I don't usually post much but this I could not pass up. I acquired a 2004.4 400 Sportsman that needed a little work and after closer inspection following a hunting trip last weekend I discovered that I needed to install a new ball joint and new wheel bearings all around. I noticed that I had the front sag issue so I thought I would go the PVC route and space up my springs. After I had the struts apart and almost on my way to go to the store and pick up a 2" PVC coupler I thought - wouldn't it be cool if the rear bearing did the same thing? Low and behold after knocking out the guts of the rear wheel bearings they slipped perfectly over the front struts. I left one of the bearing seals in each side so they would seat on the base ring and pulled the other side out. Being that these are angular contact bearings, there is a ridge for the ball bearings to ride on, which provides a perfect seat for the base of the spring to nest inside the outer race. I probably did not get the full 2" of lift that a PVC coupler would have gotten me but I did not spend any money and I like the idea of having hardened steep instead of plastic under my springs. Let me know if you want to see pics....
Thor to answer your questions - the bottom of the bearing is not completely sealed so there would be a way for water to drain out. Water would drain out between the bottom ring and where it sits on the strut. The springs base is almost the same size as the bearing and it sits snug inside the race - I tapped the spring in with a hammer to make sure it was seated. I have not reassembled the struts on the bike as of yet but they are compressed equally on each side. In some of the pics I have seen of the PVC spacers it looks like the PVC spacer does not offer any way to retain the spring. The bearing idea completely captures the spring. Good questions by the way - none that I have thought of
Thor if after I bolt it up the springs start to shift (which I doubt) I will probably throw a couple of welds on the spring at the base of the bearing.
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