My wife's Sportsman has a seriously sagging front end. At rest the front wheels are cambered out so much they look like they're part of a tripod. I took it to the dealer and not one, but TWO of their service folks were shocked at its stance. One guy said it looked like we had a winch and full snowplow system on it - yet it's bone stock with only about 30 hours, none of it harsh at all.

We are the second owners of this ATV so I don't know if it was like this from Day One or not.

Naturally, it's beyond its six month warranty so when the dealer called Polaris the response was 1) We don't know about this problem, and 2) We don't care because it's out of warranty. I told the dealer about the bunch of "soft springs" that folks have encountered, primarily in 2005's, but they weren't aware of that history. (And anyway, that was supposedly limited to 2005's, right?)

So my options are 1) Install replacement springs to see if it helps, 2) install the optional heavy duty springs (despite having no intention to put anything heavy on the front end), or 3) install some rubber spring spacers that the dealer recommended as an inexpensive solution. The springs are all about $50 each (x2), plus 1.0-1.5 hours to install, for a total of around $200. The spacers are about $15 for the set so that would save me about $85.

First, is ours the only 2006 with such extreme camber at so few hours?

Second, are there any drawbacks to using the spring spacers?

Thanks!

 

You are the SECOND owners of a 2006?
That should have sent-up a red flag in the first place being a used 2006.
The Dealer should easily be able to fix the toe-in problem. Just look in the owner's manual- it's right there.

The squat? who knows. Maybe the prev owner jumped it off a small cliff, bent stuff, and didn't replace all the damaged stuff!

Maybe it's a repaired wreck. You don't have to declare that in my State on used ATV's.

Don't use the rubber spring spacers. They are a waste of $20 bucks.

I bought some HD shocks from Highlifter and was VERY happy with them. Highlifter.com

Good luck!

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

>>You are the SECOND owners of a 2006? That should have sent-up a red flag in the first place being a used 2006.<<

Normally I'd agree with you, but this was a special case. A Mom in a family was the last to get her own ATV, then the youngest child developed a fear of "going fast". The entire family switched hobbies so they could continue to play together, and they sold off everyone's machines. We got Mom's, with 25 hours on it, for $5300.

>>The Dealer should easily be able to fix the toe-in problem. Just look in the owner's manual- it's right there.<<

Not toe-in (which I could fix). This is **camber**. Standing in front of the machine, the front wheels are noticeably farther apart at the bottom than at the top. Camber is not adjustable on Polaris machines.

>>The squat? who knows. Maybe the prev owner jumped it off a small cliff, bent stuff, and didn't replace all the damaged stuff!<<

I inspected it for that sort of thing before I bought it, and the dealer who has it now hasn't found anything like that either. That's at least three sets of eyes not finding anything.

>>Maybe it's a repaired wreck. You don't have to declare that in my State on used ATV's.<<

See my last answer. There's no indication of any damage whatsoever. Believe me, I was deeply suspicious and went over (and under, and through) this machine with a fine-toothed comb before handing over the money. The camber was the only thing I found, which I attributed to the "weak spring" problem mentioned here many times for 2005's. I figured for the cost of a couple new springs it was still a good deal at $5300.

>>Don't use the rubber spring spacers. They are a waste of $20 bucks. <<

Why? I accept that may be true, but what's your reason?

Thanks!

 

There is nothing wrong with your machine. Polaris springs suck and sag out quickly! Buy some 700 or HD springs and you will be fine!

Ron

 

That, or a lift kit would fix it up. My 04 500 and 400 both sagged so bad that I lifted them and now they are fine....well I lifted MY 500 but I have not taken the time yet to lift the wife's 400, she can wait LOL [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

the 450 and 500 use the same front springs which are lower capacity and stiffness than the 700/800 springs and even further the MV7 HD springs.

buying a set of 700/800 springs would stiffen the front end, regain your lost ground clearence

you just may have a set of shot front springs. how about a picture? 3/4 turn shot of the front end.

 

I'd be happy to post a picture but the unit is at the dealer to have this issue resolved. By the time I get it back - if the dealer does his part - the picture won't be able to show you the problem [grin].

 

For the same reasons why you wouldn't use rubber spacers in a car or truck spring!

I used them in my old '00 SP500 to help prevent sagging while plowing snow. One set wasn't enough. I had to use TWO sets per side. Now picture how little coil was left?

In '02 I used a set of HD front springs from HL on my old '02 SP700. Before I installed them, between the Warn3.0 and the 60" plow, I had considerable front-end sag. I did things the right way this time using the replacement springs from HL. It made a big difference. Plus they were adjustable.

I can't find any reason why anyone would use the rubber spacers. It's a cob-**** way and doesn't work. Plus i'm quite sure that it's not good for the front end considering it eliminates almost all suspension travel. The result is poor handling/control and poor ride.

If you are going to do something, do it the right way.


BTW, IF the Dealer told you the 'mom used to own it story...' I think there is a 95% possiblility of it being a lie. After-all, a salesman will tell you anything to make the sale.

Again, good luck.

 

>>BTW, IF the Dealer told you the 'mom used to own it story...' I think there is a 95% possiblility of it being a lie. After-all, a salesman will tell you anything to make the sale.<<

That's absolutely true, but this was a private sale. I found the family's ad on CraigsList, talked to them about it, and then drove ~600 miles round trip to inspect and retrieve it. No dealers involved anywhere, and I got to meet the Mom and the children. The story held together even talking to the various family members separately (where lies often get exposed) and the unit looked like it had about 25 hours on it, so I took the chance. Other than these springs - which I don't blame them for at all - the machine is perfect in every way.

This was one of those times that I got a really good, honest deal. Trust me, I've had some that have gone the other way too!

 

I agree also that those rubber "spacers" are a waste of $'s. They go in then twist & settle til at bottom of spring, then the dirt gets in there and is like sandpaper between spring & rubber. Have a set somewhere gathering dust.