[KBacon]

So I have been searching quite a bit... and see all kinds of threads about installing Foreman 450 shocks onto Foreman 400s... but very little about installing longer shocks onto the Foreman 450.

I have a recently acquired 1999 Foreman 450 w/ some significant rust on the stock springs.. not sure if the shocks are blown or not... I was looking at the getting the Highlifter springs or some Progressive 512 shocks... The Specs for the 1999 Foreman show the Progressive 512s as 14.5" front and 15.5" rear... and they list the '01-04 Rubicon as having 16.0" front and 17.0" rear.

Would this be a better option for ride quality than trying to install Highlifter springs + lift kit???

I see lots of recommendations for the Perfex long travel kits.. but it doesn't appear to be available anymore.. but I do find Perfex lift kits on ebay.. but no mention of "long travel"....???

 

[fishfiles]

I got 5 450's sitting in the yard and I don't know, I can say that I have a box full of shocks that where all suppose to have come off 1st and 2nd gen 450's and there are long and short for the back and front , I would have to look and measure the bikes and see what is on each year , I have 2 inch lift blocks on 2 450 , the 1st gen has all the shocks replaced with other than OEM , what brand they are I don't know as they came on the bike and on the 2nd gen when I put the stock shocks to the lift blocks there was no more travel to go any bigger of a shock , so I would have to think a shock that is right around 2 inches longer work be the max that would fit unless you compressed it to install ----oh , I am calling 1st 450 450S 's the ones with full time 4x4 ( up to 2001 ) and 2nd gen 450FM or ES 's with selectable 4x4 ( 2002 and up )


In your searches did you ever see any custom front drop a-arms out there ?

 

[KBacon]

I already have one of the rear shocks loose so that I could wire wheel & paint the frame around it... and I measured it at 15.5" from the center of the eye to the center of the other eye with no weight on it... and measured the front w/ it still on the bike and got 14"... then took it loose and got 14.25" w/ no weight on it... so the specs from Progressive seem pretty close... and I'm sure this '99 has settled some...

Fish... I have been reading up on several of your threads... and you've got quite the experience & stockpile of ATVs & parts!!! I have not found any drop a-arms for the 450... just mentions of specific guys that make custom lift kits for big $$$$...

I'm personally not looking for something like that... just want to turn this little atv into a hunting/trail machine... She's sat & been neglected all of her life... so I'd like to breath a little life back into it.

My father and I went in on a '12 Rancher ES with the thoughts of using it for hunting and trail riding... I have very little into this Foreman and originally thought I might just fix it up and sell it... but started thinking that it might be a fun project and would be a good 2nd machine to go ride with my dad, wife, kids, or take somebody else along... so I want to make it nice & reliable... it may likely become my main machine & the Rancher will be the back up???

 

[fishfiles]

if it helps you on your choice of tires = The biggest tires I can fit on my 2002 450 are 26's Outlaws with the 2 inch lift , the front is very close , about 1 inch and don't hit no more after some floor board and mud flap mods ----the 99 450 has a 2 inch lift and it had 27's Outlaws on it , they were extremely close , I never did ride that 450 yet , but the tires had no marks in them like they were hitting

 

[mac102004]

Should work.

You can also put the front shocks on the rear, then just find longer front shocks.

 

[KBacon]

if it helps you on your choice of tires = The biggest tires I can fit on my 2002 450 are 26's Outlaws with the 2 inch lift , the front is very close , about 1 inch and don't hit no more after some floor board and mud flap mods ----the 99 450 has a 2 inch lift and it had 27's Outlaws on it , they were extremely close , I never did ride that 450 yet , but the tires had no marks in them like they were hitting

I have access to some 27" bighorn 2.0s take offs from a Pioneer 1000 Dlx that I was going to try and fit... hence wanting the lift...

 

[KBacon]

Should work.

You can also put the front shocks on the rear, then just find longer front shocks.

The rears are longer... did you mean to put the rears on the front?

 

[Jeepwm69]

Aren't any prefex long travel kits on ebay now.

Here's what they look like. Could be fabbed up without too much trouble

Perfex Longarm Travel Lift Kit Installed pics! (REAR) - Honda Foreman Forums : Rubicon, Rincon, Rancher and Recon Forum

 

[mac102004]

Should work.

You can also put the front shocks on the rear, then just find longer front shocks.

The rears are longer... did you mean to put the rears on the front?

yeah thats it. lol

 

[KBacon]

Well I went ahead and ordered 4 rear stock take off '01-04 TRX500FA Rubicon shocks off eBay for $60... which are supposed to measure 16.5" eye to eye... which should be 2" taller in front and 1" taller in the rear... give this a try... and if it works out I may replace with better shocks later... figured I would get it running right before I get too deep!!!

 

[mac102004]

Let us know how it works out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fishfiles]

Wouldn't a Rubicon be a TRX500FA , if it was a TRX450 then maybe a TRX450FE , then it would be a Foreman -----you got to watch E-Bay , they lie or just don't know

 

[KBacon]

Wouldn't a Rubicon be a TRX500FA , if it was a TRX450 then maybe a TRX450FE , then it would be a Foreman -----you got to watch E-Bay , they lie or just don't know

Yeah.. it's always a gamble w/ ebay... Had to order two different sets... both are listed as 2002 TRX500FA Rubicon (not 450.. that was a typo) rear shocks...

Also it looks like the Rubicon springs are a little softer spring rate than the Foremans... might help the ride a bit?

 

[KBacon]

I did get the shocks in... but it's been bitterly cold and I have been battling this flu bug... so no garage work for me. The shocks all appear correct and in really good condition... and they do look to be a bit longer than the stockers...

The weather has warmed up a little... and I got my wheels/tires ready to go on... so I sense that I will be getting a little more motivated to work on this project a bit more...

 

[KBacon]

I was able to get the rears swapped... had to narrow the lower eye on the shock and spread the lower mount a bit... but did get them mounted... Looks like the front isn't going to work unless I can find some upper shock bushings to fit... but they may still be too long... I could move the stock rears to the front... but would still need some upper shock bushings...

 

[KBacon]

Forgot to measure last night... but according to my tape measure... these shocks lifted the rear 2 1/8" at the rear of the frame... I'm sure that after the front is lifted & leveled off.. this will come down a bit