A Arm Bushing Bad

[Huddleston]

I now have 11,500 miles on my 2013 RTS SE5. While checking air pressure in my tires, I rested my hand on the left front fender as I was kneeling down. I was surprised when it moved. I checked the right one and it did not move. So, down to the dealer I went to get it checked out. It turns out that the left A arm bushing needs to be replaced (under warranty). The Spyder tech added some grease and it tightened up, but he said that would not fix it, and ordered parts. After riding home, I checked it again, and it was loose again. I'm limiting my riding until it is fixed. Has anyone else experienced this? My Tech also said he had never seen this before.

 

[Lamonster]

You don't see this type of thing to you have at least 30K on a bike. Makes me think there might be something else going on or maybe just a defective bushing.

 

[Chupaca]

Too soon..!!

for it to wear out under normal ryding conditions. One side only also makes one feel a defective/wrong size or installation problem..good it is covered but again with the no stock available...:gaah:

 

[Huddleston]

You don't see this type of thing to you have at least 30K on a bike. Makes me think there might be something else going on or maybe just a defective bushing.

That was my thought too.

 

[Bob Denman]

I had a bushing that was MISSING on mine for a while... :yikes:
It was correctly re-installed, and everything went ridght back to normal! :thumbup:
(You might want to keep a closer eye on lubing them... )

 

[jerpinoy]

Parts wore out but it's unusual in this situation. Good thing you found it soon you'll get it replace as soon as the new part get there.

 

[Huddleston]

Update

The dealer replaced my A Arm bushings today on both sides. The left one was the one that was loose enough to see, but the right one was also worn, according to the Spyder tech. This is the first one they had ever seen. There is no indication of why the bushings failed after 11,500 miles. Evidently they were just defective. I asked about whether it was hard to grease and was told that the fitting has been corrected in the 2013's and so the answer was no. This is something just to watch. I noticed mine when I put my hand on the front fender and was able to move it. FYI

 

[MT Kevin]

I have replaced a-arm bushings on quite a few spyders. No real rhyme or reason, different riders, different mileage. Could be part of the reason for the change in them for the 2014. On a side note never changed a rs or gs, only rt.:dontknow:

 

[Magdave]

The dealer replaced my A Arm bushings today on both sides. The left one was the one that was loose enough to see, but the right one was also worn, according to the Spyder tech. This is the first one they had ever seen. There is no indication of why the bushings failed after 11,500 miles. Evidently they were just defective. I asked about whether it was hard to grease and was told that the fitting has been corrected in the 2013's and so the answer was no. This is something just to watch. I noticed mine when I put my hand on the front fender and was able to move it. FYI

On their dime or yours?

 

[Huddleston]

On their dime or yours?

This was done under warranty, if that is what you are asking.

 

[Magdave]

This was done under warranty, if that is what you are asking.

:thumbup:

 

[BajaRon]

The dealer replaced my A Arm bushings today on both sides. The left one was the one that was loose enough to see, but the right one was also worn, according to the Spyder tech. This is the first one they had ever seen. There is no indication of why the bushings failed after 11,500 miles. Evidently they were just defective. I asked about whether it was hard to grease and was told that the fitting has been corrected in the 2013's and so the answer was no. This is something just to watch. I noticed mine when I put my hand on the front fender and was able to move it. FYI

It's not the fitting (I assume he meant the Zerk) that was bad. Hard to get to, yes, but not defective. Because it was hard to get to I suspect that may dealerships were not lubing it at the service intervals.

But simply changing the Zerk does not solve the problem. The problem is crated by the design of the bushing components. You can lube the bushing until you have grease all over your Spyder, but very little of it actually goes between the bushing and the friction surface. When you pull the assembly apart you almost always find that at least a portion of the bushing is dry.

 

[Huddleston]

It's not the fitting (I assume he meant the Zerk) that was bad. Hard to get to, yes, but not defective. Because it was hard to get to I suspect that may dealerships were not lubing it at the service intervals.

But simply changing the Zerk does not solve the problem. The problem is crated by the design of the bushing components. You can lube the bushing until you have grease all over your Spyder, but very little of it actually goes between the bushing and the friction surface. When you pull the assembly apart you almost always find that at least a portion of the bushing is dry.

All I know is that he said the bushings were "worn". I wouldn't know a Zerk from a peanut. :dontknow: But thanks for the info.

 

[BajaRon]

All I know is that he said the bushings were "worn". I wouldn't know a Zerk from a peanut. :dontknow: But thanks for the info.

A Zerk is the fitting that you attach the grease gun to. It channels the grease to the entry point on the bushing. Originally, BRP had them oriented so they were very hard to get to. It sounds like they have made them easier to access with the grease gun.

Obviously the bushings were worn. But if the cause is not corrected you'll be visiting this issue again.

 

[Dave&Kay]

I have the same problem.

My 2013 RTS needs both replaced. The font tires both cupped on the inside edge. I have 16,000km on mine and two years of warranty left. I hope Canam pays. This seems premature to me. Especially since I think I need to get tires in the front to go with the one in the back I wore out already. Man those tires wear fast.

 

[KX5062]

Make sure your bike is properly alignment via the ROLO method. Premature wear on front end components can be directly related to misalignment. This was my case and I learned the hard way.