They come with too much preload most often which makes for a stiff ride. Ideally, fully loaded, you want the preload to be set where the wheel end of the axle is center of its travel from fully extended to fully collapsed. Having equal distances of travel in both directions we can call that 50/50. Now you can still add a little more preload so the body is lifted a little more..say 10% more. We can call that 60/40 as you now have 60% of the travel for compression and 40% for rebound or extension. And more and you are back to the milk crate on a buckboard wagon. Visually, the lower a-arms will be straight to a slight downward angle toward the wheels. Now, measure between the ground and the very back of the flat part of the skid plate in the center. Now go to the front of the skid plate. Remember this all has to be done with all the normal load you will be carrying. That front number needs to be the same, level, to 1" lower. No more. Set the front preloads to make that happen. Now lets set the compression and rebounds on the shocks. Set all compressions, that's the upper knobs to full Fast, then 1-2 clicks to ward the slow. Start with 1. If it feels a little stuff, go full fast. If it feels a little mushy, try one click at a time toward the slow. As I recall the trails don't have compression adjustments on the back so- Now for the rebounds. set them all the way to the slow then open the valve, or set toward the fast 1-3 clicks. Its' likely you won't need to do any more with these. Set all the same. This is the best you are going to get out of the CFM shocks. The Bandit springs are heaven...night and day, but nothing compares to a full set of Elkas or Bandit shocks. It will make a different machine out of your trail.