Springs
- Thread starter M80
- Start date
These are going to be the things I feel everyone should be checking when they get their new cars. Every friend who’s got a new RZR, I always tell them to count & back out the shock compression clickers to see where they were set at, and then go back in 6-7 clicks to set the baseline. In several cases we had to clock springs, and in every case the clickers are all over the place. One wheel will be 4 clicks in, another 8, another 10 etc. I also measure spring adjusters on the shock body, and I’ve seen them within 1/2 inch off from right to left shocks.
Can Am’s typically are delivered sitting lower than correct ride hight. I believe the two reasons is packaging hight in the crates, but I’ve been told they needed to sit lower to pass the J turn test. I helped adjust a X3 and added 3 inches of hight, and the car worked so much better then how it was delivered.
So I think even with Speed, don’t assume your final assembly & QC will be perfect. Check everything like you are preparing on doing a 500 mile prerun or ride.
Can Am’s typically are delivered sitting lower than correct ride hight. I believe the two reasons is packaging hight in the crates, but I’ve been told they needed to sit lower to pass the J turn test. I helped adjust a X3 and added 3 inches of hight, and the car worked so much better then how it was delivered.
So I think even with Speed, don’t assume your final assembly & QC will be perfect. Check everything like you are preparing on doing a 500 mile prerun or ride.
On my XX, I had to adjust the springs as the fronts were rubbing on the shock body. Adjust the rear trailing arm alignment, kept losing rear axles. The doors weren’t aligned, they would bind once the sun would warm them up.
I can see that from other manufacturers even Speed a bit if final assembly was being done on a large scale not by a few in Havasu and it’s their personal production car.
Makes me remember the loose bolt on the unicorn when it was being first tested, the missing hitch pin when they lost a trailer on the freeway. Like you said everyone should be checking their new cars.
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ABSOLUTELY!!!
When I picked up my Maverick from the dealership and took it home, the thought crossed my mind - I should just take it for a quick burn down the road, as I backed it off the trailer...
Thankfully, the voice of reason and experience kicked in and instead, I decided to pull it in the garage and give it a good look over...before driving it.
The first thing I looked at was the front suspension and steering, where I immediately noticed the drivers side front shock mount bolt appeared loose. When I reached up and touched the nut, it fell off in my hand!
I then went through the entire car and found several other nuts and bolts barely installed....everything got blue or red lock tight, (where appropriate), torqued to factory spec (using a factory tech manual, purchased with the car) and then clearly marked with bright fluorescent fingernail polish.
Now, I can easily do a quick walk around, visual check of all wheel, tire, steering, suspension, brakes, and important hardware...
before I put my daughter in the car!....and go for a ride with total peace of mind.
In my opinion, never take anything for granted...
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- Dec 26, 2022
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For simple function, the ends of the springs should overlap enough to prevent a shear load. 180 out is just a good practice.
