Not necessarily. One of the most common ATV suspension mistakes is assuming that wider A-arms automatically require longer shocks.
Extended width and shock length are different measurements
A +2 or +3 A-arm tells you how much wider the front end becomes. It does not tell you the required shock length. Some extended A-arms are designed for stock-length shocks, while others use altered shock mounts and require a specific longer shock.
When stock-length shocks can still be correct
If the A-arm was designed as a standard-travel system, the original shock length or a direct replacement shock may still be the correct choice even though the front end is wider.
When you need a different shock
You need a different shock when the A-arm's shock mounting location and geometry were designed around a different eye-to-eye length or stroke. This is common with true long-travel systems and some conversion setups.
One FullFlight example is the Banshee configuration designed to use 15.75-inch YFZ450 shocks. That is a specific setup and should not be applied to every extended A-arm combination.
Before ordering shocks, verify four things
1. ATV year and model.
2. Exact A-arm model and width.
3. Whether the arms are standard travel or long travel.
4. Required eye-to-eye shock length and mounting style.
Bottom line
Do not order longer shocks just because the A-arms are wider. Match the shock to the actual A-arm geometry.
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