[bobsousley]

Wanting to upgrade my suspension, most likely to the bandit 46. Here's my scenario...2018 t4, brute performance 2" lift, 14x7 4+3 wheels w/28x10x14 tires. I have preload set where it gives me a 60" wide stance when weight is sprung, since I haul in the back if my long bed pickup(for trailer towing purposes), and the opening is 60".

Question is if I go to bandit 46, either 2.0 or 3, haven't decided yet, would I still achieve this 60" stance with my setup and retain the benefits of the new shocks and the better ride. Not sure how much preload it would require etc.

 

[bobsousley]

Current preload on front is 9 7/8, rear is 10 1/8, not sure what this would translate to with the longer bandits to get to that 60"stance, and if I would have them wound up too tight or what

 

[bobsousley]

Wow, sent off an email to Bandit asking same info and they already responded, even on a Sunday. They tell me the either, but especially the gen 3 will help me achieve my 60" stance, and with the extra length I will be using less preload, andv give me better ground clearance along with a better ride.

Out of stock for another week or so. Then I will be getting some

 

[Barefoot]

Bandit shocks will not work with the Brute performance lift according to another member on here named stormking. The BP lift moves the shock to far in causing to many clearance issues I believe.


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[bobsousley]

I mentioned that I had a bp lift to him and he didn't tell me it wouldn't work. I hope it will, if not I will eliminate it. Installed mainly for the fact it pulled my wheels into the 60" I needed, not so much for the clearance aspect.

 

[bobsousley]

Ask and ye shall receive! Emailed them back to ask, already replied as follows...

Hello Bob
Glad to help. Our Generation 2 will work with all 2 inch lifts. Our Generation 3 and Performance 2.0 are longer and will not work with 2 inch lifts. However you will gain ground clearance with the shocks being longer and have a better ride quality since the longer length shocks will be at oe geometry. I hope this helps.
Thanks

 

[Barefoot]

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...orums.net/showthread.php?t=69709&share_type=t


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[Barefoot]

If they work definitely let us know. I’m running the BP lift too and I would like to know. Think the other guy had gen 3 bandits and was trying them with the BP lift.


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[Stormking]

Yes I have the gen 3. No they don't really work. Plus it over extends axles and arms with a lift. The bandits give ya the lift height on their own. I am still adjusting preload but it was over an inch lift with preload set low. I am at 13"front back as of now but need more preload and shocks will settle some over time. They are amazing . Front is getting close but rear toooo soft still. Removed sway bar so front needs a little more comp and spring but is better. Best $ ya can spend on trex is shocks. Then windshields and such.

 

[bobsousley]

I am kind of leaning gen 2 after emailing back and forth with them. I can keep the lift installed, achieve the 60" width I need with less preload. They thought I probably could achieve it with gen 3 with no lift, but he wasn't 100 percent sure. Plus one less thing for me to screw up proper adjustment on. Said I am the first person in his years of doing suspension to ask about staying narrow! Everyone wants to be wider and run spacers. One of the main reasons I purchased this machine last month was I could have a four seater fit in the back of my truck, with my other atv in my trailer(outback 310tb can fit one quad), and my family of 5 would all be riding together, with 2 rigs in case one broke, when not riding with other buddies. So wasn't many options, felt teryx was the best. Do want to make it the best machine for what we do. Have ridden two weekend now, about 100 miles worth, by the time 2nd ride was over, suspension was on the list of things to do.

 

[bobsousley]

I'll tell you what guys, those people at bandit are great to work with. They will talk you through the differences in models, pro's or con's of one vs the other, and really try to get you the proper shock for your needs, not just sell you whatever costs the most. After speaking with them this morning, I ordered up the Gen 2's. Already have my shipping notice from them not 15 minutes later. While the gen 3 are certainly a "better" shock, it's not necessarily what I needed unless I am trying to keep up with canams and rzr's flying thru the whoops he tell me. For trails and more technical stuff, and some faster driving on the bumps, gen 2 is going to fit the need. I know many have spent hours on many different threads trying to make sense suspension components, and of all the different shocks available, and let me tell you, just pick up the phone and call those guys. They'll talk you thru it. He was not only telling me about his product, but also why it differs from some of his other competitors products, and never pushing me toward something, just informing me so I could make the right decision for me. We'll see how well I chose this weekend hopefully.

 

[6.2Blazer]

I had a similar experience recently with them also. The guy spent 30 minutes with me on the phone discussing the different options and the pros and cons of each.

Just to follow up on some of the above comments. The Gen 3 and Performance 2.0 versions are longer shocks as compared to the Gen 2. Using any type of lift brackets with the longer shocks will allow the suspension to over droop and bind up well before the shocks run out of travel. I tried mocking up my Performance 2.0 on the front with Highlifter brackets and would of had to compress the shock probably an inch just to get it to bolt in. With no lift brackets the shocks are just about the perfect length as you have to push the arms up about 1/2" away from binding to get them bolted up. You can easily get 2" of lift out of them with no brackets and the proper preload.

