People have brought this up a couple times, and I just figured I'll make a post with my opinions on the plastic Polaris a-arm guards(found on pg.78 in the 2002 Polaris catalog) after abusing them for over half a year. The catalog claims that these "super-tough polyethylene" a-arm guards protect the machines a-arms and CV joints from mud, muck, and snow for $49.99.

My first impresions were pleasing. They cover below and in front of the entire a-arm, covering the CV boot pretty good up front. My first couple of rides with them were pretty fun, because I was going over thick brush and such that I was always worried about going over with the stock guards. But, it only took a couple of rides to mess things up. The mounting hardware is not strong enough for deep ruts. The ruts push on the plastic guard, bending the metal mounts, and the plastic just recently got lodged up against a CV boot, knocking off the boot clip and ripping it. I was able to bend the mounts back in a vice, allthough not perfect. I am very dissapointed with my purchase and recommend that ANYONE considering these should check out the steel ones made by Moose, Oxlite, or Cycle Country in the Dennis Kirk catalog(or www.denniskirk.com). The steel ones are the same price as the plastic, and ALOT tougher. I now feel stupid for buying plastic a-arm guards. The plastic is WAAY too flimsy for me. Do yourself a favor and look in a DK catalog instead of the Polaris.

I hope I helped someone.

P.S.
Do not confuse these with the aluminum a-arm skid plates($99). The skid plates only offer protection to the bottom(base) of the a-arm, and that's all. They are for someone who rides in rocky areas or someone who does rock crawling. They do not offer any CV protection.