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Hello everyone!
This weekend I had the first ride on my home-made experiment. "The experiment?" you ask? Known around here as FrankenSled...
I installed AWS5 A-Arms & shocks onto a AWS4 chassis. New arms are 2.5" longer per side, adding 5" of total width. Stock was 41", now it's a 46" stance. I had to fabricate some 3/8" spacers for the A-Arm's mounting location on the chassis, and weld the sway bar link bracket on the lower arm closer to the chassis by 3/4".
The AWS4 sled in question is a '98 ZRT 800. The AWS5 A-Arms came from a 2000 ZRT. The original owner tried to mow down a tree with it! Didn't work, tree won, sled dead! I bought the A-Arms, shocks & springs, steering tie rods & spindles for practically next to nothing.
I couldn't use the AWS 5 spindles, because the arm hole location on the AWS5 spindles threw off the geometry of the AWS4 chassis. I had to cut clearances in the AWS4 spindle to provide the clearance require by the longer travel of the AWS5 arms & shocks. Now the AWS4 spindle looks like the newer cutout ones on the latest Cats.
I also have a 5/8" square sway bar instead of the wimpy OEM 3/8" rod. After doing a few test runs, and dialing in the new setup, I can tell you that it works AWESOME!!!
This sled now corners flatter than anything I've ever driven since '67! Not to mention the abundant travel! The original travel was only something like 7". The current one is over 11".
But wait a minute... Now you'll say the AWS5 is only around 10" of travel. True. But this suspension is somewhat of a hybrid now, and things are a little different... I had to use the AWS4 spindles, the shock mounting locations are slightly higher up than on the AWS5 spindle. When I measure from the bumper down to the top of the spindle, the suspension does an 11" stroke. It would be an even higher number if I measure the bumper from the ground as the OEMs do.
So if any of you out there ever smash some front end arms & shocks on your AWS 4 machine, and you need to by repair parts, get the AWS5 arms & shocks if you can. I bought all the stuff used, with only 1000 miles on it for $150 Can. If you need help, I have pictures, and can tell you the exact stuff you need to know to get the geometry perfect.
Harry
This weekend I had the first ride on my home-made experiment. "The experiment?" you ask? Known around here as FrankenSled...
I installed AWS5 A-Arms & shocks onto a AWS4 chassis. New arms are 2.5" longer per side, adding 5" of total width. Stock was 41", now it's a 46" stance. I had to fabricate some 3/8" spacers for the A-Arm's mounting location on the chassis, and weld the sway bar link bracket on the lower arm closer to the chassis by 3/4".
The AWS4 sled in question is a '98 ZRT 800. The AWS5 A-Arms came from a 2000 ZRT. The original owner tried to mow down a tree with it! Didn't work, tree won, sled dead! I bought the A-Arms, shocks & springs, steering tie rods & spindles for practically next to nothing.
I couldn't use the AWS 5 spindles, because the arm hole location on the AWS5 spindles threw off the geometry of the AWS4 chassis. I had to cut clearances in the AWS4 spindle to provide the clearance require by the longer travel of the AWS5 arms & shocks. Now the AWS4 spindle looks like the newer cutout ones on the latest Cats.
I also have a 5/8" square sway bar instead of the wimpy OEM 3/8" rod. After doing a few test runs, and dialing in the new setup, I can tell you that it works AWESOME!!!
This sled now corners flatter than anything I've ever driven since '67! Not to mention the abundant travel! The original travel was only something like 7". The current one is over 11".
But wait a minute... Now you'll say the AWS5 is only around 10" of travel. True. But this suspension is somewhat of a hybrid now, and things are a little different... I had to use the AWS4 spindles, the shock mounting locations are slightly higher up than on the AWS5 spindle. When I measure from the bumper down to the top of the spindle, the suspension does an 11" stroke. It would be an even higher number if I measure the bumper from the ground as the OEMs do.
So if any of you out there ever smash some front end arms & shocks on your AWS 4 machine, and you need to by repair parts, get the AWS5 arms & shocks if you can. I bought all the stuff used, with only 1000 miles on it for $150 Can. If you need help, I have pictures, and can tell you the exact stuff you need to know to get the geometry perfect.
Harry
with a speedster track too. Had 44 mikunis on it when we got it till it kicked my dad's ass(well more like his shoulder SNAP) and then he put the smaller ones on.
