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Guide to ATV Replacement Parts: How To Choose The Best
No matter what kind of ATV you have, you’re bound to need replacement parts every now and then. Not only do you need to know what kind of ATV parts you need, but you also need to know where to get the right ATV parts.
This in-depth guide will get you started on the right path to finding the right ATV parts at the right place.
When an ATV Needs Replacement Parts
Every ATV is different. You can’t always anticipate when an ATV will need replacement parts. With regular maintenance, like engine oil changes and tire rotations, you can ensure that your ATV won’t need replacement parts nearly as soon as if you didn’t take care of it.
However, the time may come when you’re standing face to face with replacing something. It could be small or large. It could be cheap or expensive. No matter what, it’s typically between three and five years before you’ll need to replace something.
Usually, the first thing you’ll need to replace is a headlight or a battery. However, as your ATV ages, the parts you need to replace will get larger and more expensive.
The good thing is that ATVs are smaller and less expensive than cars, so when you’re looking at replacing something, it likely won’t be as expensive as buying a new ATV.
Why Replace ATV Parts
When your ATV needs replacement parts, it can be tempting to put off replacing things, especially when they don’t seem like a big deal, you can continue to drive it as is, or they’re expensive to replace.
However, doing so could cause major damage in the long run and cost even more money. Letting something go for too long without repairing it could cause unnecessary wear and tear on other parts.
It leaves other parts to compensate for the lack of performance in that one part, meaning they’ll wear out faster and possibly break. It’s best to replace parts when it’s needed rather than letting them go.
Most Common ATV Replacement Parts
While every ATV is different, and your experience will lead to replacing different parts than another user, there are some more common ATV parts that need replacing more frequently than others.
Here are some common ATV replacement parts, so you’re prepared for what may come as you put miles and hours on your vehicle.
Brakes
Your brakes won’t always wear at the same rate. It will depend on which set you use the most. Some people use both sets evenly while others will use their back brakes more than their front.
Either way, brakes are a common replacement, because you use your brakes quite a bit when riding an ATV. You can replace your brake pads yourself or have a professional do it. It’s not usually an expensive job, but it’s an important one to ensure that you have the brakes you need in every riding situation.
Clutch
The clutch on your ATV takes a beating, especially if you’re riding it for sport. Even if you’re not, ATVs are meant to be ridden harder than cars, and the clutch can wear out faster than a lot of other parts.
You’ll be able to tell your clutch is slipping when you twist the throttle and your rear wheel doesn’t rotate with the engine’s RPMs. If you have the throttle up pretty high and you’re only accelerating slowly, it’s likely that your clutch is bad.
Driving with a bad clutch will cause further damage to just about every other component, so you should get it replaced immediately before using your ATV more.
Rack
If you use your ATV for hauling cargo on the ranch, you put a lot of wear and tear on your racks. Sometimes they’re heavy-duty enough to take it, but other times you may find that you have to replace them or reinforce them in some way.
It’s a relatively easy and inexpensive fix, and you can likely do it yourself. Just remove the old rack and replace it with a new one. Make sure you purchase one that will fit your ATV. It should come with all of the hardware you need to install it, and it likely won’t take more than an hour to complete the job.
Footrest or footpegs
If you have a single-rider ATV, you probably have footrests. If you have a two-top ATV, you likely have some sort of footpegs for your passenger to rest their feet. Either way, these components are there for you to rest your feet, and sometimes need replacing, simply because they get a lot of use.
They’re not expensive, and you can get them nearly everywhere. It’s possible that you could even outfit your ATV with aftermarket footrests or footpegs that you like better than your stock footrests or footpegs.
Spark arrestor/muffler
Many ATVs have spark arrestors that help to prevent wildfires by preventing any glowing particles from escaping via the tailpipe. They contain a screen that traps the carbon deposits or particles from the engine.
A spark arrestor can also reduce noise and is often used as a muffler as well. It can reduce the sound of your system by up to 10 dB, which isn’t as much as a muffler but can still help.
