2017 500ho. Only have 100 miles on it so far. Anyone else have problems with sagging of the rear shocks? The entire time I ride with the wife the rear sags terrible, and stays like that untill I physically lift the back end of the machine back to ride height. So i adjusted the shocks to the stiffest setting and still have the same problem. Dealer says this is normal, but I do not see any other atv with this problem.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I have had my suspension bushings seize-up so bad that it would not only make it hard for them to go down but to also rebound back up without help...and this was all when it was under 200 miles old. Might check them. Might also check that your rebound setting on the shocks are not all the way to the slow side. That close the valve and they won't extend back out once collapsed without help. Set them midway - two clicks(to the slow side). 

Is this a 2 up ATV?

NWK, I don't think the 500 ATV's have adjustable rebound & compression. Just preload on the spring's, the 800 ATV has fancy shock's.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

Is this a 2 up ATV?

NWK, I don't think the 500 ATV's have adjustable rebound & compression. Just preload on the spring's, the 800 ATV has fancy shock's.

Well..that sucks...lol

The bushings are a must check. Sometimes the rear shocks aren't up to the challenge. Take a good look for leaking. Any oil on them might be a sign you blew a seal.

Take a good look for leaking. Any oil on them might be a sign you blew a seal.

Shocks don't hold the ATV up, they control the spring. Good idea to check them though  sag is spring related......unless rebound of the shock is slowing the recoil of the spring....that's what NWK was getting at.

Bushings often wear by first getting tight, then getting sloppy loose. If you jump in the back end when the machine is parked and it stays down, your bushings are going south and probably the king pins too.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

As I replace my ...still OK factory bushings for the upgraded ASRs and new sleeves...even though there is no seizing on the bushings and they spring right back up when depressed, over time I have noticed that to maintain the same ground clearance on the rear, I have has to increase the preload three times now over the last 1000 miles. But not the front.  I have not added any weight sense the last time and it has dropped almost 1/2". So..I am assuming the springs are weakening as time goes on. I'm going to use that as my excuse to get my Stage 3 Elkas...

Is this a 2 up ATV?

NWK, I don't think the 500 ATV's have adjustable rebound & compression. Just preload on the spring's, the 800 ATV has fancy shock's.

Well..that sucks...lol

I have the 2016 500ho and I can confirm it doesn't have the adjustable shocks, just the preload.

I will say when it was new I noticed that it didn't have any grease in it where the swing arm bolts or the hub. If these pivot points aren't greased regular it could bind and cause the described problem. I've also noticed that the grease gets pounded out fairly easily. So I re- grease after every washing or at least every 50 miles.