Need to upgrade suspension on 96 Ultra RMK

[Jeepin4fun]

I am looking to upgrade my suspension on my 96 Ultra. I am hopefully looking to get longer travel shocks in the front, and hopefully raise it up a bit, and also to increase the travel on the rear skid, and possibly bump it up from a 133.5" track to a 144 or so. Whats the best bang for the buck? Fox shocks? New rear skid? Any insight on what works on these sleds would be great.

Thanks

 

[skis_n_skid]

Does the ultra have 8" or xtra 10 in the front? I put a couple of RMK skids in XLTs, and the 2001-2002 RMK 144 xtra lite skid works really well with xtra 10 up front, and would probably work pretty well with 8" front suspension. The edge RMK 144 skid works really well with xtra 12 in front, and would probably work pretty well with xtra 10, but an edge with 8" front suspension I think woud put the back a lot higher than the front.

They are both good suspensions, the edge has a bit more travel. The xtra lite is lighter but not as ruggedly built, the ride is smoother than the xtra 10 (I replaced a 133.5 xtra 10 with the xtra lite, and an xtra 12 skid with the edge).

 

[Jeepin4fun]

Thanks for the info, it looks like the sled has the xtra 10 front and rear, according to this guy: http://www.polarisman.com/site/DisplayModel.cfm?ModelID=96SNOINDYULTRARMK&Year=1996. Is there any easy measurement I can take to check for sure? If it is an extra 10 it looks like my best bet is to just upgrade the shocks/springs as swapping in a xtra 12 upfront looks like a pain and a lot of work for not a ton of benefit. Is there anyway to put a longer shock up front to raise it up a bit? How about swapping to 99 spindles(supposedly the same except 1 1/2" longer)?

Looks like the edge skid is the way to go. I'll have to keep an eye out for one.

Thanks for the help!

 

[jsledder]

Look for some Fox shocks from an XC (I use 97/98) they should be around 17". Stay away from Extra-12 stuff.

I have done several of those upgrades, front and rear, and like to use the Xtra-lite skid but I've never done an Edge skid and will probably go that route if I do another one. On the front I use those shocks mentioned, and I make my own radius rods and tie rods to accomodate the extra length (and add heim joints to both ends of radius rods). Then, I use my Lightweight rebuildable trailing arms to top it all off, and remove the sway bar. This gives me about 19" at the bumper.

You should be able to get a 2" x 144 track under that with 8 tooth drivers.

 

[Jeepin4fun]

jsledder,

Thanks for the info. Do you sell those radius arms and tierods? Or would the arms off of a 97/98 XC work in conjunction with the shocks? Or do I really need to extend them at all?

Again, thanks for all the info, so my plan is to go with either a 144" or 151" edge skid(whichever comes along at the right price first), 8 tooth drivers with a 2" paddle track, run the 97 xc shocks, and possibly go to the 98 spindles that are 1 1/2" longer depending on how balanced it is.

Now its just time to hunt down some parts! Doesn't look to be to many edge skids out there right now.

Thanks everyone.

 

[jsledder]

I don't sell the radius rods or tie rods, check out "Wimpy" on the forums here for some sweet azz rods. You could probably get by without them, but depending on how much taller/wider you make it then they might rub on the bulkhead or you'll have to turn the ends out to make everything fit and turning them out too far is not a good thing.

I'd get the front assembled first and see where your at, if you want to run the stock steel rods you might be able to get by with it.

I've had good luck finding those shocks on ebay.

Edit: After looking at mine I think the shocks I use are actually closer to 16".

 

[Jeepin4fun]

Well, I came across a deal on a 2001 rmk 800 151 that has been extended to 159 parts sled. So it looks like this is what I'll be swapping in.

Questions now, the 159 will be huge so I am thinking of going to a 7tooth anti ratchet drivers for the gear reduction and clearance. I figure with the 7t I can move the skid about 1" further back to maintain track tension and make the approach angle a little better since it will suffer going to 7t drivers. Any thoughts on this? I could stick with the 8tooth and regear, but I figured I could kill two birds with one stone.

Also, anyone have any mounting location specs for the new skid on a wedge chassis? It's a xtralite 151 that has been extended to 159.

Thanks