ski
New member
Wondering if rear springs from a 2000 srx will fit properly in my 97 Vmax 500xt? I have a chance to buy some cheap and I'm hoping they will be stiffer than my originals. Keep in mind that my XT uses the cam style adjuster, not the threaded kind I'm sure the Srx uses.
Take a look at the springs that are currently in your sled. Measure their “free” length meaning you should take them off the shocks and measure them after they have expanded out fully without being captured by the shock body. Also, look at the coil end-termination points at either end of the springs. Some are machined flat (used on jamb nut adjustment type shocks) while others are not (used on cam adjustment shocks like yours.)
If the spring you are thinking of using is within about ½” of the “free” length of your current spring and has the same coil end-termination then you can swap them out.
Be careful not to use a spring that is more than about a ½” longer than your current spring. If you do you may end up coil-binding the longer spring when it is fully preloaded and you are riding rough terrain. It will also be preloaded to a higher compression load at each cam setting on your shock than your current spring because of the added length which will make for a stiffer ride
(longer spring crammed into the same length or preload setting = higher preload than a short spring because springs are rated at pounds-force (lbf) per lineal inch of travel. You have to compress a longer spring a greater distance to set the preload on a cam adjust style shock).
If the spring you are thinking of using is within about ½” of the “free” length of your current spring and has the same coil end-termination then you can swap them out.
Be careful not to use a spring that is more than about a ½” longer than your current spring. If you do you may end up coil-binding the longer spring when it is fully preloaded and you are riding rough terrain. It will also be preloaded to a higher compression load at each cam setting on your shock than your current spring because of the added length which will make for a stiffer ride
(longer spring crammed into the same length or preload setting = higher preload than a short spring because springs are rated at pounds-force (lbf) per lineal inch of travel. You have to compress a longer spring a greater distance to set the preload on a cam adjust style shock).