I've got a '01 500 manual. The shocks seem to be shot in the back. My question is: Should I go with stock or a stiffer aftermarket. I ride about 50/50 with a passenger and without.
What do you guys think?

 

Look at it this way. With the stock shocks they are of a stiffness to match the front. So if you go to a stiffer rear shock then the handling (balance) will be disrupted. Having stiffer rear shocks on the rear will also automatically preload the front and you may have to turn up the front preload (to balance the suspension) and in doing so dimishing the ride - that is unless you don't mind bouncing along like riding in a buckboard. Plus your articulation would also be affected, - you may be too stiff to get full shock travel from one wheel, before it starts to lift the opposite corner off the ground.

You can always turn the preloads up on the rear (with stock shocks) when you carry a passenger, and turn them back down while riding solo.

That is what I think - but then again I am a Dummy...

If you want to see what I mean about one wheel travel with soft shocks check my pictures out.

 

Preloads? HOw do you adjust the shocks? I looked at them and they look non-adjustable.

 

There is a cast aluminum piece on the bottom of the shock that can be turned to put more tension on the spring. This loads the spring and makes the ride stiffer. I am not sure if this was an option in 2001 though.

I can tell you that with stock shocks and the HD springs from Highlifter that I have I can haul a second person or trailer and the machine never even thinks twice about it.

As you have probably experienced already carrying 2 people on your machine and you have soft shocks in the back the slightest little hill or incline makes it want to tip backwards.

After I put the HD springs on my 400 with the stock shocks I liked them so much I pu them on my wife's TRV as well. I did not have to replace my shocks,which is expensive. But, this is a cheaper way to enhance the stock shocks. I think it cost about $150 per machine.

SJ

 

If you do decide on stiffer shocks. Then as Swampy says the highlifter is the way to go. They claim an aditional inch of clearance also as well as 100 lb of aditional carrying capacity. I believe that a pair of Highlifter shocks is around $60 for the rear. Then you have to have a spring compression tool (ebay can solve that for about $25 - or have someone do it).

Here is a link for Highlifter: http://www.atvoutfitters.net/lift_springs.htm

 

Buckaroo50, what is your recommendation to set the stock shocks and springs? I want to work with what came on the atv(07 400 auto) I weigh about 190lbs. I have notice when you turn kind of sharp the atv wants to dip and you get a feeling of it wanting to tip over. I suppose this partially due to the ground clearence it has.--Thanks--Mike

 

I just called high lifter and they don't make aftermarket spring or shocks for my ATV. He said they have stuff for the independent suspension but not the straight axle. Oh well, I guess i'll get some stockers.

 

I was not aware that you had an ACT 500 manual. Missed that I guess.

I thought you had an FIS machine.

I believe the shock on an ACT rear axle has a larger shock than an FIS. Could be why Highlifter does not make them.

My question would be is there a shock for a small import auto that might be the same size? Could be cheaper than stock.

Also, I now adjust my springs to the heaviest setting and have left them there. If I want a softer ride I adjust the air ithe tires.

Thundercat, your bike wanting to tip or dipping in corners can be due to tire roll on the rim from the stock tires combined with a soft spring adjustment. THis goes away or improves with aftermarket tires that have a 6ply rating.

SJ

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: thundercat

Buckaroo50, what is your recommendation to set the stock shocks and springs? I want to work with what came on the atv(07 400 auto) I weigh about 190lbs. I have notice when you turn kind of sharp the atv wants to dip and you get a feeling of it wanting to tip over. I suppose this partially due to the ground clearence it has.--Thanks--Mike</end quote></div>

Your 07 has a different weight balance than my 03 partly because of the gas tank location.
When I had the OEM tires the side walls were not stiff enough and would roll under and pick the inside rear wheel off the ground in a hard turn. Felt like you were going to do a nose dive over the outside front wheel or do a 'hand-stand' on the handlebars.
The way that I cured it was to run 8 or 9 lbs of air in the front and 5 in the rear. The front shocks were at the lowest setting (soft) and the rear on the next lowest or middle preload.
With the 07 and lower center of gravity you may not need to go as high on the front tires pressure.
One of the best things that I did for handling was to put 1 inch spacers on all 4 wheels (2 inch wider wheel base), the other thing that helped was I changed to 6 ply tires. (stiffer side wall) and I did not go to a 26 or 27 tall tire. The 25 has a lower profile. Like on a car a 50 series as apposed to a 60 or 70. Taller the tire the taller the sidewall and the more susceptible to roll under.
I run the same setup but with only 6 or 7 lbs of air in the front and I find the middle preload on the back works best.
I can't 'dirt-track', slide the rear so much now but that is because I have a more agressive rear tire and they hook up better. But by comparison, it now feels like a 'go-cart', compared to what it was when new and the stock settings on air and preloads.

 

Will setting the front shocks at there lowest setting and adding some air to the front give me a good ride over ruff terrain? Wouldn't setting the springs at there lowest setting make the atv jump around a lot? Just wondering.--Thanks--Mike