Can I shorten my Fox Float 3s for the 36" Zbroz A Arms?

[99slpss]

Hey guys I have a set of for float 3s on my 2012 Pro I was in the process of going through the sled and found I have a bent lower a arm so was thinking of just getting the 36" front end from Zbroz but my big concern is weather or not not my Float 3s can be shortened that much to work with the A Arms or am I stuck with getting the 39" kit?

Dan

 

[mountainhorse]

Contact Andy at Gas Shock Repair
Contact info on website. http://www.gasshockrepair.com/

From your 2012 Floats at 17.5" you will need to shorten your shocks by 1-1/4" so that they are the proper length.

I believe he can cut the shock body/sleeve and shaft to shorten them the proper way.
The only concern with this is that they would then be specific to only the 36" wide front.

Running just a 1.25" "slug" bushing in the shock will limit your travel.

Some people have run the stock length shocks on the 36" but it is far from ideal and with the 17.5" shocks you have ... will give ball joint issues and super stiff steering... even with the 16-5/8" 2013+ shocks... you will be better off to run them at 16.25" length...which is what both the Z-Broz and the Alt Impact 36" wide fronts need for proper ride height.


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[CROW]

Has anyone had floats shortened like this? Results?

 

[wfieldin]

I had this done by Andy it works great. I only shortened them to the standard 13 length, I'm running zbros 36 with no issues

 

[CROW]

What does it cost?

 

[wfieldin]

Around 100

 

[byeatts]

Hey guys I have a set of for float 3s on my 2012 Pro I was in the process of going through the sled and found I have a bent lower a arm so was thinking of just getting the 36" front end from Zbroz but my big concern is weather or not not my Float 3s can be shortened that much to work with the A Arms or am I stuck with getting the 39" kit?

Dan

An internal spacer can shorten the overall length, You loose a tad travel but not noticeable, I had mine done by Tom,s

 

[mountainhorse]

wfieldin....

Wondering if you could take a pic of me of your front suspension?

Looking for a shot of the lower and upper balljoints... closeup with the sled lifted off the ground?

Sincere request... looking for info (as always... )

I had this done by Andy it works great. I only shortened them to the standard 13 length, I'm running zbros 36 with no issues

 

[wfieldin]

Will do MH when i get home

 

[99slpss]

Thanks for the info guys!

 

[wfieldin]

Pictures with front end lifted

<a href="http://s40.photobucket.com/user/wfieldin/media/frontend017_zpsd9421537.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e247/wfieldin/frontend017_zpsd9421537.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo frontend017_zpsd9421537.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s40.photobucket.com/user/wfieldin/media/frontend015_zpse8c2fe94.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e247/wfieldin/frontend015_zpse8c2fe94.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo frontend015_zpse8c2fe94.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s40.photobucket.com/user/wfieldin/media/frontend014_zps89026d1e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e247/wfieldin/frontend014_zps89026d1e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo frontend014_zps89026d1e.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s40.photobucket.com/user/wfieldin/media/frontend013_zpsc3259ce8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e247/wfieldin/frontend013_zpsc3259ce8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo frontend013_zpsc3259ce8.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s40.photobucket.com/user/wfieldin/media/frontend012_zpsad072bc2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e247/wfieldin/frontend012_zpsad072bc2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo frontend012_zpsad072bc2.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s40.photobucket.com/user/wfieldin/media/frontend011_zps036b08c7.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e247/wfieldin/frontend011_zps036b08c7.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo frontend011_zps036b08c7.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s40.photobucket.com/user/wfieldin/media/frontend010_zpsdb43874e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e247/wfieldin/frontend010_zpsdb43874e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo frontend010_zpsdb43874e.jpg"/></a>

 

[mountainhorse]

I just spoke with Andy at Gas Shock Repair... He can shorten the 17.5" floats safely by 1".

His charge is $25 each to shorten the body and shaft. Plus $24 each for the service (clean/new oil/nitrogen/reassembly). Add $5 if you want him to revalve to your spec.

The cost is the same for coil-spring shocks like the Factory Walkers or other.

Very reasonable in my opinion.

Also... After chatting with some other Polaris owners... and Andy...if you have your 17.5" shock Shortened to run on the arms requiring shorter shocks...Have them shortened to 16-5/8" and then run a small slug -spacer inside of the shock if you want to go less than that.
This will allow you to always return to the stock 16-5/8 length if you want to sell them or use stock arms again.

IMO... Not the best idea to take up the full 7/8"-1.25" with just a slug-spacer as this will limit your travel and give a harsher ride. Possible, yes... but you are giving up on about 20% of your travel.


NOTE: When referring to shock length... The stock 2011/12 PRO-RMK's come from the factory with 17.5" shocks as do the 2011-2014 Std. RMK's and the 2015 regular season std RMK (non-snowcheck)... All of these are 17.5".

Stock 2013/14/15 PRO-RMK's come from the factory with 16-5/8" shocks. Also the 2015 Standard RMK's that were ordered during snowcheck, with the Walker Evans shocks with the bonded lower A-Arms... these all feature the 16-5/8" shock from the factory.


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[99slpss]

MH thanks for getting all that info!!

So does he cut the shock body/sleeve and shaft to shorten them 1" then or is it just a spacer? Then if you want to go to the 16 1/4 then use a spacer? Sorry just want to make sure I am reading this correct!

 

[mountainhorse]

Yes... he cuts the shock body... and shaft to shorten them... The air sleeve will handle the 7/8" taken up by the body/shaft trim.

Yes... if you want to go to the 16-1/4"... then go to a spacer internally IF you ever want to be able to have them run on arms that require the stock length shock. If you never want to go back to stock length at 16-5/8" and want the full travel available... then you may be able have them shortened all the way to the 16-1/4".





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[99slpss]

Cool I will just be just going down to the 16.25 then! No intentions of going back.