Installation and Review: SKINZ Protective Gear Concept A-Arms

[christopher]

Next step was to get the upper A-Arm installed.

First I had to remove the OEM bushing from the old A-Arm so it could be put into the new ones.

Used the Socket Extender once again.

And it slid right out.

 

[christopher]

Put the new A-Arm in the vice and tapped it back into place.

 

[christopher]

With the new A-Arms now mounted, it was time to work on the Spindles.

THIS WAS A HUGE PAIN!

With the old spacers, the new Bushing did NOT want to fit into the spindle.
it was beyond TIGHT...

WITHOUT the spaces, it fits with quite a bit of room and free space.

 

[christopher]

Now I try and add the spacers.

They had to be POUNDED into place to get them to fit!

It took me a good 30 minutes of working with both spacers and the new bushings to get them ALIGNED so the main bolt would pass through. And when it was aligned then I had to get "Creative" on how to force the bolt down through the hold.

Finally in place

One drop of locktiite as per instructions

And the spindle is mounted to the LOWER A-Arm.

 

[christopher]

Mounting the Upper A-Arm was a breeze.

I did notice that the total amount of DOWNWARD travel has been REDUCED with these new A-Arms.
Not sure that it makes any real difference, but the arms do NOT hand down as far as they had before.

Upward travel did NOT seemed affected at all.

Next step will be attaching the steering arms.

 

[christopher]

Well.
I was just told I mounted the WRONG upper A-Arm.

Looks like I put the Left arm on the Right side of the sled.

One of our astute members (SCMURS from OFT) just saw the photo and called me to let me know of my mistake!

One more reason why SNOWEST ROCKS!!

 

[1madbird]

yep I was just sending you a note about that. Also by comparison it looks like the actual length of the new arms are shorter then your stock. I thought that they only offered 39 and 42 widths which innless they changed after 08 is wider then the stock 38.5. Are yours narrower then the 39 or just an optical illusion.

 

[scmurs]

Good to have someone looking out for you

 

[christopher]

Good to have someone looking out for you

DANG RIGHT IT IS!!

 

[christopher]

yep I was just sending you a note about that. Also by comparison it looks like the actual length of the new arms are shorter then your stock. I thought that they only offered 39 and 42 widths which innless they changed after 08 is wider then the stock 38.5. Are yours narrower then the 39 or just an optical illusion.

No optical illusion.
I shot this photo to SHOW they ARE narrower by a good inch.

 

[TRUEBLUEMAX]

I put my first a arm on the wrong side also and then realized it because the bolt for the upper arm hits the ball joint. If you check to see I bet the suspension comes down further now. The bolt was probably keeping it from extending all the way down.

 

[christopher]

Yup.
That will remove the downward limitation I mentioned earlier.

Gotta love it baby.
Installation by TRIAL and ERROR!!

At least this one will only take me 5 minutes to get fixed!

 

[Mister907]

off the subject...what do they call that type of jack you've got there, and where can i get one?

 

[christopher]

Take a look here.
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218258

and here.
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220119

 

[christopher]

Finally had time to correct my mounting error.
Got the upper A-Arm removed and exchanged for the correct one and mounted PROPERLY with the tip pointing UP rather than down!


Question to the Alignment Gurus!!

At which position do you make the vertical alignment on the spindles.

When the A-Arms are....

Hanging DOWN.

Sticking Straight Out "FLAT".??

Under full load, angled UP.

As the A-Arms move through the full range of motion I can see the bubble move back and forth slightly on the side that still has the OEM suspension on it.

With the A-Arms in a pretty neutral position sticking straight out.

You can see the slight angle to the spindle

And the Bubble shows it is NOT level

 

[christopher]

Really?

No one knows at which position to align the front spindles?

Should I just take it for granted that you do it with the arms straight out then?

 

[ruffryder]

not at full droop.... you want some weight on the thing, I would say the normal amount, with maybe some extra weight for a rider.

I tried doing it at full droop with the stock suspension... every time I got weight on it it would be wrong...

 

[christopher]

So if the A-Arms are at 90 degrees now, lower them down to 120 degrees??

 

[b_sandgren]

Poop. After seeing your pics Im pretty sure I mounted my upper arms wrong as well.

Skinz I think an updated install sheet would be good for future orders. Now I have to take the front end back apart again. Dang it

 

[ruffryder]

So if the A-Arms are at 90 degrees now, lower them down to 120 degrees??

?? 90 degrees is straight up...

Take the suspension at full droop, and then put it at full compression, then find the mid point and try doing the alignment there.