08 vs 09 A-Arms

[RCrandall16]

Did they change the A-arms from 08 to 09 strength-wise?
I have an 08 and an 09 Dragon 800, 163 track.
08 has gone through 5 a arms. 09 still has the originals. Each have around 1300-1500 miles.

Have I just had bad luck on my 08? Or are the 09s stronger?

 

[crf118r]

I would say mostly bad luck, but I switched up and I think the sway bar placement on the 08 makes a big difference when force is applied. All mine have bent right behind the mount... ALL of them! That's just my observation.

 

[skibreeze]

I'd say bad luck also, I rode my 08 for 2 seasons on the same A arms and then I have toasted 3 of them this year.

 

[BigBoreManiac]

While I think luck plays a part, I think the earlier sway bar attachmants play a bigger part. The sway bar receiver rigidizes a section of the rear tube, forcing flexure to be accomodated in the remaining shorter length. The loads imparted by the sway bar itself even further promotes buckling of the rear tube. Of 34 A-arms bent to date in my IQ's, only 5 have been uppers yet 29 have been lowers. Most buckled in the rear tube adjacent to the sway bar receiver. In two years with my Assault, I have only bent two lowers and one upper. And they were very well deserved!

Clearly the new sway bar attachment is a vast improvement IMO.

 

[crf118r]

I knew it!

 

[Jkinzer]

polaris stock a-arms are junk in general, i went through 4 lowers on both sides last year before i swapped them out to a timbersled front end, and since than i havent bent one yet, just broke one when i hit a tree at 25+mph...

 

[crf118r]

I've bent 2 '08 style Holz lowers since bending both stock lowers. I now have the '10 style Holz. I hope these are a little less prone to bending than the '08 style, as I'm tired of bending these at $157 a pop. Maybe other brands are stronger??