Have you ever diagnosed yourself without going to the doctor? Usually, one of the first things you do is google your symptoms and read all possible diagnoses you could have.
It’s totally relatable, right? As off-roaders, we do the same thing with our machines. When we notice our rig is handling differently we take to the web and forums and try to figure out what is really going on.
We’re hoping to save you some time with this segment of our machine maintenance category. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, it’s probably time to replace your ATV’s shocks.
Shocks are made up of two main components: shock absorbers and springs.
Imagine that you’re off-roading and you hit a big bump that sends your wheels up. When you hit that bump your springs compress, absorbing the shock of the bump. But as your springs compress, they store energy that has to be released somewhere otherwise you’ll find your rig bouncing even more than it did when it hit the bump.
The shock absorbers slow down and reduce the bouncing motion by transferring kinetic energy into heat energy that dissipates through the hydraulic fluid contained in the absorber. This transference of energy keeps your machine’s body from bouncing like crazy, giving you a more stable ride while keeping your tires on the ground.
Having bad shocks on your UTV is the most overlooked maintenance diagnosis. It’s hard to identify because it’s something that happens gradually over time and not all at once. Photo by SuperATV
Symptoms of Bad Shocks
The smallest bumps in the road feel huge—This is probably the hardest way to detect if your shock is bad because the wear and tear on your shocks is usually a gradual process making it less noticeable. Eventually, your shocks will wear down enough that the smallest bumps in the road seem like craters.
Machine Swaying—This is what you call it when your machine “tips” to one side as you turn. An example of this would be when you take a turn to the left your machine will actually tip to the right. fill your cab swaying back and forth. This is caused by the shocks not being able to support your UTV’s weight.
Nose diving when you brake—Do you find yourself flying over the steering wheel when you hit the brakes? It’s a given that when you hit your brakes really hard that the nose of your machine sinks a little, but as time passes and your shocks wear down, this will get worse. This is an obvious sign that the shocks on your front end are worn down.
Rear-end squatting—When you accelerate, does the rear end of your machine sink? We call this rear-end squatting. It’s when the shocks in the rear have gone bad. This is not good as your front wheels will lose traction and your steering becomes more unresponsive.
Unusual tire wear—If you see your tire tread is being worn down unevenly it’s more than likely because your tires aren’t being held down to the road properly.
Leaking fluid—This is the most obvious sign that there is a problem with your shocks. If you see that your shocks are leaking fluid, then the seals have been broken and the fluids that are needed for your shocks to run properly are leaking out.
Maintenacing your UTV’s shocks is different for everyone. Everything depends on the amount of wear and tear the shocks go through. If you’re hauling a lot of cargo or you drive aggressively on uneven terrain you’ll need to change and maintain your shocks more frequently than someone who is only using their UTV to get from point A to point B.
A good rule of thumb for shock maintenance would be as follow:
Every ride you need to wash and dry your UTV’s suspension
Every 100 hours you should visually inspect your shocks
Every 1500 miles you need to change your shock oil and replace the seals
Don’t take our word for it, double check your machine’s manual just to be sure. Photo by Shock Therapy
Connect with our Repair Professionals
Out with the old and in with the new—replace your worn-out shocks with SuperATV’s ride variety of shocks and accessories.
And to do you one even better, we can help you with the installation. Our expert, virtual mechanic can help you every step of the way. If you’re not sure how to install your shocks we can walk you through it step-by-step.
Don’t let your shocks keep you from riding! Photo by Anco Precision
Hey Richard, in the UTV world, maintenance schedules assume you ride about 1000 miles a year. So you’d change them every 18 months to keep them in perfect condition. You’d want to check them at least 6–8 times a year If you’re riding your side-by-side 12,000 miles a year. They’re subjected to a lot more abuse than a road car. Of course, that’s all for the average rider—you can check them more or less often depending on how hard you ride. Thanks for reading!
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So by your guide, I would have to change shock oil and seals 6-8 times a year.
Hey Richard, in the UTV world, maintenance schedules assume you ride about 1000 miles a year. So you’d change them every 18 months to keep them in perfect condition. You’d want to check them at least 6–8 times a year If you’re riding your side-by-side 12,000 miles a year. They’re subjected to a lot more abuse than a road car. Of course, that’s all for the average rider—you can check them more or less often depending on how hard you ride. Thanks for reading!