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800EFI - too much body lean

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  #11  
Old 11-23-2006 | 07:11 PM
rubberdown's Avatar
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

I'm sorry but yes a spring spacer will stiffen up the front end a fair bit. You can either put a complete front lift kit in the machine which will lift the shock up in the strut housing, AND the spring spacer, this gives you added ground clearance yet you maintain that nice soft cushy ride that the Polaris offers, or you ca just use the spring spacers and you get a little bit of a lift and a slightly stiffer front end.

Please explain how a DIFFERNT strut will cure the problem, unless it is designed to shorten the spring distance in which case it would only be giving you a compressed spring?

Listen to BigDog800, he knows what he is talking about on this one. I am sorry but I have to disagree with changing the struts. I can almost garantee it will be a lot cheaper to either put in a lift/spring spacer kit, or replace the springs with a stiffer spring, HOWEVER, some people seem to complain about just how stiff some of these aftermarket "stiff" springs really are.

I have a 1-1/2" kit in my machine, it is a LOT stiffer than before, I have a front storage box and a warn heavy @ss winch up front and I plow my driveway in the winter and I am fine with it like this, it is stiffer, and I have better ground clearance, and I like the way it rides....

Just my 2 cc's [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
 
  #12  
Old 11-23-2006 | 08:11 PM
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

we're not talking about stiffness, we're talking about performance, when he hits the brakes or goes through a corner he has body dive and body roll, stiffer springs arnt going to help as much as a set of high performance struts are going to. all the struts are are just bigass shocks, dont tell me that shock valveing and rebound have no effect on articulation. I raced my 800 when i owned it, i had Fox struts, i know what im talking about too.

sure he can put a spacer on and regain front suspension travel and height from his brushgaurd and winch, but the problem hes faceing with body dive isnt going to be corrected correctly without a set of high performance struts.

you are right though, struts arnt cheap, a pair is a good $250
 
  #13  
Old 11-23-2006 | 09:51 PM
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

spring rubber made a difference in mine, its a cheap try at about 15 bucks.
 
  #14  
Old 11-24-2006 | 01:05 AM
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

spyder6, maybe we are not thinking of a STRUT the same way, to me, the polaris front end has 3 main parts for suspension, it has a spring, a shock and a strut, so to replace the strut (the aluminum cartridge that holds the shock) I dont see any improvement, but if by strut YOU mean a strut cartridge and shock combo, then sure, that could help.

As for stiffer front springs, that will prevent a lot of body roll and front end dive, believe me.
 
  #15  
Old 11-24-2006 | 02:30 AM
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

maybe so, i have known the strut all my life to be the 'shock cartrage' and that is what im refering to in terms of replacement with a high performance equipment
 
  #16  
Old 11-24-2006 | 10:26 AM
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

I want to accomplish a few different things...

1 - reduce body lean in hard corners. When I ride fast it will get way up on three wheels and feel like it will snap off the front wheel with most of the weight on it. Or I may just roll it.

2 - make sure I don't make the bike more prone flipping backwards when climing or cresting very steep hills. To help this (and make it easier to get off quick in an emergency) I may move my storage bag and cooler to the front rack

3 - not loose suspension travel and compliance over tough rocks etc

4 - make sure the extra weight in the front (including the occasional plow) doesn't mess something up

As a general rule simlply compressing a spring is the worst thing you can do to a suspension. Maybe with the spacers the spring is not compressed and the bike just sits higher.

If I can fix all these things I don't mind spending a little money to do it right.

What is my best bet and how hard are these things to install?
 
  #17  
Old 11-24-2006 | 10:56 AM
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

while im sure Rubberdown will argue with you and me over the quality and usage of spring spacers, new 'shock cartrages' for your macphearson strut in the front will cost about $250 - $270 and are fairlys imple to install. all that is neccisary is to take the wheel off, undo the perch nut inside your flip up cargo box, drop the A-arm with "shock cartrage", loosen up the clamp that holds the "cartrage" in place pull out the shock cartrage, replace with new and repeat the process, but in reverse!

heres a link to the Works Struts:
Works Shocks click on A/T Steeler Struts
heres a link to the Fox Struts:
Fox Shox
 
  #18  
Old 11-24-2006 | 11:13 AM
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

Should I change the springs also?

Is there anything for the rear that will make it handle better and not squat so much when towing?

Thanks for the help - I am going to order the struts asap
 
  #19  
Old 11-24-2006 | 11:47 AM
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

What setting do you have the rears set at???Unlike the fronts, the rears are adjustable..
John
 
  #20  
Old 11-24-2006 | 12:20 PM
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Default 800EFI - too much body lean

Originally posted by: thedon
Should I change the springs also?

Is there anything for the rear that will make it handle better and not squat so much when towing?

Thanks for the help - I am going to order the struts asap
For starters i would stick with the Works struts, the fox struts are pimaraly set up for raceing, while the Works are set up for a combination of work and play.

if you want a higher load rated spring, checking out sportsman MV springs for the front would do the trick, i belive polaris has them listed as HD springs
 


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