Polaris Discussions about Polaris ATVs.

Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

Old May 13, 2003 | 10:51 AM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

Since no one make extended A-arms for a Scrambler 4x4, I was thinking of putting spacers on the front. Then I thought, Why spend the money on an extended rear axle if spacers work. So, do wheel spacers improve handling? Any problems with extended lug nut studs breaking?
 
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Old May 13, 2003 | 01:21 PM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

I've been using them for 5 yrs w/o any problems. This in combination w/ the short Domminator tire shorter by 1.25" over stock, was one of the best handling improvements I made. It made a dramatic improvement in it's stablility in all circumstances. Then I went w/ Works struts & PEP rear shock for the next huge handling improvement but thats another story. I go to about 5 MX tracks a year & ride on my own MX track a lot w/o anything broke, cracked, bent. I've hit REALLY hard a few times also, knocked myself out once, landed really croocked on the left rear tire another time, caught on video which I though for sure would have bent the rear axle but nothing happened. I couldn't believe it. There's a few MX pics on Yahoo under quad rides.
Jim Maloney 98 400 Scrambler
http://photos.yahoo.com/jim400scram
http://www.angelfire.com/or/Gurgorama/readers/jim.html
 
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Old May 13, 2003 | 01:50 PM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

Jim, I just looked at your pics, that's a really nice Scrambler. I didn't realize the 98's had the same graphics as my 99. How big were the spacers you put in? How did you lower the quad and by how much?
 
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Old May 13, 2003 | 02:03 PM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

Thanks. It's funny but a Holeshot 20" tire is bigger than a Kenda 20" tire, the point is the Kenda was the shortest, lightest 20" 4ply tire I could find but I measured the quad before & after the tires installed & the ride height was reduced by about 1.25" total. It doesn't sound like much but w/ the wider stance it makes a HUGE difference. I used what ever size spacer they come in, I dont remember exactly what they are. All I remember is that the rear spacer was bigger than the front so I had the rear spacer machined down so that the front & rear width was the same, I think about 48.5" wide.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
 
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Old May 13, 2003 | 02:18 PM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

I took my front rims and turned them inside out.If the stem hit's your brakes you can pull the stem inside out ,then drill another hole on the other side for a new stem .This works very good with the Az Bad Boyz +1 forward a-arms.Later.
 
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Old May 13, 2003 | 03:19 PM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

That's correct, I forgot about that. I wish I would have tried that first instead of buying the front spacers plus you'll save a couple lbs of weight over using spacers. I think the difference is the spacers give you 1.5" of width & turning the front wheel around gives you 2" more width per side. One more thing is I needed to use a steering stabilizer when I went wider because there is more torque on the front wheel wanting to rip the handlebars out of your hands.
Jim
 
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Old May 13, 2003 | 03:59 PM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

Aaen has wider a-arms that give you 3 inces wider and inprove your caster. You can also get douglas rims with different offsets.
 
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Old May 13, 2003 | 04:07 PM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

hey jim nice lookin bike.....what did you do with the holes in the plastic when took off floorboards and where did you get the pegs?...thanks...just a man trying to drop some weight[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
 
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Old May 13, 2003 | 04:08 PM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

hey also jim didnt sound to happen about the new shocks....what do yall recommend cause wanting to change mine?
 
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Old May 13, 2003 | 04:14 PM
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Default Wheel Spacers - Anybody Using Them?

I called Aaen about the extended A-arms. They won't work with a 4x4 because the axles would be too short. Looks like I'll be reversing the front rims (hey, it will hide my beat-up outside edges) and getting a set of spacers for the rear.
 
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