As most of you will attest the steering components on Polaris quads leaves a lot to be desired. My Sportsman has 800 miles on it and already has 1" of play in the steering. I have checked many Polaris quads from one year to 10 years old and I have not found ONE with tight steering. My plan is to replace the tie-rod ends, inner and outer, this coming winter when my hunting season is over. Polaris it seems does not sell a hi-performance replacement so I am looking for an after-market supplier. Another alternative I am considering is to use Honda parts and fabricate a tie-rod to fit. Has anybody done this before? Are there any other alternatives?
Thanks in advance.
Dave Formstone
98 SP500 EBS

 

Yes, they do suck and yes, they do make aftermarket components for the steering. Try Hot Seat, or others. I remember seeing something in there. I had a '97 Xpress 300 and 400, '93 Trail Boss 250 and now have a Scrambler 500 '99. They all did it in the past. The Scrambler is still tight but it's new. I will do mine if it gets loose. Good luck!

WillieB - '99 Scrambler 500

 

Dave,

If I may ask, is the play in your steering side to side or up and down. I cured my up and down play by replacing the rubber ring sandwiched between two metal washers. This ring is about $.50 from Polaris.

I did this once only to have the ring go funny again, I think do to grease. What I did since then was to find an old tire and cut out a section and then use a hole saw to make my own ring, but with cords within it.

So far this makeshift ring has withstood the grease and has kept my up and down play minimal.

Now I did replace my Steering Shaft bushing and that corrected most of the side to side play that I had, this cost around $35 plus shipping for an after market supplier.

The ATV that I am talking about has now 3500 mile on it, '96 Xplorer 400


------------------
Larry Skrabut

2 '96 Xplorer's, 1 '98 Xplorer, for a long time 2 '88 Trail Bosses

 

I've seen the steering bushing go bad but have never seen the play you are speaking about. I will not put up with sloppy steering. You can adjust a certain amount out, but 1", I don't think so. I've never had to touch anything except the steering bushing on any of our 4 machines, the oldest two are '95's.

I've not witnessed the problem on any other Polaris machines that we are familiar with either.

I think that you may have a problem pertinent to your machine, because it's not happening elsewhere.

Schultz Motorposrts www.godigital-design.com/96Polaris.html

 

Thanks Willie B, I will try to locate Hot Seat. I have never heard of this company, do they have a web sight?
Dave Formstone
SP500 EBS

 

Larry, the play is from side to side and can be seen in the tie-rod ends and a little in the lower steering bushing. I was unaware of problems with virtcal play as you had mensioned so I checked mine and it seems OK.
Thanks for your post.
Dave Formstone
SP500 EBS

 

Jack, as you can see in my reply to Larry that I do have some play in the lower bushing. I am not too concerned with it as I have found an upgraded after-market replacement. My main concern is with the tie-rod ends.
Thanks for your post.
Dave Formstone
98 SP500 EBS

 

if you use a grease gun and apply to much pressure you will expand the rubber washer to where it will slip over the metal washers and you will have up and down play. cutting from a old tire sounds like a good idea.

 

Dave, ATV Connection has a link to Hot Seat in their links section. It's at the top with the other manufactures.

 

watch out for the front end alignment when you change those outer tie rod ends....I only did my outers...should have also done the inners.

Oh well, with the little degree of play the beast is actually easier to throw around the woods.