2004 Viper Skid info ..... something to share!

xsivhp

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Dec 11, 2004
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Eau Claire, WI
I found one more difference in the 04 vipers and the others .... I had my suspension out for it's annual lube and service (had a damaged limiter strap) and low and behold the arms for the FRA had a lot of slop in them! I took a look at another piece I had from a xtc and they were tight yet - which was a surprise as it's owner did not take good care of it at all.

Well what I found was yet another place that yamaha had cut corners to make the ohlins on the front and the ripsaw happen! The xtc had needle bearings in the pivot points while the 04 viper had plastic bushings that were in fact shot! So, after repacking the (4) bearings (pain in the arse) and swaping in the xtc arms they were ready to rip. Wow, what a difference. The suspesionsure seems to stroke through it's travel a lot smoother since a complete grease joband replacement of the arms with the bushings.

The grease installed by yamaha at the factory actually hardens up and does nothing as it ages. The needle bearings actually looked as though they had been heat treated by the heat generated in the suspension!

So I guess, when you grease your skid, make sure you grease these needle bearings too! Just be careful as they are cageless!

I'll try to get pics of the worn bushings for you!
 
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the xtc skid had the bearings at key pivot spots,that was an upgrade for the xtc vs others,they didn't cut corners, just how they did it,yes all the
skids should have been that way, srx has it too....

i believe you can fit them bearings in a non bearing(bush) part.
 


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