Would you like your '13 or '14 Shocks stiffened ?

[ulflyer]

In a recent thread about shocks (,http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?71690-2014-RT-Limited-Body-Roll) John from Canada reported that he had bought some shock wedges for his ST and it stiffened the springs to his satisfaction. I communicated with him about installation and got a set today. Made by Polaris for ATV's they are round rubber groved on top and bottom to fit over the springs. They will need to have a section cut out if you want to put the whole wedge in, however, I found that I didn't have sufficient hand strength to insert a long section so I cut the wedge into 1 inch sections and put 4 on each front shock. You wet them with soap to put in and slide them around for positioning. Once dried they are very difficut to slide. I believe they will stay in without any problem.

I can say right off that it now feels like I had "jacked" the preload up a couple notch's for a slightly stiffer ride, and it tracks much better on uneven secondary roads...the only type road where I was not satisfied with the handling.

If you want stiffer front springs on your 13 or 14, this is an easy and cheap fix. Shop the internet and you can find the wedges or some already cut for this purpose.

Edited to add: Here is where i bought mine if you want to get a set and cut your own wedges. These things are large, about 4 wide so one is enough for 8 wedges and you can share one with a friend.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/11074753900...iewitem=&sspagename=ADME:L:OC:US:3160&vxp=mtr

 

[Chupaca]

Good to know..!!

thanks for the tip. May be easier then adjusting some of the others as well...:thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

You haven't noticed any episodes of coil-binding; have you? :dontknow:

 

[ulflyer]

You haven't noticed any episodes of coil-binding; have you? :dontknow:

Bob, don't honestly know what coil-binding would feel like! The wedges are made of very flexible but firm rubber and the amount/number you put in simple reduces, slightly, the flexing of the coil, much as it does on those shocks with adjusters that merely tighten the coil. I have the 4 in each shock slid around so they are evenly spaced and they stay where ever you put them. Very easy to add or take out to accomodate your riding style/comfort. Having ridden with them now for two days, I am even more enthused about their utility. Feels so much like my Elkas used to on my '11.
By inhibiting that initial shock/coil movement you do, naturally, lose some of the soft springiness felt on small road ripples, and are more aware of the ripples. I recall having noticed this also on the '11 when I first went to Elkas, but the improved handling on uneven roads is, to me, way more of a benefit. I had been seriously considering a set of Elkas, wishing I had had a set installed at SF, but can now apply those $$$ to a new paint job I'm thinking of this winter. Best $22 I've spent in a long time. I'll dig around the internet and see if I can come across the ready made wedges. If so, I'll post it here. I saw some after I had ordered the big hummers I list above, but I have a band saw and it was easy enuf to cut them the way I wanted. I'm sure a hack saw would work well also.

Couldn't find the ready made ones but here is another site selling what looks like ones I ordered, with nice deep groves to hold them in between the coils. One of these will provide at least 8-10 wedges; more than enuf for one bike. http://www.jegs.com/i/Mr-Gasket/720/1287/10002/-1?parentProductId=747385

 

[nhoj]

Ted these are the ones I used.

http://www.mooseutilities.com/products/?productGroupId=44269&productId=121331

John

 

[ulflyer]

Ted these are the ones I used.

http://www.mooseutilities.com/products/?productGroupId=44269&productId=121331

John

John, i should change my name to Cheapguy as I found some about half the price. However, without your suggestions on
using soap (Simple Green in my case) and pushing bottom in with screwdriver, getting even the cut wedges in would have been more difficult. Am loving the positive result of this simple, inexpensive procedure and would never have thought of it had you not posted. Thanks.

 

[Bob Denman]

I'm glad to hear that you're diggin' them! :2thumbs:

 

[ny10547]

Was wondering how you installed these. If you put them in as one piece do you still need to cut them? Do I need to take the load off the shocks to do this? Is that possible w/o a lift?
How does this mod compare to the Elkas? I see you like it but do you miss anything extra the Elkas did/do?
Thanks for any advice. I really was going to do the shocks as my next mod...but if this gets me close that would be something I could do immediately and then evaluate things from there. Can't afford the Elkas yet.

 

[ulflyer]

Was wondering how you installed these. If you put them in as one piece do you still need to cut them? Do I need to take the load off the shocks to do this? Is that possible w/o a lift?
How does this mod compare to the Elkas? I see you like it but do you miss anything extra the Elkas did/do?
Thanks for any advice. I really was going to do the shocks as my next mod...but if this gets me close that would be something I could do immediately and then evaluate things from there. Can't afford the Elkas yet.

I think John used a whole one on each shock of his ST and I probably would have also on my RT but found out real quick
I didn't have enough hand strength to insert a piece of rubber that size. I'm also glad I didn't because I know now it would have made the shock too stiff to suit me.

