OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[Hooner]

Looking at using some wheel spacers on my banshee as a temporary widening solution, until i can afford a complete +2 kit inc elke shocks. Has any one run them for a while with no troubles, or does it cause cracked stubs with the extra stress??? Trail riding and the odd jump is the bikes regular use.

[bansheebuzz]

wheel spacers on front is a bad idea for your front end and also handling

[Overlord]

Hi Hooner, bansheebuzz is right I put spacers on the front of my Shee and it stuffed up all the front end dynamics (my personal opinion). I reversed the front wheels and put wheel spacers on the rear and it was good in the dunes I dont know how you would go in the bush as you may flat spot the front rims. Make sure you get +2+1 A-Arms it makes the Banshee handle heaps better.



Regards Bad Banshee

[ReD HeaderZ]

PM redted, I know he runs spacers.
He has had great dealings with them as far as I know, he advised me to get spacers at least for the rear end.

[Prokiwi]

I run spacers on front and rear on a variety of bikes, I have done so for years and never had a problem. I have also spent the money on +2 A Arms and brake lines etc etc and find no difference at all over the spacers. Bump steer can be removed by changing the front tyre type (as with 2000 model Bombardier ds650 )

$100 v's $600 + ?????

Maybe Banshee is different due to the outdated geometry ??
If spacers on front dont work , u can sell them to your mate for the rear of his bike LOL
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It's time too ride !!!!!!!

[bansheebuzz]

Prokiwi wrote:

I run spacers on front and rear on a variety of bikes, I have done so for years and never had a problem. I have also spent the money on +2 A Arms and brake lines etc etc and find no difference at all over the spacers. Bump steer can be removed by changing the front tyre type (as with 2000 model Bombardier ds650 )

bump steer is the change in toe setting as the control arms move through there range, this is due to the positioning of the steering linkages in relation to the arms. some quads suffer more than others. it cannot be altered with tyre change.

[Prokiwi]

bansheebuzz wrote:

Prokiwi wrote: I run spacers on front and rear on a variety of bikes, I have done so for years and never had a problem. I have also spent the money on +2 A Arms and brake lines etc etc and find no difference at all over the spacers. Bump steer can be removed by changing the front tyre type (as with 2000 model Bombardier ds650 ) bump steer is the change in toe setting as the control arms move through there range, this is due to the positioning of the steering linkages in relation to the arms. some quads suffer more than others. it cannot be altered with tyre change.

Sorry Mate but im going to disagree .....The first of the 2000 Model Bombardier ds650 suffered this for the exact reason you mention above, changing the profile and tread design of the front tyres stopped the front end from "darting" and reduced the bump steer issue dramatically. This was further advanced by guys in the USA for the Bomb at that time. Untill new A Arms were designed this was found to be the best way to reduce it at the time.

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It's time too ride !!!!!!!

[ATV PRO]

IMHO Comes down to affordability.
Widening the proper way is by far better as spacers put extra loads on stub axels and hubs aswell as steering geometry .
_________________
Cheers
Len

ATV PRO Pty Ltd

[PeteW]

Prokiwi wrote:

bansheebuzz wrote: Prokiwi wrote: I run spacers on front and rear on a variety of bikes, I have done so for years and never had a problem. I have also spent the money on +2 A Arms and brake lines etc etc and find no difference at all over the spacers. Bump steer can be removed by changing the front tyre type (as with 2000 model Bombardier ds650 ) bump steer is the change in toe setting as the control arms move through there range, this is due to the positioning of the steering linkages in relation to the arms. some quads suffer more than others. it cannot be altered with tyre change. Sorry Mate but im going to disagree .....The first of the 2000 Model Bombardier ds650 suffered this for the exact reason you mention above, changing the profile and tread design of the front tyres stopped the front end from "darting" and reduced the bump steer issue dramatically. This was further advanced by guys in the USA for the Bomb at that time. Untill new A Arms were designed this was found to be the best way to reduce it at the time.

Until new A Arms were designed this was found to be the best way to reduce it at the time. so that would denote that the changing arms was the real solution....

wheel spacers and Yam Axles is just asking for a bent axle if you do much jumping.... anything and wheel spacers on the front is going to equal more scrub radius and therefore more pressure required to steer (and more bump steer) as the centre line of the wheel will be further from the king pin (the vertical pivot of the steering knuckle)
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[bullet]

Bansheebuzz is spot on.
Wheel spacers are the worst way on the planet to make your quad wider.
But it is the cheapest way and the width will help with flat cornering.
That's about it, everything else gets worse.
Some stresses on the front end etc don't just get a bit worse, they increase 10 fold.
The main angle you are killing is the king pin inclination angle.
That is basically an imaginary line that runs through the centres of your ball joints.
This line should intersect the ground where the centre line of the front tyre sits.
The further out the centre line of your tyre, the worse everything gets.
This effects all quads, but as has been said some are better than others from the factory.

