The ryft axle swap is (mostly) complete. Usps is taking their time getting the ssd tubes here, but they are finally moving on the tracking again, so soon.
Anyway, I figured I would share some feedback on the swap that might help others be a little more prepared than I was going in. I had seen a number of posts on fb from apparent vitavon plants showing their spotless rigs pimped with every vitavon part.
It looked like the swap was pretty much a direct bolt in. It wasn't far from that but it did take a number of extra small items that I didn't have on hand, so it took a lot longer than expected.
First up, the link mounts for the ryft are 9.5mm wide. You either need to use ryft rod ends and pivot balls, or you'll need spacers to fill the ~2mm gap in each of the mounts. The ryft pivot balls are also 6.8mm diameter so they won't fit the typical incision or Traxxas ends.
Next, the lower link mounts are very wide (apart) on the housing. If you don't already have angled rod ends on your lower links, you'll probably need them. The ar60 link mounts are 115mm apart (center to center). The ryft is 145mm between the mounts. - Related performance note, the wider position of link mounts on the housing means I'm not getting quite as much steering angle as with the ar60 before the tires are into the lower links. It also adds triangulation (~10°) to the trailing arms.
Moving on, wheels. The normal 6 bolt wheel adapters I use on everything don't fit the ryft axles. The same is true for the stock axial adapters from the bomber. Fitting them on the axle isn't an issue, but the m5 wheel nuts won't fit through the center of the adapters. I chucked the nuts into my drill and turned the flange down until they fit the hole, but then I found the adapters are too thick so you don't get into the nylock on the wheel nuts (not enough thread on the axles). Ssd sells adapters for the ryft that are made thinner to solve this. Just one more thing I had to wait on.
The pinion is larger so you'll have to work that out. I run mip driveshafts so I just ordered a couple mip 18115 hubs for mine.
One last note on the install. Unlike the ar60, the caster angle at the knuckles are not adjustable on the ar14b. I normally ran the pinion angle a little higher, then rotated the c-hubs back to set the caster.
I think that covers installing the axles. For the benefits, the shafts are obviously much beefier, as is the pinion. I like the position of the servo as well, but that can be addressed on the ar60. The axle is wider by ~20mm so I'm able to run the same overall width without wide wheel adapters. The improved scrub radius without spacers will be nice.
Here's a few shots of the completed install
