The other day I had my my 95 300 4x4 bayou up off the ground and the front wheels off. While I had the wheels off I got curious to see how much travel the suspension had without the shock and spring. So I dissconnected the lower shock bolt. I was expecting the contol are to just drop it did not, So I tried to see how far it would go up. It barley moved. It would nearly lift the ATV Up before the control arm would go up just little.

Should it be this stiff without the spring and shock? If not what do you think the problem is.

I always thought the front rode a bit harsh.

 

That's the way they are. My bayou is the same way. Its a rubber bushing and the rubber just twists as the shock goes up n down. I loosened the a-arm bolts on mine and put the wheels up all the way and then tightened the bolts back down. Then I had to push the arms back down pretty hard to get the shocks back on. The result is the arms help compress the shocks giving it a bit softer ride.

 

I hear ya Randy, I couln't count the hundreds of thousands of miles that my 300 had on her, and if tons of milage would't loosen up the stiff *** suspension I don't know what would.

 

Put some wheel spacers on or offset rims (or flip the rims you have). That will make the front softer.

I put some crappy suzuki quadsport shocks on the front of mine and they have the 5 pre load settings,,, I use the softest one. Between that, the extra width, and softer 23 inch tires it rides pretty nice now.