2011 SBA 144 Rear Suspension Question

[bosssho]

So I LOVE my 11' SBA 144...added V-Force III and swapped out the Ethonol Plug for the Hotter one and now it's even snappier...ran 102 (1.352 track studded down the middle) on GPS last weekend when my lightly modded 10.5 XP E-Tec 120" track only hit 101 lol so it's fast and a great sled to learn how to boondock on...but...

I noticed my rear suspension seems to sag really bad....and while I know there is NO coupled suspension out back...I ride with 4 other guys who all have 2011s and one has a 12...and all seem to hold their rear form so to speak better....IE, if you pull up on my sled and then let it drop it goes almost all the way to full down...and this is on a flat surface....I can push it down about another inch or so, but with hardly a fight from the suspension. This is the same with the rear torsion blocks on soft or hard, and the shocks (which my dealer said are fucntioning fine) don't seem to have an adjustment for this.

What's odd is if I place a 2x4 under the front of the skid it's MUCH better...but on a flat surface...NOPE.

I noticed this b/c in reverse I notice (vs. friends who ride summits or renegades) they can get through some of the deeper stuff MUCH better without eating the rear snow flap...so much so I drilled out a hole in it and bundgie it up to the shovel bag...and I feel like my running boards are dragging as a result too....

So...any thoughts, advice, etc....Since I am a rookie at all this Boondocking (So much fun) I need all the help I can get and I don't want the sled misperforming...suspension wise.

Thanks in advance.

PS...any tips on creating a quick disconnect sway bar kit that works on the 2011s??

 

[bosssho]

TTT....anyone???

 

[k-dawg77]

I have the same sled and almost from brad new when I would rip down a pounded out trail my front shock would bottom out so I would keep Turing it up more and more until it was so stiff any time I would try and climb a big snow drift it would almost flip right over backwards cause of that shock so I took it in and had it looked at and turned out the shock blew a seal so it was rebuilt under warranty I've know of another SBA getting 2 sets of back shocks rebuilt in one year I dunno if this helps but I'd go get them looked at by your dealer if you still have warranty

 

[boatingbent]

I have a 2011 SWB 144 and so does my Son ...

Both my Son and I are about 280LBS .....My Sons rear shock pulled into 2 pieces and Polaris got him a new one under Warrenty it still seamed soft after that so we took the Shock back off and put in Thicker Liquid in it and also went with the Fat Boy Springs ...I have not heard one complaint out of him since then......
I on the other hand ......My shock is fine but felt that I needed the Fat Boy Springs also Cause my rear shock also felt a little soft ...

Whats nice about the Heavier Spring and Being a Heavier person seams you have some more adjustments this way

 

[mickyd32]

I am about 220 with riding gear on and I had the same problem after 1000 miles. At 1300 miles the shock was rebuilt a second time and I went to heavier torsion springs. It still sags but not as bad. My buddies '12 is showing signs of it already as well

 

[knikflyer]

I have a 2011 SWB 144 and so does my Son ...

Both my Son and I are about 280LBS .....My Sons rear shock pulled into 2 pieces and Polaris got him a new one under Warrenty it still seamed soft after that so we took the Shock back off and put in Thicker Liquid in it and also went with the Fat Boy Springs ...I have not heard one complaint out of him since then......
I on the other hand ......My shock is fine but felt that I needed the Fat Boy Springs also Cause my rear shock also felt a little soft ...

Whats nice about the Heavier Spring and Being a Heavier person seams you have some more adjustments this way

By "Fat Boy Springs" are you talking the optional OEM 0.375" springs right? Standard OEM spring being 0.359"?

I weigh in at 240 + gear and gas on the tunnel. I was thinking my Assault SB rear was little soft too.

 

[bosssho]

Thanks Guys...Yeah, I only weigh about 190 (winter weight ha ha) and at 5'11'' I am not huge my any standard...but I am wondering about those beefier springs...since no rear coupled suspension...I find it hard to believe we all have $hitty rear shocks since Walker Evans are supposed to be top notch...but who knows...maybe they just can't handle this sled as it's set up...but I mean what are the RMK Assualts coming with for suspensions????

In any case if boatingbent can confirm what Springs he means I may have my dealer get those and switch one thing out at a time to see what's what, thanks...and please provide a part # if you can.

 

[boatingbent]

I have the Box that they came in at home ...I will get you a part Number sometime today....

