Alright so i noticed that the right rear shock of my 04 sportsman 500 looked a little odd the other day. After taking a closer look this is what i found:



It seems like that black rubber part (spacer/ bushing maybe?) is completely busted. Should i try and replace that part or will i need a whole new shock?

Does anyone know the actual name or part number of the rubber piece?

 

Hard to tell by the pic what's wrong. Looks like the retainer may be broken? It's replaceable if it is. If you do end having to replace the shock always replace both. Dirt Cheap Yamaha, Honda, Arctic Cat & Polaris OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse

 

Look at the very top of the spring, there was a 2" rubber piece in between the retainer and the coil spring. Now half of this piece is missing. Is this just a spacer?

 

I see what you're talking about now. Looks like just a rubber spring spacer someone added or it's part of the rubber cone shock dampener that got caught under the retainer. This dampener cone comes with the shock assembly. Look at the other shock to compare. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Coil-Spring-Spacers-for-5-5-5-OD-Rubber-Springs-Spacer-Suspension-/121125323308?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c33a1c22c&vxp=mtr

 

Looks like I forgot to conclude this thread, well...

A couple weeks after posting here, as "luck" would have it, the rear plastics needed to come off.. I took advantage of that time to get a better look at my rear shock issue. Turns out the P.O. thought it would be a good idea to use hockey pucks to stiffen up the rear springs! I think it's needless to say that those aren't on the sportsman anymore!

Thanks for the help OPT. Would those spacers, that you linked to, actually lift the quad? The P.O.'s "spacers" were placed in-between the retainer and the coil spring. ...from my understanding that would only affect the spring stiffness, right?

Anyway, I don't thing I'll be playing with spring spacers again until I get a good set of coil-spring clamps!

 

See if this helps as the first ones I posted were just generic type spacers. These can be used on front or rear springs.Plus you might look at the "sticky" post in the expert section on spacers for the front that might give you a better idea.Polaris ATV Plow Suspension Coil Spring Spacer Kit | eBay