Ski-Doo A-Arm Question

[skiroule]

I'm sure a knowledgeable Ski-Doo rider can answer this very quickly. After riding this week, I noticed that the right front shock on my 04 Rev Summit is now positioned slightly further towards the rear of the upper A-Arm than the left shock. I can't say for sure if this just happened or if it has been that way for a while.

I've measured the difference to be about 3/16". My initial diagnosis was that I bent the shock mount on the lower A-Arm but because there is a similar difference in the stabilizer measurements, it seems like it's probably the A-Arm itself. It still looks straight but because the shock displacement is so small maybe it can't be detected just looking at it. It seems unlikely that the lower chassis frame is bent as I would expect both shocks to be displaced in opposite directions.

Can anyone offer a likely cause? I hate to start buying parts until I have a pretty good idea of what is causing the problem. Sorry for asking such a dumb question but I've had zero problems with my Ski-Doo suspensions so I have no experience with repairs.

Thanks

 

[skidoomatt]

The REV chassis is known for this week point...the front of the chassis is tweaked...otherwise known as the "nun". You must have snagged something with that ski or a-arm. Unfortunately the chassis will bend or break before the a-arm will. It's a pretty intensive (labor) fix, not terribly expensive though. In my opinion, from a guy who's done the same thing, fixed it and bent it again...as long as nothing is binding or hitting through the suspension travel...just ride it. I've been riding mine slightly bent for years now.

 

[Bullcheater]

ur nun is bent. been there done that on my 08' I think the part was little less then $400.00. I had the dealer fix it as there was alot of rivots holding it together. small tweek equals alot by the time you get out to the skis.

 

[skiroule]

Thanks for the input. I was kind of afraid that might be the answer. I know this has been a chronic problem with the REVs as the front end has been described as "butter soft". Ironically, the hardest hits it has probably taken have been from creek washouts on the trail during the early season.

If I completely unload the ski, the shock spring will lightly contact the A-Arm but at that point there is no weight on the ski. I've done some of off-trail since I noticed the difference and I didn't detect any binding on the shock under load.

Since it seems to ride OK on and off the trail I'm tempted to follow the advice to just ride it, at least for the rest of the season. Maybe during the off-season I'll look at repairing it. Even after seven years, I still love riding this machine and would be hard pressed to get rid of it because of this problem.

Thanks Again...

 

[fatdaddy]

just happend to my brother in law, hit a hole two years ago, took the sled in for a pre season check and was told the NUN was bent, cost him $1500.00 to get his fixed. He remebers hitting the hole and didn't think anything of it, he even drove it for two years. He also totaled out his 05 by jumping some drive ways. The ski doos are very light and will bend if you hit something. I'm guessing in the future ski doo will stop bragging how light they are and start adding some bracing

 

[skiroule]

Yeah, I tend to agree that in spite of what the manufacturers claim, when you get right down to it there is probably some trade-off between weight and strength. I went away from Polaris in 04 because the REV had so many characteristics I liked. While I've never been disappointed in my Summit, I have to admit I never worried about bending anything on my EDGE X.

A couple of years back I read some articles describing parts replacements that supposedly reduced the possibility of tweaking the front end but I haven't seen any information lately regarding this.

 

[-Fluffy-]

If you have the tools and know-how to fix it yourself, it can be done for $150 or less. Countless REV owners have replaced their NUNs. It's just one of those things....

 

[skiroule]

I'll see if I can scrounge up the service bulletin and maybe tackle this next summer. I guess the potential good news is that because the shock mis-alignment is so slight, it's unlikely that there are bigger problems than the nun. I've looked at a couple of pictures of machines with this type of damage where even the hood alignment is affected.

I've heard of people buying machines in this condition without realizing it and I can see how that could happen. Unless you're looking for it, the difference can be really subtle. Now that would not make my day.

 

[fatdaddy]

My brother in law never noticed it for two years, but after really looking at it the shock spring was rubbing on the front inside of the A arm, his insurance covered it minus the deductable. He never noticed any handling issues either, the dealer did tell him it could be dangerious because it has fatiqued the metal and that constant motion on that will continue to weaken it.

 

[skiroule]

OK so the plot thickens - I was out poking around trying to find some signs of nun damage and I noticed that the front/lower A-Arm mounting bracket on the bad side is bent and pulled away slightly from the frame in front. When comparing things to my 05 Renegade it hit me that the forward A-Arm mounting bolt is missing on my Summit.

I suppose the bolt could have snapped from impact but looking at the paint on the bracket it doesn't appear that a bolt was ever installed. Also I don't see how all of the bolt could have worked its way out if it did snap, since part of it should have been held in by the A-Arms.

I'm not sure how critical this bolt is to the overall strength of the system but there's no question that if the forward bolt was never installed, it would put extra strain on both A-Arm brackets. Maybe this is a "chicken and egg" situation and it's hard to say what caused what but if the bolt really were missing from the factory, it seems like a bad thing.