I have 2008 Sportsman 500 and let a friend ride it today. He was very unfamiliar with ATV's and ended up wrecking head on into a tree just to the left of center. It was a low speed collision but he was on the throttle pretty hard right before he it the tree.

The Polaris front bumper was a little bent so I rode it back to my house (only about 500 yards away). After I took the bumper, I started to see a bunch of damage to the front end. The inside of the front storage box was cracked in several places. The radiator mount was bent and all of the entire front end metal framework was tweaked.

I took all the above stuff off and saw something weird. The front CV boot shield was pushed so far into the CV shaft that it actually wore a hole through the plastic. There's now way this occurred in the 500 yard trip back to my house at speeds less than 20 mph. Check out these pics and tell me if this is common (I already searched "bent a-arm" on this forum and didn't come up with much):

Left side CV boot shield


Left side A-arm from underneath:

 

this is only light gauge steel and wouldn't take a real big hit to do real damage as you can see. if you hit a rock or a stump would bend a a frame really easy.

 

Are there any popular upgrades out there? I saw some by superatv that looked OK and were actually cheaper than stock if you buy a pair of them.

Also, where is everybody getting OEM parts from? The cheapest place I found was powersportswarehouse.com

 

You might try here on oem parts and see if they're cheaper.Dirt Cheap Yamaha & Polaris OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse A-arms,ball joints are the weak link,designed to take the brunt of any damage rather than tearing up drive shafts or front diffs when wrecked.

 

Thanks OPT!

The link you provided was a little more expensive than what I found.

So, you don't recommend buying beefier a-arms or welding supports onto the OEM ones?

What about the ricochet a-arm guards?

 

From what all I've seen over the years,NO don't beef em up. I've seen a-arm tabs ripped off that we had to weld back,but even in some of the worst wreck jobs that came in,usually we had to replace a-arms,ball joints that were ripped off, an occasional cv joint popped out,but no major damage to front diffs,prop shafts and most importantly the FRAME itself as far as tweaking or bending.Endos and roll overs did cause quite a bit of damage,but the cost was mostly cosmetic.Even on most struts we were able to reuse them. I just consider a-arms a sacrificial part to be expected. Same as autos,in major front end crashes a lot are designed now to where the engine drops down,doesn't go into the drivers compartment as they once did. You can install heavy duty guards,but won't help if in a wreck,just designed to guard against rocks, logs,etc. In some cases they can even cause more damage in a front end crash. Every time I heard a wrecker pull in,never knew what to expect and I've seen a lot of damaged atvs over the years.

 

Thanks again OPT - I won't beef them up.

I have been searching Ebay all night looking to find some good used arms. I am skeptical that heating/bending mine back to straight will lead to a good long term fix (seems like whenever something like that bends it is prone to do it again). Do you know off hand what years and models are interchangeable for the front a-arms? I have a 2008 500 EFI. The all look nearly identical on Ebay from 1998 - 2012 in terms of the 400/500/700/800's!

 

I wouldn't try to straighten a-arms because they aren't always just bent in the obvious place. They can be tweaked up or downwards also at the strut/ball joint connection and affect steering. Don't trust used suspension parts unless you have to.. Here's the different models that share your left and right a-arm part numbers.

