Why Your Polaris RZR Needs a Dual Rate Spring Kit

If you've ever felt your Polaris RZR bottoming out on big hits, wallowing through whoops, or riding harshly over embedded rocks, the factory spring setup is almost certainly part of the problem. Polaris designs their factory springs to work for the widest possible range of riders — light riders, heavy riders, loaded and unloaded. The result is a compromise that works adequately for everyone but optimally for no one.

A dual rate spring kit changes that entirely. Here's everything you need to know before you buy.

What Is a Dual Rate Spring Kit?

A dual rate spring system replaces the single factory spring on each shock with two springs — a lighter tender spring and a heavier main spring — separated by a spring separator and crossover collar. Here's how it works:

Early in the shock stroke, both the tender spring and the main spring compress together, giving a soft, compliant initial feel that soaks up small bumps, rocks, and trail chatter. As the shock compresses further and the spring separator contacts the crossover collar, the tender spring becomes inactive and only the stiffer main spring continues to compress. This provides dramatically increased bottom-out resistance for big hits, jumps, and whoops.

The result is a suspension that feels plush and comfortable at low speeds on rough terrain but firm and controlled under hard charging — something a single spring rate can never achieve.

What to Look for in a Polaris RZR Spring Kit

Correct Spring Rates for Your Model

Spring rates are not one-size-fits-all. The correct spring rates for a Polaris Pro R are completely different from the correct rates for a Polaris RZR XP1000 or Turbo R. Each platform has different shock stroke length, shock travel, geometry, and weight distribution. A spring kit designed for the wrong platform will either be too soft or too stiff regardless of the dual rate design.

At Schmidty Racing Suspensions, every spring kit is engineered specifically for each vehicle model — not a generic kit adapted to fit multiple platforms.

Spring Quality

Not all springs are created equal. Cheap springs sag, lose rate over time, and can break under hard use. Quality springs maintain their rate over thousands of miles of hard riding and don't require excessive preload to maintain correct ride height.

This is exactly why Schmidty Racing Suspensions backs every spring kit with a lifetime warranty — because we're confident in the quality of springs we use. We encourage you to ask any competitor what springs they're using in their kits.

Crossover Collar Design

The crossover collar is the key component that controls where in the shock stroke the dual rate transition occurs. The position of the crossover collar determines how much of the stroke is "soft" and how much is "firm." Schmidty Racing's spring kits use factory crossover collars designed specifically for each platform's shock geometry.

Preload Requirements

Some spring kits require excessive preload to achieve correct ride height — which accelerates shock seal wear and creates a harsher ride. Quality spring kits should achieve correct ride height at minimal preload settings.

Polaris RZR Models We Cover

Schmidty Racing Suspensions offers dual rate spring kits for all major Polaris RZR platforms including:

• Polaris Pro R — Fox Dynamix and Walker Evans
• Polaris Turbo R and Pro S
• Polaris RZR XP1000 and XP Turbo
• Polaris RS1

What Results Can You Expect?

Riders who upgrade to Schmidty Racing dual rate spring kits consistently report:

• Regained lost ride height from sagging OEM springs
• Dramatically reduced trail chatter and small bump harshness
• Significantly improved bottom-out resistance on big hits
• Better high-speed stability and control
• More confidence in technical terrain

Ready to Upgrade Your Polaris RZR Suspension?

Browse our complete selection of Polaris RZR suspension upgrades or contact Schmidty Racing Suspensions at (602) 920-1337 to talk through the right spring kit for your specific machine, weight, and riding style. Every spring kit ships with a lifetime warranty and installation instructions.