[Cass08450]

Hello, I just wanted to share on how I installed grease fittings on stock a arms and what parts I used. I'll have pictures posted below for a visual aid. When I originally had the idea of putting grease fittings on my an arms I searched this forum and most people said it was "impossible" or to just spend the $250 on the sealed bearings. However I wanted to be different and try something new. Automatically I ran into problems. The main issue was getting the little clips that hold the Oem bearings in which I ended up just melting and breaking them with an ascetalyne torch. Once those are out you should have an issue if you, the reader also would like to do this.

for the bushings, I used one of those Amazon bushing kits which actually turned out great and everything was tight. It says they are meant for a 400ex but they will work on 450 an arms. You will also have to drill through the metal tube using an 1/8 inch bit to make sure grease gets to the bolt

Next i had to figure out if the grease fitting would clear the frame, which they will depending on your placement. On the front part of the an arm they will have to go underneath because they will hit your frame if they are on top, unless you noch out the frame which I did not want to. You can see where I placed the fitting in the picture below

Everything clears the frame so the fitting sheering off isn't an issue. As far as the fitting towards the back of the quad you can place it on top of the a arm because there is a notch in the frame from the factory which is convenient

again everything will clear the frame.
There is no squeak in these bushing and I do recommend them for someone who is looking to do a project like this. If you have any questions/comments/concerns please ask, and if you would like to see pictures of the upper an arms with grease fittings let me know and I will post some. Thanks for reading!

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

How did you thread the hole to screw the fitting in? (Thru arm, and bushing kit)?
Nice job btw, it looks legit.

 

[Cass08450]

How did you thread the hole to screw the fitting in? (Thru arm, and bushing kit)?
Nice job btw, it looks legit.

My dad actually helped me out with that part because I have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to drilling and tapping holes for thread. he drilled the Hole with what I believe was an 1/8 inch drill bit. For the threads I can't remember what thread size the fitting was but I know it was metric, but to thread a hole you need a tap kit with is basically a drill bit with threads

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

My dad actually helped me out with that part because I have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to drilling and tapping holes for thread. he drilled the Hole with what I believe was an 1/8 inch drill bit. For the threads I can't remember what thread size the fitting was but I know it was metric, but to thread a hole you need a tap kit with is basically a drill bit with threads

Ok 👍, yea ive seen tap & die sets before, never used one, i asked cuz i thought maybe you did something different. Nice job. Everything is nice and tight tho? Water tight?

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

I would have notched out the frame bracket just a little. So both are on top. I dont Think it would compromise the integrity of the frame.
i have aftermarket A arms with fittings already on them. But i would try this on Whats hopefully my next build, basically from stock. Next question is can it be done to the rear bearing carrier? And actually be able to grease the bearings?

 

[Cass08450]

Ok 👍, yea ive seen tap & die sets before, never used one, i asked cuz i thought maybe you did something different. Nice job. Everything is nice and tight tho? Water tight?

That's probably the only downfall of doing this is that the bearing are no longer "sealed" or completely sealed from water. You have to remember though, Yamaha uses grease fittings and non sealed bushings on there quads so this is essentially the same idea. Also, aftermarket an arms with grease fittings use a design like this which is not sealed so I don't think water will be an issue. Now, After washes or before riding the quad I will just have to top off the bushings with grease which I don't mind because it keeps the suspension from squeaking and the price of replacement down. Me being able to regressed these bearings without taking the an arms off will probably lengthen the life of the bushings.

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

That's probably the only downfall of doing this is that the bearing are no longer "sealed" or completely sealed from water. You have to remember though, Yamaha uses grease fittings and non sealed bushings on there quads so this is essentially the same idea. Also, aftermarket an arms with grease fittings use a design like this which is not sealed so I don't think water will be an issue. Now, After washes or before riding the quad I will just have to top off the bushings with grease which I don't mind because it keeps the suspension from squeaking and the price of replacement down. Me being able to regressed these bearings without taking the an arms off will probably lengthen the life of the bushings.

Ok, yea i knew the A arms with grease fittings aren’t 100% water tight but pretty close. The amount of water that enters them is very minimal. Unless you’re driving through streams in Brooks every single day ha ha ha. Now you have to do the rear carrier so it’s complete. That way i dont have to figure it out 😂. Guys like you are appreciated on this site. Ill stand by for rear carrier grease fitting instructions when you take on that project😉. Thanks again🤙

 

[Cass08450]

Ok, yea i knew the A arms with grease fittings aren’t 100% water tight but pretty close. The amount of water that enters them is very minimal. Unless you’re driving through streams in Brooks every single day ha ha ha. Now you have to do the rear carrier so it’s complete. That way i dont have to figure it out 😂. Guys like you are appreciated on this site. Ill stand by for rear carrier grease fitting instructions when you take on that project😉. Thanks again🤙

You're welcome glad I'm appreciated. As far as the carrier most come with grease fitting on them but they aren't accessible from the outside you'd have to take it out and re grease it like this one here

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

The stock ones dont have them, and neither do most of the high end brand name ones too (believe).But the cheaper Chinese ones all have fittings. Im told they hold up pretty well.
i have an LSR carrier and it doesnt have a fitting. But I’ll definitely get one with a fitting next time i need to replace.
I prefer a fitting versus sealed bushings/bearings. For the sheer convince of it.

