You’re out on the trail, enjoying the ride, when you hear it. That dreaded, rhythmic click-click-click coming from one of your wheels, especially when you turn. Your heart sinks a little. A mysterious noise is the last thing any rider wants to deal with, but don’t park your rig just yet.
We’ve all been there. That sound is one of the most common issues riders face, and the good news is, you can often diagnose it yourself with a few basic tools and a little know-how. We promise this guide will empower you to pinpoint that annoying polaris sportsman 850 clicking noise and understand exactly what it takes to fix it.
In this comprehensive guide from the crew at FatBoysOffroad, we’ll break down the most common culprits, walk you through a step-by-step inspection process, and help you decide if it’s a DIY job or time to call in a pro. Let’s get that machine quiet and reliable again.
First Things First: Safety and Basic Checks
Before you grab a single wrench, let’s talk safety. Working on an ATV can be dangerous if you don’t take the right precautions. Never work under a machine supported only by a jack.
Your first step is to create a safe and stable work environment. Here’s how:
- Find a Level Surface: Park your Sportsman 850 on flat, solid ground like a concrete garage floor. Avoid dirt or grass, which can be unstable.
- Secure the ATV: Put the transmission in park and set the parking brake. For extra security, chock the wheels on the opposite end of the machine from where you’ll be working.
- Lift Safely: Use a quality floor jack or ATV lift to raise the corner of the machine you suspect the noise is coming from. Place a sturdy jack stand directly under the frame or a solid suspension component. Gently lower the ATV onto the stand.
With the machine safely secured, do a quick visual inspection. Look for anything obviously out of place—a torn rubber boot, a loose bolt, or a stick jammed in the suspension. Sometimes the fix is that simple!
The Usual Suspects: Diagnosing Your Polaris Sportsman 850 Clicking Noise
That clicking sound is a classic symptom of a few specific parts wearing out. These are the most common problems with polaris sportsman 850 clicking noise, and we’ll start with the number one offender. This section serves as your initial diagnostic guide.
H3: Constant Velocity (CV) Joints: The #1 Culprit
More often than not, that clicking noise, especially when turning, is a failing CV joint. Your axles have an inner and outer CV joint, which allows the axle to flex with the suspension and steering while still delivering power to the wheels.
These joints are packed with special grease and protected by a flexible rubber or neoprene boot. When that boot tears, dirt and water get in, contaminating the grease. This grit acts like sandpaper, quickly destroying the precision-machined internals of the joint, leading to that tell-tale click.
How to Check: Get a flashlight and carefully inspect all four CV boots (inner and outer on both front axles). Look for rips, tears, or pinholes. A tell-tale sign of a torn boot is black grease slung all over the inside of your wheel, A-arms, and brake components.
H3: Wheel Bearings: The Grinding, Clicking Accomplice
A bad wheel bearing is another prime suspect. While a worn bearing often starts as a grinding or humming noise that gets louder with speed, it can definitely produce a clicking sound in its later stages of failure.
The bearing allows your wheel to spin freely with minimal friction. Like a CV joint, it’s a sealed unit that can be compromised by water and mud, leading to corrosion and wear.
How to Check: With the wheel safely off the ground, grab the tire at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions. Try to rock it back and forth. Now, grab it at 3 and 9 o’clock and do the same. If you feel any significant play, clunking, or looseness, you likely have a bad wheel bearing.
H3: Brake System Clicks: Don’t Overlook the Simple Stuff
Sometimes, the problem is simpler than a major drivetrain component. Your brake system can also be a source of clicking noises. This is often a sharper, more metallic click.
Possible causes include a small rock or debris caught between the brake pad and rotor, a loose brake caliper bolt, or a worn-out pad that’s shifting in the caliper. It’s one of the easier things to check and provides great peace of mind.
How to Check: With the wheel removed, visually inspect the brake caliper and rotor. Look for scoring on the rotor surface and check the thickness of your brake pads. Ensure the caliper mounting bolts are tight.
H3: Drivetrain and U-Joints: Deeper Driveline Noises
If the CV joints, bearings, and brakes all check out, the noise might be coming from further down the driveline. Your front and rear driveshafts have universal joints (U-joints) that can wear out and cause a clicking or clunking noise, especially when shifting between forward and reverse or getting on and off the throttle.
How to Check: Safely get under your machine and grab the driveshafts. Try to twist them back and forth and push them up and down. Any noticeable play or clunking in the U-joint yokes indicates a problem.
Essential Tools for the Job
Having the right tools makes any diagnostic job easier and safer. You don’t need a professional shop, but a solid set of basic tools is a must for any DIYer.
- Safety Gear: Always wear safety glasses and mechanic’s gloves.
- Jack and Jack Stands: A non-negotiable for lifting your machine safely.
- Socket and Wrench Set: A good metric set will handle most fasteners on your Polaris.
- Torque Wrench: Critical for properly tightening wheel lug nuts and other important bolts.
- Pry Bar: Useful for checking for play in suspension components.
- Flashlight or Headlamp: You can’t fix what you can’t see.
