I have a 2000 Polaris Sportsman 500. I mostly ride in the mud and gravel pits. I often get high centered in rutted out mud holes or I have my front end slam into whoop sections in gravel pits. I've read HD springs will increase ride height and will probably reduce bottoming out on some jumps. I don't have a problem with stiff suspension but I do hate bottoming and slamming into the ground. I also am considering a front spacer to prevent slamming. Which do you think will perform the best handling wise and will hold up for a while.

Thanks

 

Springs are your best bet. Spacers will only work short term if your springs are already shot.

 

The spacers are cheap and quick to put on, try them and see if it works first. HD springs do not give you added suspension travel there the same length, they are just stiffer.
I have the HDs on front and back.

Sping spacers $18 on ebay. Metal one may be tuffer thow but you have to take the springs off to get them on and if I went to all that work I might as well just put on HD springs.

 

I made 1.5" spacers and put HD springs on. It rides just fine. I do plow with it to. You'd be suprised how much more spring you can add before it will ever feel too stiff. Actually with the strut by itself, there is zero compression dampening, it only dmapens on the rebound. I thought my struts were screwed when i had the springs off, but brand new ones do the exact same thing.

 

My ATV ride really improved when the Warn Winch on my 500 fried. By the time I took off the steel mounting plate and winch it lighten the front end right up.
The winch and mounting plate is like riding around with a 45lb 10" cement block strapped on the front rack at all times.

 

Will hd springs decrease travel?

 

Nope, if anything you'll get more as you won't be sitting half way through the travel at rest. If you are thinking that the springs might stack? theres still lots of room at full compression even with spacers

 

How can I test to see if my shocks are going bad? I do have a winch mounted to the front which could be causing some squatting along with the springs being wore out as well.

 

How will Heavy duty shocks handle jumps?

 

much better than the stockers and quad will handle and respond better in the steering dept.