Viper suspension dilemma

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bigreis

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Jan 27, 2009
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Age
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Location
Central MN
I was in the process of replacing the track on my 2002 Viper and when I pulled the skid out, I was surpised to find that one of the skid rails was severely bent just in front of the rear axle. The transfer rod on that side was also bent and the W-arm has a crack in it. Aside from that damage, there are a few idler wheel bearings that also need replacement.

I am a welder, so fixing the W-arm shouldn't be a big deal, but I am concerned about weakening the slide rail and transfer rod when I try to straighten them out. So I guess I am looking for advice as to wether I should buy replacement parts and repair the proaction suspension, or if I should put an M-10 in? Before I discovered the damage, I was going to send the shocks in and get the revalved, but now I am wondering if the money would be better spent on a new suspension?

I found an older "metric" M-10 for sale with an Ohlins rear shock for $600, but after talking to Fast, I would need to buy a mount kit for $225 and they also made it sound like the "metric" suspensions are not going to be supported by the factory much longer. $825 for a suspension that I may not be able to buy parts for in a year or two seems like a lot of money. Fast would sell me an M-10 with all new hardware, mount kit and rebuilt Fox shocks for $999. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
The M-10 is a great suspension in terms of ride, but it'll kill your top end speed. Since you're a welder, you could probably fab up and build the mounting kit, as they call it, yourself.
 
The mounting kit is real basic, mostly shims and a template. If I had a brain I would scan my template and post it. I no longer have my template. ARGH!!

I have the M-10 master and I absolutely love it. The adjustability is crazy, and the ride is out of this world. I have not bottomed it out yet. Just seems with its progressive springs the harder you hit it, the better it gets. I love the idea of a spring within a spring. I too can weld, once I had my whole suspension out, all torn apart, ready for sand blasting, I just threw the parts into the garbage beside the blaster, then I ordered my M-10.
 
It kills your top end speed for a few reasons. It has alot more travel, so the sled sits quite a bit higher. The attack angle of the track is greater, which hurts speed as well.
 
You lose 5-10 mph with the m-10 if the track is tensioned correctly and the sag is correct with you on it the tradeoff is not that bad, the key is setup.Wow, what a ride though for typical midwest trail and ditch riding its hard to beat,I would'nt be riding my sx-r if it was'nt for the m-10.
 
"LOL. I'd take the shocks out in order to gain 5 mph"
Im with Valin on this one.
I love speed!!!
 
Well for me I would continue on your path for now. Set up a ride with someone that has the M-10, on theirs. You can always sell your revalved shocks. You should definately try a SRX with the M-10. Thats just me though.
 
Everyone is quick to say that the m10 kills top end and if it does you will never tell. I have a srx with an m10 at 136 and no problem here. you dont need the mount kit to put in the m10 and as far as aproach angle, move it 2" back in the chassis and that solves toe aproach angle. also go with 8" wheels in the rear so the track will turn more free. I can lift the rear off the ground and turn the track with 1 finger. for high performance trail riding, there is nothing even close to this set up. as for top speed, it does help to have a 835 under the hood, the fun factor is off the chart
 
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