Usage : 2202906 Left a-arm

Year Product Model Assembly
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 325 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAA32AA/AJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 325 EURO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAA32EA/EJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 570 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAA57AJ/AH//EAK
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 570 EURO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAA57EJ/EH/EEK
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 325 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAH32EJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN TOURING 570 EFI/EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SDA57AA/E57AJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI TOURING EU SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SDA57FH
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN TOURING 570 EFI MD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SDA57HH/HA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEA57AA/AC/AD
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI MD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEA57HA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS FOREST QUAD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEB57CA/CJ/SEC57CJ/CA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEE57AA/AC/AJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS MD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEE57HJ/HA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEH57AD
2015 ATV 570 EFI/EPS FOREST TRACTOR SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SET57CA/S57CJ/CA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI UTE HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SUH57AH
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI X2 EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SWE57AA/AD
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI X2 EPS EUROPE SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SWE57FA
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14BH33AJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE EURO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14BH33FJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN TOURING 570 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14DH57AA/AJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN TOURING 570 EFI INTL SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14DH57FJ
2014 ATV HAWKEYE 400 HO 2X4 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MB46TH
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 400 HO 4X4/SE SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH46AA/AH/MS46AA
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH57AA/AC/AD
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 FOREST SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH57FA/FJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH57TD
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH5EAA/EAC/EAJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS FOREST SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH5EFJ/EFK
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 800 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH76AA/AH
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 800 EFI FOREST SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH76FD
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST TRACTOR 500 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MN50EM/EA
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI UTE HD EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MX5ETH
2014 MIL SPORTSMAN 800 EFI TACOM SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - M14MH76AA
2013 ATV HAWKEYE 400 HO 2X4 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MB46FZ
2013 ATV HAWKEYE 400 HO 2X4 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MB46TH
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN 400 HO 4X4 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH46AF/AX/MS46AX
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN 500 HO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH50AJ/AQ/AX/AZ
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST 500 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH50FF/FJ/FU
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN 500 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH50TD
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN 800 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH76AD/AX/AZ
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST 800 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH76FF
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST TRACTOR 500 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MN50ET/EX
2013 MIL SPORTSMAN 800 EFI TACOM SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - M13MH76AX
2012 ATV HAWKEYE 400 HO 2X4 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MB46FZ
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN 400 HO 4X4 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH46AF/AX/AZ
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN 500 HO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH50AD/AO/AQ/AX/AZ
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST 5OO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH50FF/FX/FY
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN 800 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH76AD/AX/AZ
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST 800 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH76FF



Usage:2202907 Right a-arm

Year Product Model Assembly
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 325 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAA32AA/AJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 325 EURO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAA32EA/EJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 570 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAA57AJ/AH//EAK
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 570 EURO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAA57EJ/EH/EEK
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE 325 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15DAH32EJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN TOURING 570 EFI/EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SDA57AA/E57AJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI TOURING EU SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SDA57FH
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN TOURING 570 EFI MD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SDA57HH/HA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEA57AA/AC/AD
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI MD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEA57HA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS FOREST QUAD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEB57CA/CJ/SEC57CJ/CA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEE57AA/AC/AJ
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS MD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEE57HJ/HA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SEH57AD
2015 ATV 570 EFI/EPS FOREST TRACTOR SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SET57CA/S57CJ/CA
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI UTE HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SUH57AH
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI X2 EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SWE57AA/AD
2015 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI X2 EPS EUROPE SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A15SWE57FA
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14BH33AJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN ACE EURO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14BH33FJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN TOURING 570 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14DH57AA/AJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN TOURING 570 EFI INTL SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14DH57FJ
2014 ATV HAWKEYE 400 HO 2X4 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MB46TH
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 400 HO 4X4/SE SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH46AA/AH/MS46AA
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH57AA/AC/AD
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 FOREST SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH57FA/FJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH57TD
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH5EAA/EAC/EAJ
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI EPS FOREST SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH5EFJ/EFK
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 800 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH76AA/AH
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 800 EFI FOREST SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MH76FD
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST TRACTOR 500 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MN50EM/EA
2014 ATV SPORTSMAN 570 EFI UTE HD EPS SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A14MX5ETH
2014 MIL SPORTSMAN 800 EFI TACOM SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - M14MH76AA
2013 ATV HAWKEYE 400 HO 2X4 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MB46FZ
2013 ATV HAWKEYE 400 HO 2X4 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MB46TH
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN 400 HO 4X4 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH46AF/AX/MS46AX
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN 500 HO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH50AJ/AQ/AX/AZ
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST 500 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH50FF/FJ/FU
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN 500 HD SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH50TD
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN 800 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH76AD/AX/AZ
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST 800 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MH76FF
2013 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST TRACTOR 500 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A13MN50ET/EX
2013 MIL SPORTSMAN 800 EFI TACOM SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - M13MH76AX
2012 ATV HAWKEYE 400 HO 2X4 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MB46FZ
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN 400 HO 4X4 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH46AF/AX/AZ
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN 500 HO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH50AD/AO/AQ/AX/AZ
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST 5OO SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH50FF/FX/FY
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN 800 EFI SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH76AD/AX/AZ
2012 ATV SPORTSMAN FOREST 800 SUSPENSION, A-ARM and STRUT MOUNTING - A12MH76FF

 

If you find a ATV that does not bend when you hit a tree let us know.

 

Front bumper bent when he hit the tree. I discovered the a-arm issue when removing the bumper parts. The a-arm must have bent earlier because the CV boot shield was worn all the way through and this would have taken more than a 500 yard trip back to the house I after he hit the tree.