[Dacaur]

After you add enough preload to regain your ride height it is going to ride a lot stiffer. Personally if your not going to do a full spring kit in the future I would add tender springs. They will regain ride height and soften the ride most of the time

This is false. If it were true it would go against the laws of physics. You can get a stiffer ride by changing spring rate or shock valving. Obviously adjusting preload does neither of those. All preload does is adjust the ride height. If you measure the spring length with the vehicle at rest, move the preload rings an inch, and then measure again with the vehicle at rest, the spring will be the exact same length at both preload settings.
Now I'll be see if you get crazy and add so much preload that you lose all your down travel you are going to affect the ride, but just getting back that lost 1.5 in will have absolutely no effect on ride quality. It literally cannot, because physics...

 

[Dacaur]

. Another thing you point out is the length of the springs after increasing preload will be the same. This is false.... if say the bottom of your preload ring (where the top of the spring pushes against) and the spring cup (where the bottom of the spring sits in) are 16" apart, then your spring is compressed to a length of 16". Now, if you adjust your preload ring another inch the 2 points are now 15" apart. So there is no way your spring is still 16" because well....math.....So, to the rider the added preload will most definately be felt as a "stiffer" ride. The only way to increase ride height without changing the "feel" is to change the shock mounting positions. Either a lower upper shock mount (typically on the frame of the machine) or raising the height of the lower shock mount (typically on the A arms or trailing arms) hence what is typicly referred to as a "lift kit".

That's the thing you are wrong about. The "at rest" (vehicle weight on the suspension) spring length does not change when adding preload. If it did then yes, you would be correct it would make it ride stiffer, but it simply cannot. Preload is "pre" loading the springs, but once you actually put the weight of the vehicle on it, the amount of preload you have doesn't affect the length of the springs. I challenge you to give it a try. What you are saying makes sense in your head, because you don't really understand how it works. Measure your springs between the preload ring and opposite perch, then add some preload and measure again. Just make sure to fully settle the suspension and move the vehicle before measuring each time. The spring length remains the same, you just have more shock shaft outside the shock.
You should add preload when you add weight because the extra weight compresses the loaded spring farther, reducing ride height. You want to remove the preload when you remove the weight simply because I'd you don't you will have too much ride height, which reduces your available down travel.

 

[Dacaur]

Think about it it raises the vehicle but you're turning the rings down so at the end of compression there is more spring compression therefore more resistance.

Let's think this through. After you add preload, yes, at the end of compression, assuming you don't have so much preload that you get coil bind, you will get to a point where with less preload the shock would have been completely compressed.
Adding preload exposed x inches of extra shock shaft, so you have x inches of extra compression before the shock is completely compressed, so the full force exerted by the springs "at the end of travel" will be more than it was before, but not more than hitting the internal stop in the shock...
Obviously hitting the end of shock travel will give a worse ride than whatever extra travel you get by adding preload.

 

[Dacaur]

I shouldn't have used the word rate, my bad it's force that I'm referring to and how the ride will feel stiffer.

It doesn't matter what you you use, you are wrong. Adding preload to get back to factory ride height does not and physically can not increase ride stiffness.

 

[Dacaur]

You are insane. Go add a inch of preload and tell me you can’t tell a difference in the ride

I have. No difference, when adding preload to get back to stock ride height...🤷

 

[Dacaur]

if factory ride height is 14' and I change the tires to 32" from 29" then would i set my ride height at 15.5" ?

In theory yes, but it depends on the actual height of both, which is unlikely 32" or 29"...
The most accurate way is to set driveshaft angle to 14-15°.

 

[Dacaur]

I assume you mean axle angle and that is very much dependant on the, driving style, terrain, and machine. I've seen setups from -5-6 degrees to 30 degrees, all depends on various factors. Shock up / down travel is a better methodology. Not sure why people are so up up on "X" ride height based on GC, it's irrelevant. Just my 2 cents 🤷‍♂️

If you are asking a question about ride height like this, you are definitely not ready to adjust ride height based on terrain or other factors. Probably best to keep it simple until they actually need or want to take that kind of thing into consideration.....

 

[Dacaur]

So for those riding on 32”. Where are you with ride height? I bought the sxs with 32” on it so I don’t know where is sat stock. I replaced the springs and didn’t measure before replacing. Don’t want to be too low or too high. Looking for a safe sweet spot.

You want 2/3 of your travel up, 1/3 down, so at ride height you will have about 1/3 of your shock shaft showing.
A 14-15° axle angle should get you about that, or jack up the machine off the ground and measure how much shock shaft you have, then set accordingly.