 

[boatingbent]

Springs

Here ya go

 

[clamlake600]

I have similar problem with my rear Susp too. Was at the dealer today and looked up specs. Shocks have 16 clicks of adjustment, fact setting at 8 on both. Rear springs are the softest they have. The front ARM looks to have 2 holes for the shock upper mount and limiter strap. Stock front spring setting at 7.25 in. I'm going the drop shock and limiter and tight front spring and see if rear continues to sag...hope this helps and I will post results ASAP.

 

[Skeld]

I have the RMK Assault and weigh 240 lb. and I carry 2 gal. of gas near the back of the seat. My suspension doesn't move when I get on, and feels pretty stiff coming of my 2008 Renegade X package. If anything I think I may have bottomed the front arm a few times, but I think I have yet to bottom the rear arm in 500 miles. Not sure why the Switchback would be so much softer?

 

[illadvised]

I have the RMK Assault and weigh 240 lb. and I carry 2 gal. of gas near the back of the seat. My suspension doesn't move when I get on, and feels pretty stiff coming of my 2008 Renegade X package. If anything I think I may have bottomed the front arm a few times, but I think I have yet to bottom the rear arm in 500 miles. Not sure why the Switchback would be so much softer?

your RMK Assault has a coil over shock, the SBA 144 is traditional torsion springs.

I find my SBA pretty soft in the rear, I had my skid shocks rebuild/revalved before this season. Mine always bottomed on the center shock, and still did after the revalve... I cranked up my clickers about 8 clicks and its much much better now. Stock I had them up almost all the way. However, I still feel that I need a 225# center spring or the IQR spring is what I hear works better, I forget the rates on it. I'm about 250 suited up. The stock rear torsions seen enough, I get the proper sit in when turned up all the way.

My fronts are up about 4-5 clicks and they are pretty decent, I hear not to turn the fronts up too high or it can cause internal damage.

 

[Skeld]

your RMK Assault has a coil over shock, the SBA 144 is traditional torsion springs.

I find my SBA pretty soft in the rear, I had my skid shocks rebuild/revalved before this season. Mine always bottomed on the center shock, and still did after the revalve... I cranked up my clickers about 8 clicks and its much much better now. Stock I had them up almost all the way. However, I still feel that I need a 225# center spring or the IQR spring is what I hear works better, I forget the rates on it. I'm about 250 suited up. The stock rear torsions seen enough, I get the proper sit in when turned up all the way.

My fronts are up about 4-5 clicks and they are pretty decent, I hear not to turn the fronts up too high or it can cause internal damage.

I realize that, it just seems like they should be calibrated in a similar manner.

 

[bosssho]

Thanks All. I am going to look into those Heavy duty Springs.

Can we NOT convert our SBA rear suspension to the Coil over RMK style?? Is that not possible?

 

[xcpolaris]

I have an 2012 600 RMK 144 had the same problem it sagged to much and
bottomed out in the divets on a trailand I am 180 + gear
I took out the 0.359 spring and went with the 0.375 spring big diff now rides alot better also took out the cheap stock shock and added a ryde fx clicker
in the rear

Have a friend with an 09 800 RMK shift 144 he is 300 + that had the .359 springs
we went with the 0.405SQ/77 spring part # 7041940-067 &7041941-.07 which are the springs for an 09 trail touring now it holds his weight

 

[bosssho]

Just ordered (1) 7041942-329 Left and (1) 7041943-329 Right side .375 Torsion Springs from my buddy at a dealer...$85 ea less your discount...Will report back.

 

[boatingbent]

Thats approx what I paid!!!!

 

[knikflyer]

Just ordered (1) 7041942-329 Left and (1) 7041943-329 Right side .375 Torsion Springs from my buddy at a dealer...$85 ea less your discount...Will report back.

Hey Bosssho, do you have report yet on how these heavier springs are working for you? Thanks.

 

[wi.switchback]

i have an 11 sba also and kinda having same problem im running 6 clicks in the rear track shock,4 in the front track shock with the front spring set half way on the shock and about 4inches of sag in,with the front arm in the bottom hole,it goes down a groomed trail great but when its a wooped out trail it does bottem or off trail hitting mild jumps i'm only 215 geared up so running the heavy torsion springs will cure this is what i'm reading here?

 

[bosssho]

Hey Bosssho, do you have report yet on how these heavier springs are working for you? Thanks.

If anything it's a C-Hair better, but that's it....NOT any black and white difference like some have said...unfortunately. Maybe a different shock set up, but I believe the way the suspension is set up it just is what it is for the SBA's...that being said, outside of that I LOVE this sled...one of the best ever.