In some cases, mufflers are fitted with discs that contain screens and work much like screen-style spark arrestors. As the exhaust passes through, they capture the carbon deposits and glowing particles, but they’re not quite as effective as a spark arrestor itself.
As you can probably tell, these components are incredibly important, especially when riding your ATV through densely wooded areas. As these components wear out, it’s critical that you replace them.
Drive chain
Drive chains are relatively inexpensive but incredibly important. This component is part of your engine and transmission assembly. It connects your drive components together, so when you put it in gear, shift, and accelerate, it sends power to your axles, which then turns your wheels.
If your drive chain breaks or falls off, you’ll need to put it back on or replace it. While the piece itself isn’t too expensive, it’s likely something you’ll want to hire a mechanic to replace, because it can be a complex repair. If it’s not done currently, your ATV won’t run.
Driveshaft
Your drive shaft can be one of the most expensive repairs, and it’s at this point many people contemplate simply purchasing a new ATV. However, sometimes it is cost-effective to replace the driveshaft.
If your driveshaft goes bad, you need to decide pretty quickly whether you’ll replace it or get a new ATV, because you simply can’t drive with a broken driveshaft. It’s not safe and it’s definitely not good on your vehicle.
Hiring a Mechanic vs. Doing It Yourself
When it’s time to pay for maintenance on your ATV in order to avoid getting replacement parts, or it’s simply time to get replacement parts installed on your ATV, it’s certainly possible to do it yourself.
Maintenance is critical to keeping your ATV working properly. It can help you put off needing to replace anything soon because it can prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
In terms of simple maintenance like oil changes or simple replacements like footrests, footpegs, or storage racks, you don’t have to be any sort of expert. These items are affordable and easy to install. They should come with everything you need, including the full instructions for installation.
However, sometimes more complex maintenance and repairs can be painful if you’re not a handyman or knowledgeable about mechanics. Depending on what you’re replacing, it can be a whole lot easier, and worth the money, to hire a professional.
Not knowing how to do it the right way can mean you waste a lot of time figuring it out. You also risk doing it wrong, which could result in more damaged parts.
However, hiring a professional can also be stressful, because there’s always a chance that you’re getting ripped off by a mechanic that doesn’t know what they’re doing either.
While the market where you live plays a big role in how much these services cost, here are some general price guidelines for you to follow in terms of how much services and replacements should cost.
First service
Buying a new ATV may mean it’s under warranty, but you don’t have to have your dealer perform the service, especially if they’re charging a premium.
Typically they’ll swap out the oil, check your valves, change other fluids and spark plugs, inspecting major systems, adjusting engine idle speed, and some other maintenance that generally doesn’t justify the cost.
It’ll cost between $150 and $350, after just 25 hours of ride time, when you would think your vehicle is in peak condition. When you’re not comfortable doing these services yourself, you can ask the dealer to throw it in for free or to heavily discount the deal.
Oil change
An oil change for your ATV shouldn’t cost that much more than an oil change for your car. It includes an oil filter change as well and will run $30-55. You can do it on your own, or learn how.
It’s not a complicated job and if you’ve ever changed the oil in your car, it should be a breeze with just 2-3 quarts of oil. It’ll only take about 20 minutes once you get a routine going.
Coolant change
You’ll pay about $60-100 to have the coolant changed in your radiator. However, if you change it yourself, it’ll cost about half that much or less.
Brake fluid change
Changing your brake fluid costs about $50 per system, but you can do it yourself for less than half of that.
Air filter replacements
The point of having an ATV is to ride in dirty conditions. The problem with this is that your air filter gets clogged really quickly, which can impact your engine performance and lower your gas mileage.
You’ll have to replace it regularly and because most dealers only do it as part of regular maintenance visits, you may need to learn to do it yourself. It will be a lot cheaper, especially since you can get them for between $5 and $50 on Amazon.
Brake pad replacement
Replacing your brake pads will cost anywhere from $10-60 if you do it yourself. It may cost up to $140 if you hire a professional. It includes bleeding the brake system and installing new pads.
