Heavy front springs, finally!

RealtreeRTV

RealtreeRTV

Member
I bought my rig a few years ago. It has a dealer installed cab and curtis snowplow. But they left the front springs original (white dot.)

I finally got around to buying and installing the red dot heavy front springs.
Huge difference, I'm really happy with them. I wish I would have measured ride height before but I didn't think of it.
I do know I had to lengthen the plow lift chain several inches.

Does anyone know if this will affect toe-in adjustment?
I haven't checked it yet.
 
Realtree....I've had a set of the HD springs sitting on the shelf for quite a while and once the snow season is safely behind me I think I'll finally get around to installing them. Was the swap difficult and any tips that might help would be appreciated..
 
It wasn't too bad but a little more than I thought it would be. (3 hours plus for me)

The tie rod has to be removed and then instead of popping the lower ball joint loose, I took the lower control arm loose from the frame (2 bolts). Be careful not to let the CV shaft over extend.

I would recommend getting a spring compressor though. (definitely would have made the job faster) I did it without one by using 4 hd gear type hose clamps to compress coil springs and a cordless drill with 5/16" socket. It worked great for removing the light springs but was a little tougher compressing the heavy ones. As a former heavy equipment mechanic I shook my head at myself but didn't feel it was unsafe.:pat:

My only screw-up was that I nicked the boot on one of the tie rod end boots somehow and put a cut in it. I should have wrapped it in a rag.

I highly recommend the HD springs but get a spring compressor or take the strut assemblies to someone who will swap the springs out for you.
The only other option would be buying the HD strut assemblies if you thought you might want to swap back and forth or just too make the job easier.
Even though I'll be removing the plow soon :wink:, the cab and heavy windshield will stay on and from what I hear that is enough to call for the HD springs.
Hope this helps!
JEFF

For you plow pushers who don't know it, Fluid Film works great for keeping snow from sticking to your plow and rolling off much easier. I just did this
this season and I swear by it.
 
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This is an interesting thread for me. When I ordered my X900 I asked for the HD spring option with the anticipation that I would be adding a plow. The salesman called and said that the front suspension was stiff enough when adjusted to the stiffest setting and that I didn't have to spend the $99. I took his word for it, but now I regret taking his advice - especially after reading this posting. I've got a call in to the salesman and he is checking on this for me. I now have a Boss V-plow and the front end seems to be challenged more than it should. The plow does not set correctly when down and I could not get the undercarriage to the 17" height recommended by Boss. I suspect that the stiffer suspension will push the front end up the 3/4 inch that it is presently lower than the 17" height.
 
It sure would be worth checking into. Does your suspension bottom out? Mine would, especially when carrying the plow.

My 900 is a 2008, so it doesn't have the adjustable suspension like the newer
X series. Hopefully someone will chime in with more info regarding the X rigs.
 
When I changed the springs on a 2008 900, I used 1" wide rachet straps, with two on the coils on opposite sides.
Compressed the old ones then removed the retainer.
Compressing the new ones in the same locations, straps on the coils, so I could remove the straps once the coils were installed. Otherwise the strap gets caught up in between the coil and shock body.
If I remember right the straps where on the most number of coils I could get to without prying or moving the spring around. In other words on the open/free coils, not at the very top and bottom.

Good Luck. And yes a good spring compressor would be allot safer.
 
I was going to do it the same as you did but the hardware of my straps were a little too long.

But yes, a spring compressor is the way to go.
 
If one is afraid of the coil change then the whole heavy duty strut/coil assembly is available. When I put the cab on my 2004, I opted to replace the whole assembly. Not because I'm afraid of changing the coils but my struts were the originals that came with the machine. I decided that the extra $150 (give or take) was worth it to have new struts as well as the heavy duty coils.

I can't say how much it raised the front end but I do know that when I raise the plow (Curtis 72")there is very little squat compared to the OEM setup.

Bob
 
To my knowledge the rtvx1100 comes with the heavy duty springs due to the weight of the cab. They too are adjustable with three settings to choose from.
IMG_0134.jpg
 
RealtreeRTV said:
It sure would be worth checking into. Does your suspension bottom out? Mine would, especially when carrying the plow.

My 900 is a 2008, so it doesn't have the adjustable suspension like the newer
X series. Hopefully someone will chime in with more info regarding the X rigs.
Click to expand...

My machine does not bottom out with the plow on it and raised, but it does seem to dip forward more than I think it should. I appreciate the salesman trying to save me money, but I think he was a bit too quick to assume that the adjustable suspension could handle it.
 
BiffNH,
I have the x900 with the boss vplow. I did have the heavy springs and struts installed when I purchased my vehicle. The adjustment on the springs raised mine about 2 inches which really made a difference on the vplow.
 
Thanks for the confirmation. I thought that this would be the case. I just wish I hadn't let the salesman talk me into "saving" the $99! I will make the move this spring to get the HD springs.
 
My 1100 2009 model had the factory HD springs already installed, a necessity with the heavy cab.

Huge difference when I had put the cab on my 900 2008 with and without the HD springs.

Nice to hear the new X models have adjustments, long over due.

IMHO, if you are running a cab or plow (add-ons) you need HD springs.
 
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