Ok...the other day I was riding and I cut a corner to tight and my left front wheel caught a small tree and yanked the wheels to the left and totally out of line. The tierods did not bend at all but something else did and i can't figure out what....could I possibly have bent the steering stem....I adjusted the tierods and brought the wheels back in alignment because im suppose to go riding tomorrow, but the steering is still a little screwed up, i dont have as much as a turning radius to the right and it feels weird...can anybody please help me.

 

Doe's the steering have play in it? If so you may have damaged the spacer at bottom of steering colum, when you hit the tree. Easy fix if that is the case. It happened to me, and that was all it was. Good luck.

 

No...there is no play in the bars...it's just that when steering, its difficult at first and then there is a breaking point in the steering radius and its gets easy...i had to lengthen the left tierod quite a bit, and shorten the right one just as much...just so ill be able to ride tomorrow...i def want to ge the problem fixed. I just raised the front end off the ground, and crouched in front and looked at the stem and when i turned the wheels back in forth i noticed that the steering stem swivled back and forth a little bit about 4 inches from the bottom....but its snug..not loose at all. I believe i bent the steering stem a little bit..does anyone know where i can get a stock replacement for cheap..thanks

 

Sounds like the steering stem to me. My nephew has bent 2 of them on his 400ex

 

Did you by any chance remove the tierod's when you were strightening this out? The reason I ask is I knew someone that did this and put one back on upside down in haste. I am not going to say who.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] Anyway When this person made A post it was pointed out by Mucky that the tie rod's mount from the steering stem on the top. And on the bottom at the wheels. You probily already know that but sometime's in haste things get overlooked.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Hope your ride went OK.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

If my last reply was not the case. Go to the gallery under M and click onto Mucky, P.M. him and ask him your question. He is very knowlegable about these Quad's. He is probily at Dumont or somewhere this holiday weekend or he would have answered your question.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Hope that was ok Mucky.

 

I wish I was at dumont or somewhere else. had a wedding to go to here in town. and then went tubing down the river and now i'm sunburned so no riding this weekend
check your frame and a-arms, you might have bent one just enough to cause problems.
and check the steering knuckle where the tierod connects to make sure its not bent
I think you will bend a tierod link first before the stem

 

Well i think you might be right about the knuckle where the tierods connect to...that does look bent...but if thats bent im gonna need a new steering stem anyway. Can i just replace the steering stem or is there bearings and bushings that go along with it? Im not looking to get out of this cheap by any means...i just want the problem fixed the way it should be.

 

I'd check the frame. We've bent the pivot points where the upper aarms mount and it jacked up the steering big time... Not to mention Z's are known for having week points upfront.

If it does turn out to be a stem, buy aftermarket... the stock ones are just as expensive it not more than an aftermarket one with a dampener... so I wouldn't go OEM on a new stem.

 

Ok thanks....but do i also need any bearings or bushings for the stem or does it come with everything? whats involved in replacing the stem..i know you have to take the oil tank and the radiator off..but do you also have to take the front plastics off too.