<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: PoolGod230

They are better, but still only single rate, and I believe rear had remote rezzie.

Don't know length of them. racers sat lower...</end quote></div>

I dont know, but I think you can get a whole quadracer frame n shocks n all for about the price of a full works set.

I'b be just peachy if I could get my paws on a set of lt250s shocks. Those things ride like a cloud on the trail. They are single rate springs, but you'd never know it unless you look.

I've sat staring at the 230 next to the 250 in my garage many times trying to figure out why the 250 rides so much better. It has to be the shocks. Even after all the work I've done, the 250 still has a better ride.

 

PG, being the people person that you are... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Find somebody on the forum with a quadracer and ask him how wide they are.

 

I have contacted these guys http://www.diamondjcustoms.com/new/index.htm regarding thier kits and if they make one for mine specifically (1986 Suzuki LT230QS) or know if one of thier existing kits would fit. They have an ebay store and that's how I contacted them (at work so can't post the ebay link although it's on the above listed page). They sent a response saying "We don't currently make one but we do have one that would probably work for a 1987 LT250R, would that be the same?"

I have no idea but suspect it wouldn't, so I haven't sent a response back yet because I'm not 100% sure and would love to have access to measure a '87 LT250R but I don't.

I would really like to get this kit because yes it changes the geometry of your frame by attacthing your a-arms further out but your also attatching your shocks further out to compensate ontop of the fact I woudn't use the same shocks, obviously I would use a bigger quads shocks, say a newer 400ex shocks that are 16.25" compared to our 11.88" stock.

 

Looks expensive! As I was saying, I think the 250 and the 230 are close enough that it can be made to work (Vise, press, car jack, etc and some grinding/filing).

I wonder how long these shocks are? http://atvpartsdepot.stores.ya...net/fronshocforh.html


I could only get 11.25" out of both sets of 230 shocks I have. The sister quad (250) has 13's and they bolted in the same top holes as the 230, but has longer arms, so the geometry is different (the shocks lay flatter - and that alone gives it more travel at the wheel even if the shocks weren't longer).

 

Those would be for a Honda TRX450ES/S 4X4 from the years listed for what they would fit which means they are 15.00". probably pretty stiff since they are made for a 4x4 and not a sport model.

The kits aren't that expensive they average around $180-200 if you buy outright or you can bid on any of the kits listed on ebay and after you win you can send an email telling them which kit you want. So it's like a generic auction and you pay what you feel is fair by bidding.

The alternative is having to try to find and make fit a-arms that hopefully widening your atv to make it worth it and also try to make shocks fit properly and then worry about spindles, tie rods, hubs which in my case also means new rims since we use a 4/166 pattern and I just got mine.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: gforce34

I have contacted these guys http://www.diamondjcustoms.com/new/index.htm regarding thier kits and if they make one for mine specifically (1986 Suzuki LT230QS) or know if one of thier existing kits would fit. They have an ebay store and that's how I contacted them (at work so can't post the ebay link although it's on the above listed page). They sent a response saying "We don't currently make one but we do have one that would probably work for a 1987 LT250R, would that be the same?"



I have no idea but suspect it wouldn't, so I haven't sent a response back yet because I'm not 100% sure and would love to have access to measure a '87 LT250R but I don't.



I would really like to get this kit because yes it changes the geometry of your frame by attacthing your a-arms further out but your also attatching your shocks further out to compensate ontop of the fact I woudn't use the same shocks, obviously I would use a bigger quads shocks, say a newer 400ex shocks that are 16.25" compared to our 11.88" stock.</end quote></div>


Believe it or not, stupid non mechanical me, has been drawing up a very similar widining kit for about 6 months!! Good to see I was thinking along the correct lines.
Looks like something someone with some welding skills could make on their own...

 

Since we are on the suspension subject.... yagerzz, he used to post here long ago, said that the racers swing arm would bolt right up.. That would be sick! All aluminum "full floater" rear suspension. be like a +4 or+6 swingarm and shock wouldn't bolt directly to frame. kinda like the pro link on my atc.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: gforce34

Those would be for a Honda TRX450ES/S 4X4 from the years listed for what they would fit which means they are 15.00". probably pretty stiff since they are made for a 4x4 and not a sport model.



The kits aren't that expensive they average around $180-200 if you buy outright or you can bid on any of the kits listed on ebay and after you win you can send an email telling them which kit you want. So it's like a generic auction and you pay what you feel is fair by bidding.



The alternative is having to try to find and make fit a-arms that hopefully widening your atv to make it worth it and also try to make shocks fit properly and then worry about spindles, tie rods, hubs which in my case also means new rims since we use a 4/166 pattern and I just got mine.</end quote></div>


How do you know how long all these shocks are?

No, $200 isn't that bad for a-arms. A lot less than what I was thinking. I couldn't make a set for that even if I valued my time at $5/hr, lol.

Yes, already having new rims kinda limits your choices. I kinda shot myself in the foot when I bought new rims for the back and then decided on new tires later. I should have gotten the 9x8 rims instead of 9x9.

I guess the next step should be to visit the showrooms with a tape measure and see what might work.

Ps, you might want to check the actually wheel travel with the ball joints you have. I've been cutting n welding all over the place on this thing and I don't see needing much more shock travel because the balljoints would bind. The downward angle of my arms in my pics is the most you can do w/o having the balljoints bind up. From that point, how far do you want to go up?

I could use a shock with 16 inches of travel, but it would have to be a really soft spring and I would have to mount it way out next to the wheel. Otherwise, either my joints will bind or else I would never use half of the travel.

 

Btw, I seen a 100amp wire welder at JCwhitney for $149. I had a Clarke unit much like that one and it lasted me 10yrs of rough use before it suddenly stopped. Then I picked up some other brand one for $300. I liked my Clarke better. I paid about $250 for the clarke a long long time ago. Once you get a welder, any pile of steel you see will look like a pile of gold to you. Owning a welder opens a lot of doors for customizing your ride.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: PoolGod230

Since we are on the suspension subject.... yagerzz, he used to post here long ago, said that the racers swing arm would bolt right up.. That would be sick! All aluminum "full floater" rear suspension. be like a +4 or+6 swingarm and shock wouldn't bolt directly to frame. kinda like the pro link on my atc.</end quote></div>

I remember reading that in the beginning. Might as well get the whole frame though and just switch engines, lol. Then again, why?

In reality, I'd be careful and double check everything. There is some reason the 87 and 88 models weigh 30lbs more than the 85 and 86 models and I'm thinking its because the frame is wider and the swingarm is wider. Not sure though, but I know for a fact that the lt250s is wider than my 86 lt230s because I broke the swingarm bolt to the 250 and the 230 one was too short. I had to weld the bolt back together for the 250. The 250 also weighs 30lbs more than my 230. Coincidence?