Not 100% sure Jato as these are on a 2nd hand new-to-me built rig but looks like the stock springs to me.
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leaky shocks
- Thread starter dirtslow
- Start date
Not 100% sure Jato as these are on a 2nd hand new-to-me built rig but looks like the stock springs to me.
I've owned a few sets. Three? on TRX-4s and one set of takeoffs. I remember one set had some leaks but the others were solid.Get Traxxas GTS take-off shocks on eBay. You can get all 4 for under $60. I'd take those over any of the others you mentioned. Priceys look cool and are scale, but I can't see them performing well and the feedback on the FB groups seems to back that up. Proline scale shocks seem to be notoriously leaky. That's a shame since their big bore monster truck shocks are awesome. The other brands are just unproven. Ottsix is owned by a clown so there's that too.
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89Industries
Pebble Pounder
I felt like the Traxxas GTS shocks had a much better fit of the piston to the bore than others. Can certainly feel it in increased damping vs other shocks using same weight oil and same size orifice in the piston. Could be other variables I didn't notice though. But certainly more blow by than more sophisticated shocks in bigger vehicles.
You asked JimrC (more data points better right?), but I'm running the VP springs that came with the phoenix kit on gts shocks on my vs4-10 phoenix straight axle. And I'm running the axial springs that came in the scx10iii builders kit on the GTS shocks on the scx10iii builders kit.
Spring id's and lengths are all close enough that I've found axial, element, vp and Traxxas crawler springs are interchangeable, excluding the Traxxas big bore shocks or the oe shocks that came on bombers. And spring rate should be determined by weight of vehicle and since mine aren't too far off intended build weights of the stock vehicle, stock springs work well.
I do have a box full of different rates in case needed. I don't worry about brand, just the spring rate needed. Which is why it's annoying that vp don't know or won't tell me the rates in their spring kit.
You asked JimrC (more data points better right?), but I'm running the VP springs that came with the phoenix kit on gts shocks on my vs4-10 phoenix straight axle. And I'm running the axial springs that came in the scx10iii builders kit on the GTS shocks on the scx10iii builders kit.
Spring id's and lengths are all close enough that I've found axial, element, vp and Traxxas crawler springs are interchangeable, excluding the Traxxas big bore shocks or the oe shocks that came on bombers. And spring rate should be determined by weight of vehicle and since mine aren't too far off intended build weights of the stock vehicle, stock springs work well.
I do have a box full of different rates in case needed. I don't worry about brand, just the spring rate needed. Which is why it's annoying that vp don't know or won't tell me the rates in their spring kit.
Yes, coatings matter! TiN coatings help a ton to remove "stiction" in shocks. Chrome is more durable but has a higher stiction rating.
And yeah, when we're talking about machining at our scale. You either need super precise and more expensive tooling, or you need looser tolerances. It's easier to deal with imperfections in the piston if the tolerances are looser.
In the Racing scene, I've seen people go as far as weighing out pistons, measuring for roundness, and validating diameters with micrometers. Some of the folks are really out there in the weeds of wanting everything as consistent as possible.
89Industries
Pebble Pounder
JimrC, there are but not knowing the material and the spring rates being so light and close between jumps means my calculation could be off enough that calculating them is really just a slightly educated guess.
I've started doing my own spring rate checks by putting the spring on a small scale, zeroing, then compressing it as close to one inch as I can by hand/eye and ruler. At least I can do this with springs with a known spring rate and compare results to unknown rate springs. Close enough for me for now.
I've started doing my own spring rate checks by putting the spring on a small scale, zeroing, then compressing it as close to one inch as I can by hand/eye and ruler. At least I can do this with springs with a known spring rate and compare results to unknown rate springs. Close enough for me for now.
89Industries
Pebble Pounder
Having been a shock and suspension engineer dealing with world championship level racing in the past, I can totally see this. Just trying not to be a kook myself with a fun hobby, especially when it doesn't really matter.
Sometimes it's hard to resist.
I'm def not an engineer, that said with all of my experience in the auto (racing, 4x4) and moto world, I've learned more than a fair share of things.
And very same. This is a hobby for me dammit. I'm trying my best not to over do shit as well.
That's awesome!
There are RC spring rate testers like this one from G-Force:
G-FORCE Spring Rate Gauge V2 Black G0315 Stroke Measure RC Vehicle Spoiler Japan 4580416433150 | eBay
Quantity: 1set.
www.ebay.com
Or shock equalizers that you could use to find similar spring rates.
Hot Racing: Hot Racing Shock Tool & Spring Gauge [HRASD188C]
Losi: Losi Shock Matching Tool [LOSA99170]
RPM: Shock Duplicator - RPM R/C Products
89Industries
Pebble Pounder
Yeah, I've thought about making something like that rate tester for the kitchen scale from some lumber scraps, a ruler and some nuts and bolts. Couldn't justify buying it though.
My corner balance set up is 4 cheap digital kitchen scales from Amazon Velcro'd to a board and an Excel spreadsheet calculator. So it would fit right in.
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89Industries
Pebble Pounder
This gets pretty close to or better than engineers in many cases.
My Fordyce came with at least one stripped bleeder screw threads so that's awesome.
I ran into the issue of the GTS shocks interfering with the VS4-10 shock mounts last night. The preload adjuster won't turn. I did find out the preload collar from the Vanquish S8E shocks threads right into the Traxxas bodies so hopefully that remedies this problem for me.
Auto bleeders. It's a "feature". LolMy Fordyce came with at least one stripped bleeder screw threads so that's awesome.
I had the same on my Phoenix and I'm pretty sure I stripped one myself on the vrd build. Looked at the aluminum caps ($19/pair), but again I can get a full set of gts shocks for just a few bucks more. #problemsolving
My Fordyce came with at least one stripped bleeder screw threads so that's awesome.
I ran into the issue of the GTS shocks interfering with the VS4-10 shock mounts last night. The preload adjuster won't turn. I did find out the preload collar from the Vanquish S8E shocks threads right into the Traxxas bodies so hopefully that remedies this problem for me.
I was WRONG. The S8E collars only thread onto the GTS shocks for a couple of threads and then they stop. So it would be nice to find lower profile GTS shock collars. But once you screw the GTS collars down to remove the springs from moving around, then you are pretty much clear of the Vanquish shock towers. I guess thinner wall shock towers would work as well if they allowed the GTS shock collars to turn freely.
Axle Scott
Newbie
Has anybody tried the X seals from the gts shocks on the S8E bodies. They are a lot less expensive and if sized correctly, could help. TRA2362 TRA8262
There's a write up on FB about how to get the shocks to stop leaking. Some people like it and others say nothing stops the shocks from leaking.
I've used Teflon tape before and it didn't seem to help at all. I think that was on Axial shocks with plastic caps and aluminum bodies, but I could be wrong about that. I think tolerances are everything when it comes to making a non-leaky shock.