I cut off pieces about 1 inch long and used four for each size. Make them a bit longer or shorter if you like. I used a band saw to cut them but imagine a hack saw would work well enough. The beauty of smaller sections allows you to tailor the stiffness however you want. Put em in or take em out! Very simple.

With the small pieces, spray with soap (I used Simple Green as I keep a bottle handy in my shop),
insert the top edge, take a largish screwdriver and push in
on the bottom edge and they pop right in. Then slide it around towards the bottom, or top if you prefer, till you get all four (or as many as you want) in. May need to spray the springs to make it easy to slide the wedges so that you can
position them evenly all around. Thats it.

I had Elka's on my '11 that needed them badly on open and back roads, whereas the '14 did much better without them and I was happy with them everywhere but on uneven secondary roads where it seemed to "wander" more than it should. I have one section of road I used for the test and it definitely handled better, much less wandering. Anytime you stiffen a shock you will lose some of the soft initial absorbing action, thus, you feel some of the road roughness a little more. To me, its negligible. The improvement far outweighs the very slightly harder ride. Thats also what you get with shocks that are adjustable and the wedges produce the same effect.

Heck, where else can you have such fun for $22. And thank John in Canada for idea.

BTW, one of the two was enough to make eight wedges with several pieces left over so you can share the extra one with a friend.

No you don't have to raise or stretch the shocks to put them in. I found that turning the wheels gave me a little more room.

 

[ny10547]

Awesome, thanks for the great info. Going to order them and give them a try.
Just a few more questions if you don't mind:

1. This device goes in between the springs correct? Can it go anywhere in there or should I work it up to the top of the spring?

2. Did you secure each piece with something like a tie wrap or does it just stay in there? Can it come out in the bumps if it is not secured? Read that other applications have had these fall out. Just wondering what others were doing.

Thanks.

Scott

 

[ladyred]

shocks

A big hello to all, I just bought the 2013 RTS. and noticed a serious body roll on just an on or off ramp almost an over correction. went for 600 ml service mentioned the issue was a good thing I did. Dealer said there was a bulliten about body roll/over correct and there gonna replace my shocks at no cost to me. so you may want to look into this.

 

[Bob Denman]

Glad to hear that your dealer is right on it! :2thumbs:
and... :welcome:

 

[Jed_S]

I installed the Moose inserts about 2 weeks ago on my RS and I agree they help a lot. I also installed Ron's sway bar and the combo has made it handle much, much better - better cornering and helps with the wandering. Picture of them installed is attached ....

 

[ny10547]

GREAT. Thanks for the pic. That helps a lot.

 

[Jed_S]

I had to cut about 0.5" off of the inserts to keep them from overlapping. To install them take the weight off of the springs and put a small amount of soap on the inserts for lubricant. Then start with one end of the insert and start to work it between the coils. It was quite difficult but once I got it started I was able work it all the way around the coils until the insert was completely between them.

 

[ulflyer]

Awesome, thanks for the great info. Going to order them and give them a try.
Just a few more questions if you don't mind:

1. This device goes in between the springs correct? Can it go anywhere in there or should I work it up to the top of the spring?

2. Did you secure each piece with something like a tie wrap or does it just stay in there? Can it come out in the bumps if it is not secured? Read that other applications have had these fall out. Just wondering what others were doing.

Thanks.
Scott[/QUOTE

Scott, The wedges do go between the springs and you can slide them wherever you prefer. I put mine on the bottom. See attached pic.

Once inserted, mine stay exactly where I put them, nothing has affected them so far. They're in pretty tight and you'll find that in order to slide them around you'll need to squirt some soap on the springs. That drys and they stay situated very tightly.

I would guess that if some have come out, they were not as thick to begin with and thus not in as tight. Theres bunches of sellers and presumably makers on ebay and elsewhere so they do come in various sizes I believe. I bought mine because they were cheapest, made by Polaris in usa, without even thinking about size. Lucked out I guess, as they seem perfect for my needs.

PS: the other pic is a whole ring and the small piece is what was left over after I cut 8 wedges. Gives you an
idea of size.

 

[zamfield]

Jack the front up... it'll take the load off the springs making it easier to insert them.

 

[bscrive]

I put these on my wife's STL on the recommendation of Jeffsm69. :thumbup: They work great and is much cheaper than buying fox shocks. They also raised the front end about 1".

 

[ny10547]

Once again thanks to all for the great info.
ulflyer, thanks for the description and pics. Really cleared things up for me.
looking forward to getting this done. I will let you all know how it goes.

 

[zamfield]

I may have some Fox shocks for sale off a new STs when my Elkas get here next week!! :yes: