Hello all! Well I got home from my ride on some fresh logging roads. It was pretty rough stuff that cost me my skid plate. I also noticed wen I got home the shock mount on the lower a arm was completely ripped of the a arm. It was sitting down on the cup seemingly in place still. I might not of even noticed if it wasn't for the gaping hole in the a arm. Anyway a little welding time & it is back in place. I really don't want to trust it for much riding though. So I'm thinking of getting some newer stronger a arms. Anyone have suggestions on what aftermarket a arms are stronger & fairly innexpensive? Thanks

 

This is a common problem on the early 400's. Just about any a-arm is good. It all depends on how much you want to spend and what type riding on the sidth. If you want to stay with the stock shocks, you will need to get stock lenght a-arms. The stock a-arms for the 400 are very cheap, I think that they are under $40-50 each if you just want to replace the one that is broken.

 

You should be fine with a new stock a-arm. Check out your right lower one though. Some of the mounts are welded on with very small welds that are so small that they are actually under the mount. These are the ones that break. If your other a-arm has the small welds too, have it welded over the small weld. I've had a couple break and after being rewelded they never broke again. You may want to check out the upper shock mounts on the frame, they crack above the mount where it is welded to the frame.

 

I'll definately check the other a-arm & the upper shock mount. Thanks for the tip! I'll probably just stick with buying another stock one. Who knows though I'll check evilbay & see whats on there. I'm not real concerned with going +1,2 or 3. I am plus 2 in back but am really not that serious a rider. Just a weekend screw around guy

 

Same happened to me on the 2000 400ex. The replacement one is visibly different in terms of the amount of material in the weld. I have never broken one on the 2001 or the 2003 (or the one replaced on the 2000).

/Jon