Tire change
Labor for a tire change is pretty cheap. It’s about $25 per tire. However, that adds up of course. And it can get pretty pricey when you’re looking at tires. The total price will depend on which tires you choose.
You’re not going to save a ton of money in the long run by doing it yourself, and it can save you a ton of time by just having someone do it for you.
Clutch replacement
A standard clutch replacement will include an oil change and replacing the clutch plate. If you want to change the entire clutch system, it will cost you quite a bit more.
Your standard clutch replacement will cost about $150 and replacing your entire clutch system will cost between $300 and $500. You can do it yourself to save hundreds, but some ATVs make this a bigger job than others.
In some cases, you have to pull the motor and it will take you several hours while others that don’t require you to pull the motor will take you less than an hour to finish.
Tune-ups
It can cost anywhere from $100-400 depending on what services are included in the tune-up. There is a wide range of services offered here, and the more services offered, the higher the price will be. Here are some of the services that might be included:
- Clean and oil filter
- Oil change
- Cable adjustment and lube
- Clean, lube, and adjust the chain
- Inspection
- Compression test
- Flush cooling system
- Flush braking systems
- Change spark plugs
- Valve adjustment
- Repacking of silencer
High-quality rebuild
Rebuilding your ATV includes your valves, piston rings, combustion chambers, cylinder wall hone, base gaskets and seals, spark plugs, and idler guide or tensioner. It can increase the performance of your ATV and give you better fuel economy.
It can cost you between $500 and $750 to rebuild your ATV, depending on the engine type. You can do it on your own to save money, or you could buy a kit.
Carb overhaul
A carb overhaul requires disassembly, clearing the passages, cleaning, tuning the accelerator pump timing, reaming the jets, and replacing all needed parts. It will cost $75-200 per carb, so the cost will depend on how many carbs your ATV has.
You can also buy your own carburetor kits for a lot less.
Shock rebuild
To replace your shocks, you have to disassemble your shocks, clean the components, replace all the worn parts, fill them with oil, bleed them, and charge them with nitrogen. It’ll cost $100-250 per shock, but you can get a kit a lot cheaper online if you think you can do it yourself.
Water pump seal replacement
W/hen you get your water pump seal replaced, you should also get your cooling system replaced. It can cost between $75 and $100, but you can do it yourself for $20-60.
CV boot or joint replacement
Your constant velocity boot keeps lubricating grease inside your joint and keeps the dirt out. If there’s a crack in your boot, it will need to be replaced as soon as possible. If you get dirt inside the joint, it can cause your joint to go bad very quickly.
At this point, you’ll have to replace the entire joint, which is a lot more expensive. It will cost $80-125 for a boot, but it costs about $200 for a joint. However, if you order a boot yourself, it costs about $15 and only takes about 2 hours.
Chain and sprocket replacement
A chain and sprocket kit will run about $50-125 and you can do it yourself in under an hour. It’s important to replace your front and rear sprockets and the chain all at the same time because it will improve the way your vehicle sounds, shifts, and runs.
If you want to hire a professional, you’ll probably pay about $50 in labor, so it will cost about $100-200 total.
Chain adjustment and cleaning
It’s important to keep your chain clean, too. It will increase the life of your chain and can keep you from having to get it replaced. You can do this yourself pretty easily. It includes a full lube and adjustment.
However, if you want a professional to do it, it only costs about $15-25.
Where to Get ATV Replacement Parts
There are a bunch of places you can get replacement parts for your ATV. It kind of depends on how much you want to pay and what you’re looking for. As a general rule, you’re going to pay more for parts from the manufacturer or a local dealer, but the parts will be made specifically for your ATV.
If you purchase your parts from an aftermarket dealer, you can find them for cheaper, but they won’t carry the name brand. Often, they’re just as good.
If you’re really looking to save money, you can search places like salvage yards, but you’re taking a risk.
Manufacturer or local dealer
If you want quality parts that are made for your ATV and carry the name brand, you can go straight to the manufacturer or your local dealer. If you want to replace any outward-facing parts that carry the label with a true part, this is where you should get it.
