The Elkas that I had ordered came in this past Thursday. After I received an estimated delivery confirmation, I started prepping the night before. First of all I reinstalled the rear sway bar that I had removed three rides back. I then took off the Ricochet a-arm guards and cleaned them all up and cleaned the a-arms also since I had the guards off. I wanted everything nice and clean for the install.The shock install went well. The bottom bolts on all four factory shocks were really tight and hard to break loose. Just the opposite on the top bolts. They broke loose easily. I then installed the Elkas.

I then proceed to reinstall the Ricochet a-arm guards. The rears go on with no problem but when I reinstalled the front guards there was contact with the bottom coil springs and the guard. So I think no big deal I will just bend the guards out a little and that’s what I did. I will say these guards are tuff and hard to bend.

So come Saturday I decide to go for a solo ride because I am anxious to try out the Elkas! Here’s where the drama starts, LOL. I go to back up the Grizz to pull my trailer out of the yard and I hit the front brakes and nothing,no brakes, until I pump the lever a couple of times. I look it over don’t see a problem and now the brakes feel ok. So I go on the ride and every time I turn I loose my front brakes until I pump them a few times. What the @$%&!!

I ended up riding 18 miles and enjoying the Elkas. I cut the ride short because of the brake problem. I will probably soften them up just a little more than what Elka set them at. I requested they set them up for comfort mostly slow rocky trail riding. I feel they are a little stiffer than what I would like. I was very impressed with them at high speed riding! I also like having the rear stabilizer back on and not having the body roll.

So when I get back home I jack up the front end,remove the front wheels. I then turn the handle bars back and forth and discovered the problem!! When I bent the guards out they were making contact with the front brake calipers and pushing them over on sharp turns. So I ended up removing and notching out the guards and then bending them back to where they were before. Problem solved!!!!!

Sorry for the long post. Just felt like I needed to tell on myself :rofl:

Here are a few pics.

Here is where the guards were making contact with the calipers.

Here is after I notched out the guards.