I am trying to help my neighbor out... he has no internet.

Anyone know the bolt pattern on his wheels? 99 Big Bear 350 4x4. I can not read any of the specs on the wheels and he is wanting to get spacers because it feels a bit "tipsy" on turns. Or would he be better off adjusting his front shocks down??

 

Spacers will make the front end softer, possibly making it even more tippy than before. Softening the shocks will do the same.

What preload are the shocks set at now?

 

Not sure why wheel spacers would make the front end softer, but if you can adjust the shocks up a bit, try that first; they may be worn a bit from plow use, etc. like mine are. Bolt pattern is 4 x 110mm.

 

Front shock is set up one notch from the lowest setting right now.

As for wear on the shocks... it still has the original tires and they still have 75% tread so this thing has not hardly been used. It does not have anything attached.

When we were out cutting donuts on the snow and ice his tended to get up on 2 wheels MUCH easier than mine. I ride a Rubicon so I know the main thing is mine is newer and heavier and wider... Was just thinking that is he has inch to inch and half spacers on all four wheels it would widen his stance and make it a bit more stable... Am I mistaken in this thought?

Thanks for the info on bolt pattern.

 

I think the ticket here will be to get some wheel spacers for it, but then crank the front shocks up as stiff as they go. The stiffer shocks might make the ride height a little taller, but it'll be less prone to diving nose-first into the corners. The flaw with wheel spacers on the front suspension is that they add extra leverage on the shocks, so it'll be softer in comparison to running no spacers, but tightening up the preload should compensate for that, and then some.

 

That now makes sense. Thank you for the explaination.