End-of-Season Fixes: Keep Your Quad Running Strong

When the summer and fall trails wind down, your quad has probably seen its fair share of dirt, mud, and high-rev rides. From weekend trail runs to dune blasts, all that fun leaves behind more than just good memories — it can also leave behind wear and tear.

Before you pack your quad away or gear up for the next season, it’s worth giving your machine a once-over and replacing parts that take the brunt of the action.

A quick end-of-summer maintenance check helps you avoid breakdowns, improve performance, and extend your quad's life.

Here’s a breakdown of the parts you’ll want to inspect and refresh, grouped into three key categories.

1. Performance & Power

Clutches and spark plugs keep your quad’s engine fiextendring strong and your throttle snappy. After a summer of riding, these components can wear down, making your quad sluggish or harder to start.

By refreshing these power essentials, you’ll keep your quad starting on the first push and pulling hard all season long.

Clutch Kits

Your clutch is one of the hardest-working parts of your Yamaha ATV. Constant acceleration and shifting, especially in sand or mud, cause the plates and springs to wear. Signs of trouble include slipping, poor engagement, or slower response when you hit the throttle.

Replacing a worn clutch restores that crisp power delivery and ensures your machine responds when you need it.

We suggest these clutch kits for fixing those wear and tear issues:

Spark Plugs

Small but mighty, spark plugs are essential for dependable starts and clean combustion. A fouled or worn plug can cause misfires, poor fuel economy, or even leave you stranded. Swapping in fresh plugs is one of the cheapest and easiest upgrades you can make for reliable performance.

2. Durability & Longevity

Your Yamaha’s bushings and bearings take on a silent but critical role: absorbing the abuse of rough terrain so the rest of your machine doesn’t have to.

They wear gradually, so it’s easy to overlook them until you start noticing sloppy handling or unusual noises.

Refreshing these hidden heroes extends your quad’s life and keeps everything running tight, even after months of hard riding.

Bushings

Suspension and control arm bushings absorb shock and vibration, protecting your frame and improving ride quality. Over time, they can crack or deform, leading to loose steering or uneven wear on other components.

Fresh bushings tighten up your quad and make the ride feel solid again.

Bearings

Wheel and axle bearings endure constant stress and dirt exposure. When they wear, you may hear grinding, feel wobbling, or notice extra play in the wheels. Ignoring bad bearings risks damage to the hub or axle.

Replacing these keeps your ride smooth and your machine dependable:

3. Stopping & Control

Power doesn’t mean much if you can’t handle it. Brakes, wheels, and grips are the parts that give you control over every ride. After a long summer, they’re also the parts most likely to show wear.

Dialing in these control parts makes every ride feel sharper, safer, and more fun.

Brake Pads

Dirt, water, and heat take their toll on brake pads. If you notice squeaking, weaker stopping power, or longer braking distances, it’s time for a replacement.

Fresh pads restore sharp, confident stopping so you can ride harder and safer:

Wheels

Wheels deal with constant impacts from rocks, roots, and ruts. Even a small bend or crack can throw off handling or become a weak point.

Inspect your wheels for dents or damage and upgrade if needed for stability and peace of mind.

Grips

The simplest upgrade with one of the biggest impacts. Worn or slick grips make it harder to stay in control when the trail gets rough.

New grips improve comfort, reduce fatigue, and give you better command of the bars:

Ready You Quad for More Adventures

The end of summer is the perfect time to give your quad the attention it deserves. By checking the essentials — clutches and spark plugs for performance, bushings and bearings for durability, and brake pads, wheels, and grips for control — you’ll keep your machine running tight, smooth, and ready for whatever’s next.

Whether you’re storing your ATV for the season or lining up fall rides, a little maintenance now saves you time and headaches later. Don’t let worn parts hold you back. Upgrade, replace, and ride on.

POWER UP | Since 1998, Vito’s Performance has been supplying the world with top-quality and hard-to-find ATV parts for builders and enthusiasts alike. We specialize in the Yamaha Banshee and the Yamaha Blaster, and also carry parts for all Yamaha Raptors, the Yamaha Warrior, Honda 300ex and 400ex, and the Honda TRX450r. For assistance with all performance products, contact Vito’s Performance online or call (248) 969-9168.

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