear.

But like i said, between the Ulmer front end bushings and OFT steering blocks you'll get 98% of the slop fixed. But there are just too many links in the steering system to get it perfect. Trust me, I tried this summer, lol!

 

[Chasx7]

I installed both the Ulmers and the OFT busings last spring. No saddle time yet. Seemed to tighten everything up.

 

[Blue Dave]

I will have all of the required parts today. Since I can not ride on brown grass I thought that this would be a fun project to keep me occupied until it snows!

 

[thor452]

grass is still green here i feel your pain

 

[Irv]

grass is still green here i feel your pain

Same here and I am also eagerly waiting to try out my Oilites and OFT steering bushings, plus my Bergstrom carbides, my new right side a-arms and everthing else I did to it in the off season!

 

[Blue Dave]

I finally got around to finishing my project now that I have some urgency with my first sled trip of the season planned for Thursday to the UP.

The Ulmer Racing Oillite front end kit really tightened up the front end nicely. Too tight in fact on the lower A arm to spindle mounts. I had to file down the flanges on the bushings in the lower A arm where it attached to the spindle. The bushing flanges were thicker than stock resulting in binding when the bolt was tightened. Not a big deal but something to look for if you install this kit and something for Ulmer to correct.

The OFT Racing steering blocks also tightened things up very nicely. Accessing the nuts on the lower steering column block is a real PIA. I thought about installing this OFT block with the bolts facing backwards for easier access to the nuts. However I figured that Yamaha must have had a reason for not facing the bolts backwards which is probably possible interference between the bolt ends and the gas tank.

Like some others I put a thin film of synthetic grease in between the steering shaft and the inside of the OFT Oillite bushings. I am not sure if it matters but I installed the two piece Oilite bushings with the seam 90 degrees from the two piece aluminum block seam.

I also replaced the OEM plastic bushing on the upper end of the right side steering shaft (by the reverse lever). This plastic bushing was very worn and was contributing to much of the steering slop. Too bad that nobody makes an Oilite bushing for this.

All in all I feel that this project was worth the time and money as I have much less steering slop now. The required steering effort is little more than I would like, however I think that the steering shaft and spindle Oilites will loosen up some resulting in reduced steering effort after I put some miles on. Right now I have power steering envy!

I suppose that a guy could also replace all of the steering linkage rod ends trying to remove the remaining slop but I question if the cost and effort would be justified as there are just too many pivot points in the Apex steering linkage to ever be able to obtain zero slop.

 

[Blue Dave]

I put a couple of hundred miles on in the UP of Michigan which must have been enough for all of the new bushings to "break in" as now the required steering effort is back to "normal".

It sure is nice to ride with minimal steering slop and a tight front end. Although this upgrade was a bit of work I feel that it was well worth the time and expense.

 

[Phatboyc]

The bushing in your 4th picture, the one that we don't have an oilite bushing for, is it number 9 in this diagram? part# 8FA-23873-01-00

 

[Blue Dave]

Yes, it is #9 on the diagram.

 

[Phatboyc]

Ok thanks. Did you found you needed to change #34 also? I have seen it mentioned in other threads.

I'm guessing they'll be easy to access when I do my oil and filter change. On top of having my seat remove.

 

[Phatboyc]

Wondering if I should just get the stock ones. Similar to my other thread I wondering if its worth the money.

I just got a 09 Apex with 6700miles (11800km). Steering feels is looser than my SRX when the skies are not moving. I only do 1000km a year.