What is the best upgraded shock option for an axial bomber

[Jboucher]

You can also rebuild the kit shocks with traxxas x-rings to prevent leaks.

I built some gmade XDs with x-rings and can't wait to try them.
For 24$ the quality is unbelivable and they are a bigger bore then the kit shocks.

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[terrible]

Yes. Proline doesn't supply any hardware with the shocks. I'm sure you could make other hardware work but the top bushings from proline are nice to have. I made some stock bushings work but later ended up with the proline stuff and it is a lot better fitting.

 

[angrchair]

I saw someone link a source for cheap x-rings instead of paying out the wazoo for prolines. Anyone have that link?

 

[Jboucher]

I saw someone link a source for cheap x-rings instead of paying out the wazoo for prolines. Anyone have that link?

Traxxas rebuild kit.
2.50$ for 2 shocks
https://www.amainhobbies.com/traxxas-shock-rebuild-kit-tra2362/p45156

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[Jboucher]

For those using the Gmade XDs, what springs are you using front and rear ?

My initial plan is soft front and medium rear but it may be too soft...

 

[Greatscott]

Bad shocks are anything that doesn't have a coating on the internals of the body, doesn't have good parts support (O-rings, spring options), leaks a short while into its lifespan, or has a bad design.

Personally I like the proline slash front and rear on my bomber. They have had excellent lifespan, rebuild easy, don't leak and have good rebuild and spring kits available. The only issue I have with them is a lack of piston options. Witch, I guess can be cured if you have a pin vise and a good selection of small drill bits. They are a good length out of the box for my bomber also.

I've tried the rc4wd king shocks, in the large size. They looked good but the inside of the body is raw aluminum and fouls the oil quickly. All the aluminum in the oil causes quite a bit of "stiction" on the shaft. I went to axial factory gold shafts from the wraith shocks and that helped a bit but the oil fouling is something you can't fix on the bench (unless you can hard anodize on your bench)

Also, I've tried to use the axial variable pistons with minimal results. But, on my associated B5M I love the MIP variable pistons. I wish I could get those for the proline shocks.

The problem here is that people think you buy Gucci-brand-x shocks, put them together, bolt them up and "poof", your rig will run like it is riding on silk. I have seen guys in racing and crawling apply this philosophy to their rigs and wind up disappointed and frustrated. My humble opinion is that if you have not taken any time to tune the shocks you have (and do not understand how to tune shocks for various conditions, new Gucci shocks might make a marginal performance increase, but will not magically/drastically change the performance of your rib by just bolting them on. This is why when someone asks about getting new shocks, I ask what they have done to get more performance out of the ones they have, stock or not.

With that, and haven't just put together my bomber kit, what are some other good performance upgrades, other than shocks?

 

[Jboucher]

This is a shock thread, there is a lot of other posts about upgrades.

I don't say this to be a jerk, just keeping the thread from drifting too far.

The problem here is that people think you buy Gucci-brand-x shocks, put them together, bolt them up and "poof", your rig will run like it is riding on silk. I have seen guys in racing and crawling apply this philosophy to their rigs and wind up disappointed and frustrated. My humble opinion is that if you have not taken any time to tune the shocks you have (and do not understand how to tune shocks for various conditions, new Gucci shocks might make a marginal performance increase, but will not magically/drastically change the performance of your rib by just bolting them on. This is why when someone asks about getting new shocks, I ask what they have done to get more performance out of the ones they have, stock or not.

With that, and haven't just put together my bomber kit, what are some other good performance upgrades, other than shocks?

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[MAC FAB]

The problem here is that people think you buy Gucci-brand-x shocks, put them together, bolt them up and "poof", your rig will run like it is riding on silk. I have seen guys in racing and crawling apply this philosophy to their rigs and wind up disappointed and frustrated. My humble opinion is that if you have not taken any time to tune the shocks you have (and do not understand how to tune shocks for various conditions, new Gucci shocks might make a marginal performance increase, but will not magically/drastically change the performance of your rig by just bolting them on. This is why when someone asks about getting new shocks, I ask what they have done to get more performance out of the ones they have, stock or not.

Well spoken. My statements/comments here go out to the never tried/non-tuners out there. Before you spent your hard earned money $$$$$$, consider this:

If you can't effectively tune the stock/current stuff on your rig, how will or why should the Gucci brand stuff PERFORM any better? All rc shocks work off the same basic premise, the body obviously, a piston with holes for a metering device, oil and the spring. Maybe the bypass piston option. Its not like you're able to get a King Kong multi tube bypass and coil carrier setup to work with where the sky is the limit with adjustability in making those work. Most people can't tune those either. Incorrectly tuning your shocks will actually decrease your rigs performance. Probably leads to a lot of "That brand sucks......" Remember and document where you started.Then you have those who swear plastic bodies suck.......No, they work just fine. That is another discussion. Really, the ONLY way you can actually improve your performance is by shooting video to see what it is doing. Sure, you may get other's input on what may work, but if you are starting at ground zero, what you think IS and what you'll watch are usually two different things entirely, especially if any speed is involved. Yes it sucks to do the shocks on/shocks off thing, but once you see what it is doing, it is quite elating. You learn what does and doesn't work, which shortens the learning curve for the next rig you work on. Actually, I'm surprised there are enteties out there offering shock services like the 1:1. Guess the "sport" hasn't progressed that far because of the shock technology thats out there. Racers do their own because they can.

Last thought then off the soap box. IF you struggle tuning, post up driving video(s) of what and where you run, what your current shock tune is, i.e. oil, piston hole size, spring rate and mounting. Odds are someone will be able to watch your video(s) in both real time and slow mo, and give direction on where to go next on the shock tune, perhaps even dialing it in to the "T" having never even driven it. REMEMBER TO DOCUMENT EVERY CHANGE, ONE AT A TIME, AND IT'S EFFECTS/RESULTS!!!!!
This concept should apply to anything you change on the vehicle.
Carry on gents.......

 

[Alexander_0_1]

As long as the non-experienced buyer knows what features they are investing in then I think tuning can come later. It not hard to spot bad shocks tuned or not, some are built poorly, and the scaler company doing it has been doing it to hobbyists for years...and probably will keep doing it till they sales slow down, or drop off, but it won’t cause there’s a new hobbyist everyday.

I personally don’t buy anything without a polished internal coating (anodized) on the inside of the shock bodies, I also try to look for shocks with an coating on the shock shafts. 3.5mm or greater shock shafts are also something I look for. Shocks with different spring rates are a must. X-rings (o-rings) are a nice addition but not a deal breaker, my prolines don’t leak, and I don’t use the x-rings, just the standard o-rings. I use elbow grease and a strong grip to tighten them properly, which I think is the problem with most the “I have leaky shocks” comments that I read, unless its one of the silicone seals is damaged.