[Outdoorsmen]

Reading in the manual about adjusting the suspension. It refers to the shock being movable from the inside to the outside position. Why would I need to move to the outside? Assuming that factory is already positioned on the inside. I understand the cam adjustment stiffens the spring.
I just got my 900 2 days ago. I have noticed the rear tires seem to angle out. Like the inside tread is holding most of the weight and will wear down faster. Would moving the shock to the outside straighten out the tire?

 

[Shadow662]

Moving your shocks to the outside won't change the angle of the tire. Moving the shocks to the outside holes will lift the Ranger maybe a couple of inches. Usually you move them to the out most position for heavy loads. Moving them out increases the stroke of the shock and turning the cam will compress the spring for heavy loads.

 

[pede58]

Moving to the outer holes will also give you less body roll.

 

[Outdoorsmen]

Ok. So the outside sounds beneficial therefore why does it come mounted inside? What benefits are there to the inside mount?

 

[Ironbull]

The inside position gives a more plush ride.

 

[Toxic-21]

Reading in the manual about adjusting the suspension. It refers to the shock being movable from the inside to the outside position. Why would I need to move to the outside? Assuming that factory is already positioned on the inside. I understand the cam adjustment stiffens the spring.
I just got my 900 2 days ago. I have noticed the rear tires seem to angle out. Like the inside tread is holding most of the weight and will wear down faster. Would moving the shock to the outside straighten out the tire?

When you move the shock to the outside, a more vertical position, it changes the leverage position. The unit will feel more stable because the 1:1 ratio ( this is a slight exaggeration on my part to create a visual, for reference) between the shock travel and the wheel travel are the same.
There have been varying posts on the change to the outer holes, that have increased lift, from 0 lift to 1".
The opposite is true for the inside mounting position. You have a more cushy ride on the inside mounting position, basically speaking the wheels arc/vertical travel is more than the shock travel, making for a smoother ride (it's a great selling point).

I have not technically measured it to be precise, but the rear bearing carrier has a few degrees of negative camber designed into it. This helps with stability while cornering as well as ride quality.

Moving the shock to the outer holes will do nothing to adjust the negative camber.

 

[ChrisH]

What would you say gives the most ground clearance and rides the smoothest: outside mounts and no preload or inside mounts and maximum preload?

 

[gunguy]

I moved my fronts to the outside, it was definitely a firmer ride. I put them back to the inside after one ride, but I can see why one might move them.

 

[pede58]

The fronts are a different story, I did not move mine as per recommendation from this site and from what I remember without looking the front top outside mounts are not built as well and can cause failure.

 

[Toxic-21]

What would you say gives the most ground clearance and rides the smoothest: outside mounts and no preload or inside mounts and maximum preload?

I do not have a definitive answer, I have not done any real research or testing on this.

IMO, the answer to your question, would be the latter, Inside mounts and maximum preload.

I do not think maximum preload on the springs with the shocks in the inner position will increase your ride height. Due to the leverage angle of the shock/spring and spring rate. It should still increase ride harshness and stability, but would be very minimal.

 

[Toxic-21]

The fronts are a different story, I did not move mine as per recommendation from this site and from what I remember without looking the front top outside mounts are not built as well and can cause failure.

I have only heard of a couple of cases that the outer shock mounts failed. And these were on 09'-13' 700/800 Ranger XP.
I do not know the circumstances about the failures, so I can not comment.

I would not hesitate to use the outer mounts, the shocks on both of my units are in the outer mounting holes.