Viper shocks in an SRX

T

toDsrx

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Unionville, Michigan
I'm looking for some help on the subject. This seems to be a pretty common upgrade. I am looking to put a set of Viper shocks on my '00 SRX. I was wondering if the front shocks can be bolted on or is there some things that need to be done first. I am also going to put Viper rear shocks into my existing SRX skid. I know that I need longer limiter straps, do I need longer transfer rods also or just thinner washers? I have a set of Bender quick rods on it already, will these still work? Is there any other things that I will need to do or get to pull this off? I really have no idea, just what I have read or heard from others. Any help and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to PM me. Thanks a lot in advance!!

toDsrx :rockon:
 

Viper Shocks

The skid is no problem. It's a common swap. The front shocks have a different upper mounting. As far as the transfer rods, I am not 100% sure
 
for the front you will need two viper bushings that go in the bulkhead. maxximum performace has them, also i would recomend new springs form maxx perf for the front and center of the rear as well, the viper springs are too soft for that machine.
 
I just did mine and dealer had me flip the front viper shocks and mount them upside down. I chose to make a small bushing for the bolt to slide through on the trailing arm end. The shocks work the same either side up. After 234 miles of great riding the only thing that I can complain about is the rear suspension. It is way too soft. Tighten the center spring till you almost run out of threads cause like yamaha pro said it is way to soft. Im yet to try the new set up because of lack of time off work and temps have been in the mid 40's in southern maine lately. I nee to get a pic but there has been a huge difference in overall height in the rear and it looks mean.
 
On the SRX models there is no spot for a bushing on the bulkhead....the brk't flip method i have heard of....but how do you connect the clevis end of the front viper shock?? do you remove the clevis and have a bushing end welded on??....CP
 
first you need to remove the front mounting bracket (if you machine has one) where the very top of the braket mounts in the bulkhead that where the bushing goes. thats the proper place to mount the clevis of the viper shock. without the bushing you will bend the clevis trying to tighten it. as for the center shock problem that maxx spring made a huge difference. ($55) i found the front springs where way to soft for my likeing. i replaced those as well.
 
2 questions......first, if you remove the mounting bracket on a SRX i don't think there is anything behind there to mount a shock to.......second what's the advantage of having the shocks upside down............James
 
when you remove that mounting bracket there are two places that it bolts to the tunnel the first is a bolt that goes directly into the bulk head. second place is the very top on that backet you bolt it throught a clevis in the top of the bulkhead, that is where you take out that metal bushing and replace it with a viper bushing and mount the viper shocks upside down. as for advantages and disadvangatge of mounting the shocks that way. the only disadvantage is that there is slighly more mass that is moving as the shock travel, as it is now connected to the trailing arm. the the shocks will perform the same no matter what way they are mounted
 
By doing it that way would that move the shock further up in the bulkhead thus having lower ride height I may have to check that out over the summer, i ended up using a aluminum bushing with nylon washers and pressed the clevis mount in a little to fit inside the stock SRX top mount, i seems to work good but i do have to loosen off the springs quite a bit to get it back down to a resonable height.............James
 
yeah that what i did the first time i put the viper shocks on mine i squished the clevis togather. that viper bushing fits through that hole and mounts them correctly. the ride is just right with the long travel rear installed. ill try and post a picture of mine.
 
I just noticed your avatar, if you have a 97 SX it has different mounting that the newer SRX, my buddy has a 97 SX and we put Vipers on his and it goes the way you discribed, on the SRX the mount bolts straight inwards (both bolts) to the bulkhead.............James
 
yamahasnopro:
you have a sx. it has the ear @ the top of the bulkhead to mount the clevis end of the shock. the srx does not have the ear on the bulkhead because of the placement of the triple pipes.
todsrx:
cut off the eyelet mount from your old shocks & the clevis mount on the viper shocks. weld the eyelet mount to the viper shocks & bolt to the original bracket. you will also need to replace the radius rods & steering links & space out the sway bar. you do not need new limiter straps. the old srx straps are not very much shorter than the viper ones. do you have the first edition bender rods or the second edition??
bob
 
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By chance would the KYBs clevis mounts just screw off, i remember when i put extensions on my Ohlins you would heat up the mount(to break the locktight) and it would screw off, i would great if the viper's kyb do the same.........James
 
I guess if i get a good welder to do this, it should be a pretty easy job to right, just take the spring off it can be done with the shock shaft still attached to the shock right.............James
 
I will try to get a pic of mine so you guys can see what I mean. I have a srx so its is different than the sx bulkhead. I flip them upside down so that I can attach the clevis end to the trailing arm. The gaps are the same on the clevis and trailing arm so all you do is off set them a bit, make a bushing to fill the gap so that you can tighten without squishing the two together. The "bottom" of the viper shock is the same as the srx shocks so it bolts right in to the bulkhead. It looks great and works great. Sometimes its better to think and improvize than waste your money on extra pieces from way overpriced aftermarket companies. Im surprised that n o one else has tried this its easier than the other methods plus it works. I wish I could say I thought of it but really the dealer said to do it this way.
 
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