Phazer steering slop

phazer35

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Nov 1, 2004
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SLC UT
Whats the best way to tighten up the slop on my Pazer's steering? It is probably worse than any I've ever seen. Makes riding at night almost impossible because the headlight is all over the place. Any help is always appreciated.

Thanks
 

Bender Racing, Reichards and most major catalogs sell the T.S.S. washer kits enough, for both sides priced around $30.00 ! Don't forget to drive the metal shaft's out of the knuckles in the top, middle, and bottom joint and grease before reassembly.
 
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I'll bet it's the bi-metal bushings, the bottem ones are probably the worst.
Bushing #'s 46(4 per side), 33(2), 32(2)
Collar #'s 34(2 per side), 35(1), 9(1)

Figure out which joints are the worst, and start replacing parts. If I remember correctly, those bushings are a bit pricey. The washers kit will help some, but putting some bushings in it plus the washer kit will make it very nice.
 

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Wow that is alot of really awesome information, That is about 90% of the steering trouble with Phazers! They also have four tie rod ends, which I have had a couple go bad! Also had a tie rod come loose!
 
The bushing kits do help especially on 10+ year old tss sleds.
Also check at the ski pivot, sometimes I find it can get a bit sloppy.
I made some shims out of plastic maybe 3 yrs back, from different kinds of bottles/containers I found in the recycle bin. Amazingly they are still on the sled some 1000 kms later!
 
You can add grease fittings to lubricate the bushings. It will take 4 per side. Drill and tap a hole in the center at the joints. Make sure there will be clearance so there is no contact when the suspension compresses. It is probably best to take off the cans and let the springs loose to collapse the strut fully to check before drilling. I lube once a year or 1000 miles.
Also check all the tie rod end attaching bolts. They can loosen and cause slop. Move the handle bars and watch for where the play is.
 
Every used T.S.S. sled I've bought the Knuckles and steel bushing are almost frozen or completely locked up and pivoting on the bolts ! I've bought sleds that the locked up joints won't even allow the springs to return let, alone the struts to work when hitting a bump. The T.S.S sleds have always gotten a bad rap for slop developing when the ungreased steel bushing's freeze up they grind away on the nylon washers ! I have sleds that are 15+ years old that have never had a bushing kit and are almost as tight as new. Just take the knuckles apart every 2-3 years and grease !
 
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Vmax540 said:
Every used T.S.S. sled I've bought the Knuckles and steel bushing are almost frozen or completely locked up and pivoting on the bolts ! I've bought sleds that the locked up joints won't even allow the springs to return let, alone the struts to work when hitting a bump. The T.S.S sleds have always gotten a bad rap for slop developing when the ungreased steel bushing's freeze up they grind away on the nylon washers ! I have sleds that are 15+ years old that have never had a bushing kit and are almost as tight as new. Just take the knuckles apart every 2-3 years and grease !

thats because no one does any maintenance,,my old iron you can take
apart the joints and the collars will fall out!!!
 
yah! when I got my first Phazer it was really well maintained, but the tunnel was missing from about the middle of the seat back! I bought the '87 which had a good tunnel, but was in really bad shape otherwise! I built one sled out of the two. I'm still trying to get everything right. The tie rods are good now. I've got the scissors from the '84 so I'll tear them apart and completely go through them and put them on my '87! Next season is gonna be so awsome!!!
 
8vo fan said:
yah! when I got my first Phazer it was really well maintained, but the tunnel was missing from about the middle of the seat back! I bought the '87 which had a good tunnel, but was in really bad shape otherwise! I built one sled out of the two. I'm still trying to get everything right. The tie rods are good now. I've got the scissors from the '84 so I'll tear them apart and completely go through them and put them on my '87! Next season is gonna be so awsome!!!

WTF happend to the tunnel????? track slapping???
 
I rebuilt my steering knuckles and installed all stainless steel bushings and washers..I installed some greese fittings...This will save a huge headache if the knuckes get old with no maintance..I have had 3 Phazers all with old knuckles that were never taken apart it,s a total pain in the ***, the bushings seized to the bolts....
 
I finished my Phazer front end, well almost, still needs paint. Disassembled the two front suspensions( '84 and '87) I had to use a large hammer frequently! All of the collars were rusted into place bad! Honed the bushings and installed oversize collars. I barely had enough good pieces to put it back together! I've never drove a Phazer with tight steering before. That will be a new expierience!
I really don't know what happened to the tunnel on the '84. I bought it that way. I accidently found it after I bought it, one day inspecting the track.
:2strokes:
 


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