Suspension; Shock Absorbers - Tracker Off-Road 800SX Service Manual

Suspension

The following suspension system components should be
inspected periodically to ensure proper operation:
A. Shock absorber rods bent, pitted, or damaged.
B. Rubber damper cracked, broken, or missing.
C. Shock absorber body damaged, punctured, or
leaking.
D. Shock absorber eyelets broken, bent, or cracked.
E. Shock absorber eyelet bushings worn, deterio-
rated, cracked, or missing.
F. Shock absorber spring broken or sagging.
G. Sway bar mountings tight and bushings secure.
SPECIAL TOOL
A special tool must be available to the technician when
performing service procedures in this section. Refer to
the current Special Tools Catalog for the appropriate tool
description.
 NOTE: When indicated for use, each special tool
will be identified by its specific name, as shown in the
chart below, and capitalized.
Description
Shock Spring Spanner Wrench
 NOTE: Special tools are available from the Service
Department.

Shock Absorbers

Each shock absorber should be visibly checked weekly
for excessive fluid leakage (some seal leakage may be
observed but it does not indicate the shock is in need of
replacement), cracks or breaks in the lower case, or a
bent shock rod. If any one of these conditions is detected,
replacement is necessary.
NOTE: When the vehicle is operated in extremely

cold weather (-23° C/-10° F or colder), a small amount
of leakage may be present. Unless the leakage is exces-
sive, replacement is not necessary.
This vehicle is equipped with adjustable shock assem-
blies in the front and rear to allow for different driving
and loading conditions.
The front shock absorbers have an adjustment sleeve
with five preload adjustment positions that can be turned
with the spanner wrench to increase or decrease coil
spring tension.
 NOTE: The softest setting is as shown.
MOD186
NOTE: Before attempting to adjust suspension,

clean dirt and debris from the sleeve and remove load
from the suspension; then use the spanner wrench to
adjust the sleeve to the desired position.
To adjust the spring force on these shock absorbers,
rotate the preload adjustment sleeve with a suitable span-
ner wrench until desired spring tension is achieved.
Position
1
2
3
4
5
p/n
3441-139
MOD178
MOD179
Spring Force Setting
Soft
Stronger
Stiff
Load
Light
Heavy
177