HD Front Springs?

[duffer]

I tried this on a different thread and didn't get any response, but maybe this is a more appropriate place for it.

Anyone know where I can get heavy duty front springs for my 2010 X2 550? I can't seem to find any online and the front end seems a little soft, plus I plan on adding a plow next year. Without the HD springs, I am sceptical about adding the plow. Thanks.

[Hit.The.Gas]

install spring 7043499-067, also run tires harder, crank up preload on springs, and use preload spacers. these springs are heavier than your stock ones.
i agree they should make some that are even stiffer than those.
you can find them by part number at our website Hit-The-Gas New and Used OEM Parts for Polaris, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, ATV, Jet Ski, Motorcycle, Ranger, and Dirt Bike

[duffer]

Thanks for the reply. Do you know what the rating on these are compared to the stock springs?

[jstoppok]

Duffer,

I have a 2010 X2 550 and noticed that with the Glacier III plow I get about an inch or two of sag when I lift it. I haven't tried cranking up my pre-load yet like Hit-the-Gas suggests but I think it would help. My pre-load is set to the second setting on all fours corners now. I had a forum photo album showing the set-up but it got deleted somehow and I was told it can't be recovered so sorry no pictures.

As far as the spring rate differences the spring descriptions look like this:

Stock - SPRING-COMP,184-270,DUAL D,BLK (7043618-067)
Hit-the-Gas recommendation - SPRING-COMP,210#/IN.,BLK (7043499-067)

I'm not sure but it looks like the stock is a dual rate spring with a pretty soft 184lbs. first stage and the recommended replacement is a spring off the 2009 XP that has a single rate of 210lbs. If that's the case then maybe you can find someone here that uses a plow with their 2009 XP 550 to tell you how they like it.

-Jerry

[duffer]

Thanks for the response. I am a total newbie to this and I could not find in the owners manual how to adjust the pre-load. I have the spanner wrench that came with the machine, I'd like to adjust because the front end just feels a little soft. Which way do I turn the wrench when I get it on to stiffen them up? Does the machine need to be off the ground? This is my first machine and I'm a little nervous about screwing something up on it, and I know nothing about how to do it.

[jstoppok]

No worries. I don't think you can hurt anything and you'll be surprised how much tuning your suspension improves the handling. It's easy to reset them if you decide the ride is still too soft or stiff after a few test rides. If I remember correctly there are 5 different settings or notches in the adjustment collar. You can set the front pair and rear pair differently but you should ALWAYS set the front two shocks the same and the rear two shocks the same. So front-to-rear can be different but side-to-side should be the same.

To change the settings the first thing to do is get the tire on the corner you are adjusting off the ground. I just use a floor jack under the skid plate to take the load off the front two tires or rear two tires at the same time. Don't jack up on the suspension A-frame. You won't be taking the load off the suspension and you can damage the A-frame. Next get the spanner wrench on the pre-load adjustment collar and turn it to the right. You should be able to see how the spanner wrench fits around the collar with the spanner "tooth" fitting into one of the small square holes around the perimeter of the collar. If your quad is new it should turn pretty easy. If you feel like your putting a lot of muscle into and not getting anywhere take a step back make sure you aren't already at the maximum setting and turning the wrong way. Or if you've been in a lot of mud sometimes it will get under the adjustment collar and make it harder to turn. If that's the case try a couple squirts of penetrating oil. Just remember that compressing the spring is the same as increasing the pre-load. The worst part of the whole process for me was having to remove the right rear tire because I didn't have enough room to turn the spanner wrench once I got it on. If you have to take the tire off don't forget to torque the wheel lug-nuts back to the correct specifications. I still have the stock steel wheels and they are supposed to be torqued to 45 ft. lbs. (61 Nm).

My pre-load came set at the lowest setting. That is when the spring is compressed the least. I now have it set to the second notch at all four shocks which works pretty good for my riding style and weight. It still seems a little soft in the front with the plow though. I am going to try bumping the front pre-load up to notch three or four the next time I have the plow on. Then set it back to position two when I take the plow off. The good news is the front shocks are the easiest to adjust because they're more accessible.

Good Luck

[elmerkit]

just a question is the shock also interchangeable?

[jstoppok]

I believe it is. The Polaris Parts site shows the exact same part number (7043464) for the front shocks on the 2010 X2 550 and the 2009 XP 550. Polaris Parts

The 2009 XP 550 shows two different springs available. I'm guessing one is the HD model that Hit-the-Gas mentioned and the other is the regular?

[duffer]

Thanks a lot Jerry, that info is very helpful. I always get nervous working on a new piece of equipment but this should be pretty simple. It was the same way with my boat a few years ago, and now I wrench on everything with that. I just need a little time to warm up to working on it. I'll give this a try tomorrow. Thanks again.

[Hit.The.Gas]

let us know how this works out for ya