 

[Cass08450]

The stock ones dont have them, and neither do most of the high end brand name ones too (believe).But the cheaper Chinese ones all have fittings. Im told they hold up pretty well.
i have an LSR carrier and it doesnt have a fitting. But I’ll definitely get one with a fitting next time i need to replace.
I prefer a fitting versus sealed bushings/bearings. For the sheer convince of it.

I have a friend who has used the cheaper ones with fittings on 400ex's and they hold up great. Im pretty sure the 450 carrier bearing are the exact same as the 400ex carrier too

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

I have a friend who has used the cheaper ones with fittings on 400ex's and they hold up great. Im pretty sure the 450 carrier bearing are the exact same as the 400ex carrier too

Yea i was told the same by one of the veterans on this site, and he knows his stuff. Plus if you go with the cheaper ones you can just swap out when its time is up, (usually they last as long or longer than big name ones) so im told, instead of taking out carrier then bearings and replacing bearings etc. Much easier to just swap it with a new one Imo. Some people think its just as easy to replace bearings too, but i would disagree.

 

[Cass08450]

Yea i was told the same by one of the veterans on this site, and he knows his stuff. Plus if you go with the cheaper ones you can just swap out when its time is up, (usually they last as long or longer than big name ones) so im told, instead of taking out carrier then bearings and replacing bearings etc. Much easier to just swap it with a new one Imo. Some people think its just as easy to replace bearings too, but i would disagree.

Yes, bearing in these quads or quads in general are just a pain and so are the axle nuts to even get the axle off so when my Carrier goes, I'm going to save myself so time and just swap the whole thing out. It's easier on the Yamahas to just replace the bearings( I've done it on a blaster) the whole process just took about an hour so it wasn't to bad. Also what's your trx look like? What's done to it? It looks cool in your profile picture but you can't see much 😂

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

Yes, bearing in these quads or quads in general are just a pain and so are the axle nuts to even get the axle off so when my Carrier goes, I'm going to save myself so time and just swap the whole thing out. It's easier on the Yamahas to just replace the bearings( I've done it on a blaster) the whole process just took about an hour so it wasn't to bad. Also what's your trx look like? What's done to it? It looks cool in your profile picture but you can't see much 😂

Motor: stock bore.
New crank shaft, piston (12:5-1), bearings, early HRC cam, new cam chain, sparks full exhaust, LSR aluminum airbox with tapered lid & uni filter. Green wire mod, stock carb, boyesen quick shot 2, flex jet pilot screw, mishimoto over sized radiator with boyesen coolant pump and propeller with hoses.
Suspension: elka’s stage 3 up front, stage 5 rear with LSR linkage. LSR swing arm with LSR carrier, houser A arms, LSR or houser stem? (Not sure).
Other bolt ons: tag metals 1-1/8” bars with ape racing riser kit (20mm), asv levers, moose throttle, braided lines, carbon fiber plastics with LSR sticker kit. Quadtech seat. Razr 2 tires (need new ones) dwt rims steel gray (need some beed lockers)alba nerfs
Im sure theres more. I bought it with 50% of the bolt ons done already.Did the other 50% myself including motor work. Heres some pics.

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

Heres some pics.

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

Heres some pics.

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

Sorry im having issues loading pics

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[Bullvine rider!!]

Im have technical issues posting pics not sure if these came thru.

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

Heres the rest, these are older pics i need to update them with new ones while out riding.

 

[hoser]

The stock ones dont have them, and neither do most of the high end brand name ones too (believe).But the cheaper Chinese ones all have fittings. Im told they hold up pretty well.
i have an LSR carrier and it doesnt have a fitting. But I’ll definitely get one with a fitting next time i need to replace.
I prefer a fitting versus sealed bushings/bearings. For the sheer convince of it.

I've said this before, but putting grease in that zerk does nothing for your bearings. The bearings in those units are sealed, so you could pump that thing full and it still won't reach the bearings. You are actually just creating more drag since that grease will cause friction between the spacer tube and the carrier.

 

[Bullvine rider!!]

I've said this before, but putting grease in that zerk does nothing for your bearings. The bearings in those units are sealed, so you could pump that thing full and it still won't reach the bearings. You are actually just creating more drag since that grease will cause friction between the spacer tube and the carrier.

I do remember you saying that. And rightfully so. I think he took out the stock bushing and put in a bushing kit for a 400 ex so it does get greased from the fitting? Didn’t he? The pic that shows the kit he ordered online.