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Front Strutt trouble on 400+500's

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#41 ·
mine's an 07 and i have only blown a rear, replaced with 800 max xts and springs. fronts now have max xt springs. i do not have a winch or other heavy stuff up there and i dont expect this machine to handle like a GNCC contender. but if i did i would call my goto guys at Works Performance and tell them the story. i just have used them for all my bikes ao that is just my preference.

http://www.worksperformance.com/pdf/app_guide/atv.pdf

818-701-1010. they are still listed in the application guide for a 400?

but, i have never had OE suspension that was any good. unfortunatly, it is a sales thing, believe it or not. go into any showroom and watch propective buyers sit on the bike, then grab the front brake and bounce the thing. if it goes down and then slowly comes up they are impressed. right? you know you have done it yourself. dont lie.

but that is exacly NOT what you need. a real suspension would just laugh at such an attempt to collapse it. showroom suspension, at speed, flying over whoops, weighing around 800lbs total, will flop around and become uncontrollable. then finally blow, sooner than later.

so realy we have only ourselfs to blame for wimpy OE struts and shocks. that is what sells. if you couldnt bounce the bike in the showroom you would walk away, declaring a too stiff, or no travel set-up. WORD!.

so suck it up and get some good stuff. and dont complain right away if you cant "test" it before you ride it, or that it is "not comfortible" in slow trails. you cant have it all, unless possibly if you fork over $2000 or better for some serious Crutchfields.
 
#42 ·
caspers-horizon said:
i did the 500 strut and max spring replacement and it was well woth the money. (parker yamaha)
the wife and i ride together and pretty hard as we ride with a 500 650 and 800 can ams.
Click to expand...
What strut did you use? OEM or something else?
 
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#43 · (Edited by Moderator)
vermonster said:
How many out there have experienced a knocking from the front shock? If so please share experience. I am currently working with Can am to adress the problem and provide a better shock that upholds the reputation of BRP as manufactuers of Quality products and uphold their ethical standars as stated on their web site!! PLEASE SEND THEM A LETTER AND VOICE YOUR CONCERN!! Let them know about the problem and how it effects the ride! Defective, unsafe, not enjoyable, not as expected or advertised... They made it clear that if the response is there from customers they will act on it! We have supported Can am/ BRP with our purchases and deserve to have them stand behind thier product and uphold their obligation to produce innovative QUALITY PRODUCTS as claimed in their promotions. The adress is in the back of the manual: BRP customer service
75, J,-A, Bombardier Street, Sherbrooke, Que'bec J1L 1W3 Canada
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I just traded my 2007 Canam Outlander 500 XT for a new 2010 Canam Outlander 650 XT. I had 1800 kms on the 2007 500 and the struts were just starting to go as there was play in the left-side wheel which originated from the struts. I do have a good dealer, but he told me that the struts are considered by BRP as a wear item and therefore not covered under warranty. He said he tried to push it through for another customer but it was rejected by BRP. Even though if I had kept the 2007 500 I would not have needed to replace the struts right away, I knew that the day would come when I would have to replace them. It is no easy job to replace them as the whole front plastics have to be removed, as well as the bumper and rack (on the XT). The cost, I was told, would be around $500 for both. So, being end of model year, I made a good deal with my dealer and traded the 2007 500 for a new 2010 650 (without struts). I will miss the 500 because it was a good machine, and I know that this option is not available for everyone, but I was also thinking of stepping up the power on my ATV and getting power steering so that I can add the Apache track system to it this winter. In summary, I think the best advice I can give anyone is "don't buy a 500 Outlander until they get rid of the front strut suspension system on it - the extra you spend now to get a 650 will be compensated by you not having to pay for replacing struts down the road." I wish someone had given me this advice before I bought the 500 originally. Well, I hope you are successful in convincing BRP that they need to change the front suspension system on the 500's, and maybe give a limited mileage extended warranty for those that have 500's with strut problems. Good luck to all of you who will be contacting BRP - I sincerely wish you well and hope you are successful in getting some compensation from them for this annoying strut problem.
 
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#44 · (Edited by Moderator)
silverridge08 said:
I'd be willing to try this if it would help my weak front suspension! Did you or someone you know do this?
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You can use MAX front Springs from a 4-500 to stiffen it up too. The heavier spring on the non-Max strut will cause more clunking though.

I have just replaced mine last winter, one was totally shot.. Got lucky and found some brand new ones for cheap on eBay. If I wasn't so lucky, I would have bought a set of Works..

BRP has known about this problem since 2003. I had my first set replaced after 4 months of riding in 2004. The 2005 and newer struts do last longer, but most units are past the 6 month warranty when they fail so it's a good parts sale for them..
 
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#45 ·
silverridge08 said:
What strut did you use? OEM or something else?
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i used the 500 oem struts and spring on the 400 and i think the machine handles much better and like i said we ride hard. if anyone is looking for some used 400 max springs or 1 good strut (you will get 2 as i dont remember which is good) (good for how long is unknown)let me know we can work something out.
 
#46 ·
When my struts go I will be getting the ELKA replacements. If OE is $500.00 , than ELKA is a good deal.
 
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caspers-horizon
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