Replacing your A-arms is a good idea if you want to improve your ATV’s performance.
Your ATV’s A-arms keep the shock absorbers in place and allow the wheels to move up and down over bumps. A-arms are an essential component of your machine because they keep your ATV stable on the road.
A-arms rarely show signs of wear over time. They have, however, been known to deform or break when struck by a large rock. If this occurs, it is best to replace the A-arms before they cause additional damage to the machine.
Another reason many people replace their A-arms is to upgrade to a higher performance component or to a longer A-arm to extend their ATV’s range. The steps are the same in both cases.
To find a replacement A-arm, visit your local ATV parts store or search Amazon for ATV A-arms. You can often find cheaper parts online; just make sure you get the correct part for your year, make, and model.
What is a ATV A-arm?
A-arms, or anti-roll bars, are a common safety feature on all types of vehicles. The purpose of an A-arm is to keep the wheels of the vehicle from rolling or spinning. If you have a front-wheel drive car or truck, you may have noticed that your car has a pair of A-arms attached to the front of the car. These arms keep the tires from turning in place, allowing them to move up and down over bumps without getting stuck.
These arms prevent the rear wheels from turning in place, keeping them from getting stuck when driving over bumps.
How Does an A-arm Work on an ATV?
The A-arms on your ATV are connected to the frame of the vehicle by the suspension. They also connect to the suspension arms. The A-arms are attached to the frame of the ATV using a number of bolts, allowing them to be easily removed and replaced.
How to Replace an ATV A-Arm
1. Wheels must be lifted and removed.
Place the quad on the jack after lifting the side of the quad. The jack is optional if you have a strong jack or an ATV lift.
Although there will be little strain or pull on the ATV itself when jacked up, it is still a good idea to ensure it is stable. The next step will be easier if you loosen the lug nuts on the wheels before lifting the quad.
Remove the wheel from which you want to replace the A-arm by unscrewing the lug nuts. Although it is preferable to replace one side at a time, you can jack up both sides and then replace one.
2. Taking the connecting rods apart
You must disconnect the tie rod from its connection to the tie rod end. Only the tie rod must be removed from the steering components, not the tie rod end. Loosen and unscrew the tie rod’s lock nut until the tie rod is disconnected from the end.
3. Take out the ball joint lock nut.
If this step is difficult to complete because the brake caliper is in the way, remove the brake caliper. Set the caliper aside so it does not interfere with the brake line. If necessary, zip-tie it and move it out of the way.
Unscrew the stud nut and remove the cotter pin from the ball stud nut. Because the connecting rods have been removed, the shaft can now freely rotate. When removing the ball joint wing nut, place a piece of 24 or a similar hand tool on the A-arm and shaft to keep it from moving.
They make a special tool for easily removing ball joints. It’s known as a universal ball joint separator, and it’s available on Amazon. However, you can remove the ball joint with a yogurt fork or a strong screwdriver.
4. Taking the shock out of the A-arm
Remove the shock from the A-arm and, if applicable, the bolt that connects the bottom of the shock to the A-arm. You should now be able to easily remove the ATV’s A-arms.
Make sure to clean the shaft where the new ball joint will be installed. This will simplify the installation process, and now that you have everything apart, you should thoroughly clean it.
5. Taking out the ball joint
This can be done in a variety of ways, and which method you use will depend on the type of ball joint setup you have. If your new A-arm already has ball joints, you may not need to do anything else.
Some ball joints have a C-clip on one side to keep them in place. If you have one, you must remove this C-clip.
I’ve even seen people spray WD-40 on the ball joint before hammering it out from the opposite side. The ball joint may come out easily at times, but if you need it, you must remove it from the old A-arm.
6. Putting in a new ball joint
If your A-arm did not come with a new ball joint, or if you are still using an old ball joint for whatever reason. The ball joint must be fitted to the new A-arm. Before inserting the ball joint into the new A-arm, thoroughly clean the ball joint and A-arm. If you need to do this step, you may need to use a ball joint press. Here’s an illustration of a ball joint press. From Amazon’s ABN ball joint press tool set. You could also try driving the ball joints in with a rubber mallet or something else, but be careful not to damage them.
I prefer to use a new A-arm that already has the ball joint installed so that I don’t have to perform the ball joint removal and installation steps. Also, even if I disassemble everything, I want to replace the ball joints.
7. Reinstallation
When you have your new A-arm and it is ready to use, you can begin reassembling everything. Replace all parts in the same order that they were removed.
Replace the A-arm and reinstall the shock absorber and ball head on the shaft. Replace the ball nut and cotter pin on the ball joint.
CONCLUSION
A-arms are an essential component of your ATV. They are the part of the suspension system that keeps the wheels from moving up and down when the vehicle is on rough terrain.
Replacing your A-arms is a good idea if you want to improve your ATV’s performance.
You can buy an A-arm for your ATV at an auto parts store, or you can order one online.
When you replace your A-arms, you can get a better-performing A-arm for less money.