- Rubber Mallet: For persuading parts to cooperate without damaging them.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Inspect Your CV Axles
Since the CV axle is the most likely source of your problem, let’s create a detailed polaris sportsman 850 clicking noise guide for inspecting it. This is how to confirm your diagnosis before you order parts.
- Secure the Machine: Follow the safety steps outlined earlier. Ensure the ATV is stable on jack stands with the suspect wheel off the ground.
- Remove the Wheel: Use the appropriate socket to remove the lug nuts and take the wheel off. This gives you a clear view of the entire suspension and axle assembly.
- Inspect the CV Boots: This is your first and most important check. Slowly rotate the axle by hand and carefully inspect the entire surface of both the inner and outer boots. Squeeze the boots and look for small cracks or splits in the rubber folds. Any sign of flung grease is a dead giveaway of a tear.
- Check for Axle Play (The Wiggle Test): Grab the axle shaft firmly with both hands. Try to push it in and out (towards the differential and towards the wheel). A very small amount of in-and-out play is normal. Now, try to move it up-and-down and side-to-side. There should be almost no play in these directions. Excessive looseness points to a worn-out joint.
- Listen Closely: With the ATV still in neutral, slowly spin the wheel hub by hand. Listen for any grinding, popping, or clicking sounds. A healthy axle and bearing will be nearly silent. A bad CV joint will often “pop” or “click” as you rotate it past the worn spot.
If you find a torn boot or excessive play, you’ve found your culprit. The benefits of addressing that polaris sportsman 850 clicking noise early are huge—you prevent a potential trail-ending breakdown and avoid causing damage to other components.
When to Fix It vs. When to Call a Pro
So you’ve found the problem. Now what? This is where an honest self-assessment is key. Following polaris sportsman 850 clicking noise best practices means knowing your limits.
Good DIY Projects:
- Complete CV Axle Replacement: For a moderately skilled DIYer, replacing the entire axle shaft is often easier and more reliable than just replacing a boot or joint. It typically involves removing the wheel hub nut, brake caliper, and popping the ball joints.
- Wheel Bearing Replacement: This can be a bit more involved as it often requires a press or special tools to remove the old bearing and install the new one. However, many DIYers tackle this successfully.
Consider Calling a Pro If:
- You don’t have the required tools (especially a torque wrench or bearing press).
- You’re not comfortable taking apart major suspension components like ball joints.
- The problem is deeper in the drivetrain, like in the differential or transmission.
- You simply don’t have the time or space to do the job safely.
There’s no shame in calling for backup. A good mechanic can get the job done quickly and correctly, giving you peace of mind on your next ride.
Pro Tips for Prevention: A Sustainable Maintenance Approach
The best fix is the one you never have to make. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way. Think of this as a sustainable polaris sportsman 850 clicking noise prevention plan—it sustains the life of your parts and prevents wasteful replacements.
This polaris sportsman 850 clicking noise care guide is all about being proactive:
- Regular Inspections: Every time you wash your machine, take two minutes to glance over the CV boots. Catching a tear early allows you to simply clean and reboot the joint, saving the axle and your wallet.
- Ride Smart: While the Sportsman 850 is a beast, try to avoid unnecessarily harsh impacts or landing on the throttle with the wheels turned at a sharp angle. This puts extreme stress on the CV joints.
- Use Quality Parts: When it’s time for a replacement, don’t cheap out. OEM or high-quality aftermarket axles and bearings are designed to handle the abuse of off-roading.
An eco-friendly approach isn’t just about emissions; an eco-friendly polaris sportsman 850 clicking noise solution means extending the life of your components through good care, reducing the amount of old parts that end up in a landfill.
Frequently Asked Questions About Polaris Sportsman 850 Clicking Noises
Is it safe to ride my Sportsman 850 with a clicking CV joint?
It’s not recommended for long. While it might get you back to the truck, a clicking CV joint is severely weakened. If it fails completely on the trail, you will lose power to that wheel and could potentially be stranded. A complete failure can also cause the axle to break apart, potentially damaging other components like brake lines or suspension parts.
How much does it cost to replace a CV axle on a Sportsman 850?
Costs vary widely. If you do it yourself, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $250 for a quality aftermarket axle. If you take it to a shop, you’ll need to add labor costs, which could be another $150 to $300 depending on their hourly rate.
Can I just replace the CV boot instead of the whole axle?
You can, but only if you catch the tear immediately before any dirt or water has contaminated the joint. If the joint has been clicking for any length of time, the damage is already done. At that point, replacing the boot is just putting a bandage on a problem that needs surgery. It’s often more time-effective to replace the entire axle assembly.
Does the clicking noise get worse in 4WD?
Yes, if the problem is in one of the front CV axles, the noise will almost always be more pronounced when 4WD is engaged. This is because the front axles are under load and are actively transferring power from the drivetrain to the wheels.
Tackling that clicking noise on your Polaris Sportsman 850 is a totally achievable goal. By following these steps, you can confidently diagnose the issue and make an informed decision on the repair. Taking the time to understand your machine not only saves you money but also makes you a smarter, more capable rider.
So grab your tools, put on some music, and get to work. The satisfaction of solving the problem yourself is almost as good as the sweet sound of a quiet, click-free ride on the trail. Stay safe, and happy wrenching!
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