If you want the best front end and you are going to buy aftermarket parts...
try to go better than the factory.
Go +3 +1 on the arms and get some one inch out offset rims (std is 1 1/2 out).

probably the worst place to run flipped rims or spacers is general trail riding as far as clipping things with your front wheels because the riders handlebar kick back is increased.

The worst stress you'll cause is probably jumping.

Spacers work OK for flat track or speedway.

My opinion...
_________________
Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

[greenhuman]

I have sold hundreds of wheel spacers for both front and rear and have never had one complaint or customers with handling problems at all. Seen plenty of famous name brand a-arm ball joints and axles snap though.

[Hudson]

Whether they work or not doesn't change the fact that they totally change steering geometry and put way more stress on your steering components.

As Bullet said most people are even trying to reduce the standard front wheel offset to help reduce stress in the front end by changing to a +3 inch +1 inch A arm. This lets you bring the wheel closer to the imaginary line Bullet mentioned.

All sales BS aside, I don't sell spacers or A arms by the way, the only real way to get the advantages of a wide quad is to do it the right way and that's by replacing A arms.
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You Can Fix Alot Of Things In This World But...

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[Quad]

whot ever , works for the money you have to do the job. spacers or off set rims.

Use a steering damper, its works better with these too ideas.

Everone thought is was the best at the beach before longer aarms were around.

[Davo]

dont get spacers, just flip your rims
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banshee

[greenhuman]

has been cleaned up, by a moderator, for being off topic.

[Hudson]

First, I would like to apologise to all mechanical engineers. You obviously know nothing. All those years at school for nothing...Damn


Second, I would like to point out some things I've read on some manufactures and retailers websites.

Taken from http://www.jmcracing.com.au/site/details.cfm?productIDNum=778

This kit does two wheels and increases the wheel track by 3 inches overall. Wider spacer kits than this can put extra stress on your axle, so be wary of any advice to the contrary. Also, plastic/graphite style spacers do not allow the wheel nuts to stay the correct tension and always need tightening. Eventually, they will crack.

Durablue offer both of these things. Check out http://www.durablue.com/prods_wheel_spacers.shtml


Taken from http://radmfg.com/wheelspacers.htm

1. Do you make wider or narrower spacers?
We only offer 1 inch per side on fronts and 2 inches per side on rears.
2. Will you ever make wider or narrower spacers?
If there is enough demand we will offer different widths.

Once again RAD Manufacturing offer over the "JMC Recomended" width and will make more selection IF THERE IS ENOUGH DEMAND.

Which brings me to the wheel manufacturers. Why oh why would they make different offset wheels that qualified mechanical engineers have stated will put not just more stress on your suspension components by increase those stresses 10 fold.

Brings me back to Rad Manufacturing "IF THERE IS ENOUGH DEMAND"

These wheel companies are just doing what the public are asking for. People want a "cheap" way to make their quad wider but are really getting, as most things usually go, "cheap and nasty". Not only are they shortening the life span of crucial suspension and steering components but also are putting themselves at a greater risk of injury when those components do eventually fail.

If you are going to buy A arms and axle later when the budget allows, then buying these wheel spacers only makes it a longer time till you can save more money and buy the components to do the job right anyway.
_________________
You Can Fix Alot Of Things In This World But...

You Can't Fix Stupid!!!

[greenhuman]

has been cleaned up, by a moderator, for being off topic.

[OZ_450]

has been cleaned up, by a moderator, for being off topic.
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black covered in 5.7 powered oversize quad
model vx ss 350 hahaha
enough bass to compensate for lack of skills
Empty Wallet Racing proudly on track for GM Motorsport

[greenhuman]

has been cleaned up, by a moderator, for being off topic.

[Hudson]

has been cleaned up, by a moderator, for being off topic.
_________________
You Can Fix Alot Of Things In This World But...

You Can't Fix Stupid!!!

[bullet]

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Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

Last edited by bullet on Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

[OZ_450]

has been cleaned up, by a moderator, for being off topic.
_________________
black covered in 5.7 powered oversize quad
model vx ss 350 hahaha
enough bass to compensate for lack of skills
Empty Wallet Racing proudly on track for GM Motorsport

[yogie]

please lets get this thread back on "TOPIC"
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[greenhuman]

has been cleaned up, by a moderator, for being off topic.

[Barney]

Please Guys can we keep this strictly to the topic at hand , ,We all have opinions , and unfortunately we all can not be correct , clean this up a bit
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2012 Can am Outlander Xt 1000cc
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