[mpgo4th]

I have 2 Cforce 4 wheelers. My 2021 500s has about 300+ miles on it and 35 hours. I was loading up last night for a ride this weekend and noticed while strapping down, some play in the right rear wheel. If standing behind the machine with your hands on the rear tire and rocking front to back, the right rear hub assembly moves in its mount. The parts diagram shows a tube with 2 bushings on either side of it for the top and for the bottom where the A arm bolts go through the hub. Looks to me that the bushings are just worn out. Is that really early for this to happen? I do ride in mud and rock and anything else I feel like but that seems premature to me. Also is this covered under warranty?

[NMKawierider]

I have 2 Cforce 4 wheelers. My 2021 500s has about 300+ miles on it and 35 hours. I was loading up last night for a ride this weekend and noticed while strapping down, some play in the right rear wheel. If standing behind the machine with your hands on the rear tire and rocking front to back, the right rear hub assembly moves in its mount. The parts diagram shows a tube with 2 bushings on either side of it for the top and for the bottom where the A arm bolts go through the hub. Looks to me that the bushings are just worn out. Is that really early for this to happen? I do ride in mud and rock and anything else I feel like but that seems premature to me. Also is this covered under warranty?

They are some of the first to go when spacers are added or spend lots of time in mud or loaded on very long and rocky trails. Other then that if they get greased regular they seem to last from 1200-2400 miles on average. Mine is on it's second set in 1900 miles and they now have play on my Z but..I have spacers and expect it. Yours is way too young with 300 miles to have that issue so take it in and insist the warranty cover it.

[doug80638]

My guess is they were not greased during setup by the dealer.

Did you grease them up? Some folks grease them after every ride.

My experience is these bushings can fail pretty quickly is not lubed regularly. And even then, the seem to wear faster than they should.

And no, they are not typically covered under warrantee (wear/maintenance item), but I agree with Clark, push the dealer to cover replacement. They aren't cheap, and there are a lot of them. Check them all before going to the dealer.

[NMKawierider]

My guess is they were not greased during setup by the dealer.

Did you grease them up? Some folks grease them after every ride.

My experience is these bushings can fail pretty quickly is not lubed regularly. And even then, the seem to wear faster than they should.

And no, they are not typically covered under warrantee (wear/maintenance item), but I agree with Clark, push the dealer to cover replacement. They aren't cheap, and there are a lot of them. Check them all before going to the dealer.

And double check the frame-side bushing on any a-arms the shock is attached to. They also wear faster then the other. And if yours has the yellow bushings...get the black.

[mpgo4th]

The frame side bushings are the white/yellow ones and the hub side are black. All other bushings are tight. I do grease after every wash which is after every ride. I ride 2-up most of the time in mud and on rocks so I figured its my fault somehow. My dealer is amazing, they had 4 instock for $10 a piece. I asked about warranty and they said that they aren't covered but offered to give me the bushing for free to do them myself. I'll put them in next week after this weekends ride. You guys are a big help and I appreciate the tips and experience given here.

[NMKawierider]

The frame side bushings are the white/yellow ones and the hub side are black. All other bushings are tight. I do grease after every wash which is after every ride. I ride 2-up most of the time in mud and on rocks so I figured its my fault somehow. My dealer is amazing, they had 4 instock for $10 a piece. I asked about warranty and they said that they aren't covered but offered to give me the bushing for free to do them myself. I'll put them in next week after this weekends ride. You guys are a big help and I appreciate the tips and experience given here.

If you rine in water or have to use a pressure washer after each ride it might not be a bad idea to grease after each cause it will push extra water out..water that corrodes and rusts-up the sleeves and that..eats bushings. Be sure to always jack it up enough to take the load off the bushings so the grease goes where it needs to- where the sleeves ride under load...and use a marine grease. Helps with water as it won't mix in.

[mpgo4th]

So my dealer gave me the bushings and I replaced them. They were actually really easy to get in and out. I put it all back together and greased it up. I asked the dealer about torque on the knuckle bolt and he just said to get them tight. I put it on the ground and the play is still there. No real change. He said to over grease it and that will help. What should those knuckle bolts be torqued to?

[doug80638]

40-50 NM or 35 ft/lbs,

Are you sure the play is in those bushings and not in the bearing, or the bushings on the other side of the control arm?

[NMKawierider]

Yeah the torque on those bolts won't change any play but the torque must be right.. Let me ask...did you have to squeeze or press the bushings in.. or did they just slide in with no resistance? If no resistance it could be the bushing were rotating not on the sleeve but on the knuckle-side and have warn that hole larger and your play is there...and will always be until they get glued or the knuckle gets replaced. Same for all their bushings. Like doug says if the play is there at the knuckle, it may also be the bearing so take a close look with someone else moving it.

[mpgo4th]

40-50 NM or 35 ft/lbs,

Are you sure the play is in those bushings and not in the bearing, or the bushings on the other side of the control arm?

Yes I'm sure. The wheel bearing has no play and the other side of the arms are tight. You can see the knuckle move side to side at the bushings when rocking front to back. I have the knuckle bolts WAY to tight then. I used and long ratchet and wrench on the other side to tighten them as much as I could. I used a flat 2x4 to beat the new bushings in. It didn't take a lot of force. Is the little play in that knuckle going to hurt anything or should I just ride it and see what wears out?

[NMKawierider]

Well..a little isn't an issue. I have had some all year..been OK. Plan on fixing them this winter. I'll do a video

[mpgo4th]

Well..a little isn't an issue. I have had some all year..been OK. Plan on fixing them this winter. I'll do a video

I'll pull the wheel and retorque the knuckle this afternoon. I wonder if the internal metal sleeve is wearing and causing the play. I can't think of anything else. Thanks for the help. 

[NMKawierider]

Well..a little isn't an issue. I have had some all year..been OK. Plan on fixing them this winter. I'll do a video

I'll pull the wheel and retorque the knuckle this afternoon. I wonder if the internal metal sleeve is wearing and causing the play. I can't think of anything else. Thanks for the help. 

Yes, it can. Where the bushing rice can wear. It should have been noticeable though.

[doug80638]

If you jack up the wheel and pull/push the top and bottom of the wheel, and see the play in the bushings, then there is too much play.

The new bushing should fit snug in the knuckle tub, which it sounds like the do. The sleeves should be a tight fit into the bushings as well.

Remove the bolt and sleeve and measure the sleeve diameter near the ends (the middle doesn't wear). They should measure out at 16mm (or a shade larger).

I had to replace several rear knuckle sleeves due to wear.

[mpgo4th]

I torqued the knuckle to 35 ft/lbs. there is zero play holding the tire top to bottom and push/pulling it. What I’m seeing is that the whole knuckle is sliding on the a-arm bolt side to side in the a-arm mounting fixture. I have circled the place where there seems to be a gap while rocking the bike. I wonder if shimming this area would take the play out of it?