Rear Skid Upgrade

[goforit70]

Hello guys. I have a 2013 High Country Ltd. I stretched it to 153 w/ 2.6 PC track with Ice age rails. I did all the clutch changes Bellinger shaft and covers. Hy Gear rear link w/ coil over rear skid custom shock and chambers on the fronts Exit custom front skid shock. Ect. ect. More money in this thing than I care to think about. As Cat has not changed all that much with this sled I am wondering if I would benefit from the 16 rear skid update they were talking about on here. I am doing the 16 front update to 36". My question is there a kit or does anyone have a parts list of what is needed?? Anyone have a good feel if the rear is even worth doing?? Thanks for the input.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

Best thing would be to by a take out skid, rails changed, front shock, I think the things that are the same are arms (not sure though) wheels, rear shock length

 

[minet]

you need to raise the front arm location bout an inch above the rail mount now

get the 16 rear link ,, that thing that mounts under the shock from upper to lower arms

also new front shock, like 12.5 from 11.25 or something ,, don't quote me on that

 

[Snopro_69]

Ya it's quite a bit different from what I've compared to my buddies 16. You also have to remember your 13 dosent have the bigger drop brackets on the rear of the tunnel to mount it the same. I moved mine from 13 location to 14+ location with moving it back from 13 in front and the bigger drop bracket in rear. (so same as 14~15) and I find it helped big time with holding steep side hills.

 

[boondocker97]

No one has created a kit to do the skid upgrades because it is pretty parts and $$$ intensive to do so. To update a 15 or older skid to 16 geometry you need rails, upper rear suspension arm, pull rod under the rear shock, and a longer front arm shock. Lower rear suspension arm, rear shock, and front suspension arm are the same. Arm and shock bolt hardware is also smaller on the newer skids than your 2013 has so some drilling out of holes in the arms or changing shock bushings and getting new bolts would also be required.

With your list of aftermarket parts in your rear skid, you are going to have to call Hy-gear and see if their pull rod and shock is compatible with the 2016 geometry, and call Exit to see if your front track shock (FTS) can be easily modified to 2016 specs. I think the XF sleds used a longer FTS than the Ms to start with, but I don't know if it is long enough. If those two phone calls are favorable, then I'd investigate how cheap you can get the new rails and arms. Ice age rails already have a better curve on the front compared to stock for pre 2016 sleds, but the ones you have will not have the right rear arm or front arm mounting points. Then as others have said you will need to get the drop brackets in the rear to relocate the skid.

If you're really set on doing it, I'd part your current skid and do like Wyo said and try to find a takeoff '16 or '17 skid to buy and have the shocks revalved in it. My $0.02.

 

[knh208]

I see three feasible options: Find a take-off skid, but an aftermarket skid such as kmod, or save the cash for the 2018 sled fund.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[minet]

Arm, Idler - Black

2704-782

Your Price: $62.28


Link, Rear Shock - Black

2704-790

Your Price: $22.00



find a way to raise the mount location on your rail by .75ish


get a shock thats 12.5 with enough travel, just send andy a float shock from a 2004 firecat or some junk

 

[minet]

update,
you dont need idler arm, there are changes to 17 from 15 but its just a gusset up top along the crossbar and downtubes.


the shock is like 80 bucks on eBay from country cat.

that middle rod length is about .35 inchs longer so get that /shrug

and if you are fab challenged you could use a timbersled rail adapter off the shelf ,, still have to drill 2 holes

 

[Frostbite]

A well built, easy to install rear skid update kit (with or without a rail update option) would be a big seller.