Often, you can order online from the manufacturer’s website and have it shipped directly to you. If you’d rather consult with someone at the dealer, you can do that in person to make sure you get the correct part ordered.
Either way, you’ll likely pay a premium, plus shipping. It’s more expensive to do it this way, and many people opt to look for aftermarket parts instead.
Aftermarket parts
There are plenty of places, both online and in-person, where you can find aftermarket ATV parts for any brand. Depending on where you are, there’s probably a local ATV shop that sells aftermarket parts.
You can also consult online dealers like Bike Bandit or MotoSport. There are hundreds, if not thousands of aftermarket parts dealers online, so you’ll find no shortage of places if you do a quick Google search.
These parts will be a lot cheaper, but they won’t carry the brand name. They’ll still fit and work just fine, and most people don’t care too much.
Junkyard or salvage yard
If you’re a dumpster diver or a pick and pull master, this may be the way to go. Especially if you have a knack for mechanics and you can inspect it and install it yourself. You’ll be able to find a good part under all that rust, make it look as good as new, and put it on yourself, saving you a ton of money.
This isn’t the right option for most people, but it’s a viable option for those who are familiar with salvage yards or auto parts scrap yards. It can be fruitful if you know what you’re looking for.
Auto shop
Your local mechanic or auto shop will be able to help you out with chains, drive shafts, clutches, and much more. If you really need some work done and you don’t know how to do it, it’s time to consult a professional.
Look for a mechanic who has worked on ATVs before. This person should be able to order parts for you and install them at a reasonable price. You don’t need to worry about ordering engine or transmission components yourself.
Online
Of course, you can shop the manufacturer’s website or an aftermarket parts website, but you can also check online stores like Amazon. They carry everything, even ATV parts. They’re affordable, and with 2-day shipping for Prime members, you can’t hardly beat the convenience.
Other parts suppliers (tires, batteries, oil, headlamps, NAPA, Autozone, O’Reilly)
There’s really no sense in going straight to the manufacturer for things like tires, batteries, headlamps, oil, or other small things you’ll need more readily or frequently. In fact, these are better purchased at a local supplier.
For instance, you can get ATV tires at a local tire shop. They’ll be knowledgeable about them, order them for you, and install them quickly.
You can get batteries, oil, other fluids, headlamps, and all kinds of other small parts at places like NAPA, Autozone, and O’Reilly. Any local auto parts store can help you look up your vehicle and find the part you need quickly and easily without hunting it down on the internet and waiting for shipping.
FAQs
Answer: There are plenty of great ATVs out there, but several brands stand out from the rest for a few reasons. Polaris has been around for a long time, and they have some pretty loyal followers. People love their ATVs, no matter the cost.
Honda is one of the most reliable. You can ride it for a long time without ever having to do anything other than regular maintenance. It’s just one less thing you have to worry about.
Other great brands include Arctic Cat for youth ATVs, Suzuki for sport ATVs, and Can-Am for luxury ATVs.
Answer: Honda has grown to be known as the most reliable ATV on the market. They make a wide range of models, as well as UTVs and other all-terrain vehicles. The great thing about Honda is that they’re built to last.
As long as you perform regular maintenance, you’ll hardly have to do anything else. They need next to nothing to keep running. It’s just one less thing you’ll have to worry about, which makes it a great farm vehicle for people who already have a lot on their plate from sun up to sundown.
Answer: Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) refers to parts that are made by the same company that made your vehicle. When you’re ordering OEM parts, you’re ordering parts straight from the manufacturer or local dealer.
Aftermarket parts, on the other hand, are parts made by a different company. They’re compatible, but often a lot cheaper. They can often be interchanged with many different brands.
While OEM parts are more expensive, they are usually backed by a warranty. However, aftermarket parts can be, and often are equal or better in quality.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for ATV replacement parts and you’re not sure where to go, you should have a better idea now of how to maintain your ATV and how much it will cost. This is critical to warding off any maintenance issues.
If you do need replacement parts, there are plenty of places you can go, but make sure you go to the right place for the right part. It depends on what part you need, how you’re going to have it installed, and what you want to spend.