 

[bobsousley]

Ugg, was supposed to get my new shocks tomorrow, just got the severe weather delay notice. And of course that means monday, not saturday since its ups ground. So disappointed. How did we survive before amazon prime? Ordered them monday and they're not here yet? what gives?

 

[Stormking]

I asked Bandit for advise or a recommended preload setting. I got the nicest reply telling me everyone is diferent, so have fun, basically. Rather disappointing response. I measure 12.5" clearance under centers of frame as of now. So about 1-1.5" added clearance. Back is .5" higher.

 

[Banditone]

We do not have a recommendation for preload settings. Our shocks are shipped out with zero preload on the springs. This is a starting point and common. Preload can vary depending on how you drive to weight added etc. It is covered in depth on our frequently asked questions page of our website.

 

[Stormking]

We do not have a recommendation for preload settings. Our shocks are shipped out with zero preload on the springs. This is a starting point and common. Preload can vary depending on how you drive to weight added etc. It is covered in depth on our frequently asked questions page of our website.

Yes correct. I read that before purchase. Bandits are great and I am very happy. BUT Spring rate weight of machine etc. calcs vs sag etc is complicated stuff and a starting point would be helpful for us non-suspension gurus. Should I have 6" of suspension up travel or 6" down travel? Dunno. I read the Fox suspension page to get a rough idea and some help. Maybe an update with real info would be helpful?? They are great shocks but challenging to dial in for newbies. I think its something like this; Teryx 1650lb so about 400lbs per wheel. 375lb spring equals 1" preload is 375lb compression on spring? but 2" preload is 700lbs spring force? Or does it just lengthen stroke and make it harder to bottom out shock as it compresses spring inch by inch adding 375lb each inch compressed? I think that's it as I have 1" shock shaft exposed when utv is in a 3 wheel leaning compressed action? Which tells me preload might be too strong and not getting full suspension travel. But it handles better at higher speeds. I get it I think. Complicated stuff. For the record Bandit has been great with everything, not bashing, just would like a little more info/tutorial web instructions..

 

[bobsousley]

I received my Bandit gen 2's today. Went with the gen 2's partly because I could keep the 2" lift, however, I was not able to do that. Well, on the back at least, I needed to compress the shock at least a half inch to make the connection, and apparently I am not that tough. I was able to make it work with the front, no sweat, bolted right up. With pre-load currently at ZERO I am 12" front and 12" back clearance, measured at center point of front/rear tires. With lift on and oem shocks, I was 12.5 front and 13.5 rear. I am running 28" tires. I will keep the front brackets installed and use them as a leveling kit. I haven't driven on them much yet, down and back in my driveway, to allow the springs to sag for measurements. Compression is currently set as they arrive, which is one click above full soft I believe. That was one smooth trip down the driveway and back!! I played hooky from work to install them, and then hurried back, so tonight I will dial in some pre-load, and go for a better test ride, but wont really know til this weekend, just how great it will be. I will pre-load to the point I am 60"ish wide, so I can squeeze thru my tailgate opening in my truck, don't think it will require to much to accomplish, which should leave for a pretty lush ride. I will report back with more significant ride data, but I can already tell this was $$ well spent!

 

[bobsousley]

Another thing I learned... if you are going to go with the limit straps, which I am, you will need to have some new bolts and some washers on hand, or tighten the nut to mount the shock, add the limit strap, and then another nut, as the strap mounting point do not form around the ends of the shocks. An extra 3/4" long bolt should suffice. Hopefully this saves someone an extra trip to the store.

 

[Stormking]

Awesome. I am still playing with my settings. I have compr set about middle, 8 clicks or so, rebound slightly on slow side and more preload on front than rear. About 1" f and 3/4" rear. Ride height is 12.5 f 13"rear measuring under skids not a-arms. No swaybar. 26" tire. I have been loading people to measure. Articulating to check for compression travel as I don't want it so stiff that it doesn't fully compress shock when needed. Its great to hear others endeavor to adjust! Helpful for me. I have found compression is the adjustment most helpful when cornering. With no sway I need to insure reasonable corner ability w/o excessive roll. I wanted to have around 13.5-14.5" clearance so after a tire upgrade I should be able to get 14" with bandits. I will note I have a problem after just few miles. The black rubber o ring on top front shock bearing mount is failed and falling off?? What? Dunno I need to contact Bandit as I don't think I over tightened bolt?

 

[Stormking]

Thanks for the info/reply on o ring Bandit. Stellar service.