Why is My Polaris Sportsman ATV Squeaking So Much?

Squeaking noises from an ATV when it bounces up and down are normal, but what happens if those noises have gotten really bad on not one, but both of your Polaris Sportsman ATVs?

Partzilla’s Polaris ATV expert John Talley livestreams Q&A sessions on our YouTube channel every Friday at 3pm Eastern. In this session, John was asked why both of a viewer’s 2013 Polaris Sportsman 500 units are squeaking really bad when they bounce up and down.

Polaris Sportsman ATV Squeaking Loud Q&A

I have two 2013 Polaris Sportsman 500 ATVs and they both squeak really bad when you bounce them up and down. Is it just a matter of buying a motion kit for the moving parts?

John Talley: If it’s just squeaking, well on all of the Polaris units on the control arms you should be able to find the zerk fittings. They’re those little nipples that stick out on the pivot points, and they’re there so you can re-grease them without having to take it apart. Now, if yours are worn to the point that the front end or rear end is feeling a little bit loose, then yeah, you need to replace the bushings. And I believe they’re plastic on the outside and they have a metal inner collar, and that’s the part that it pivots on. So you may have to replace those. It depends on how worn out yours are. 2013, yeah it’s 10 years old so it could be time. I don’t know, but I would certainly try just re-zerking them or re-greasing them to see if that straightens it out. Maintenance man, maintenance ends up saving you in the long run. 

Watch the video below to see how to grease the zerk fittings on a Polaris Sportsman ATV.

Watch the video below to see how to replace the lower ball joints and bushings on a Polaris Sportsman ATV.

Watch the video below to see how to change the front CV boots on a Polaris Sportsman ATV.

Want to see more live repair questions answered? See more motorcycle and ATV repair questions answered here.