When you set the ride height, you want to run the truck fairly low unless the track is exceptionally rough. ![]() Without the shocks installed, the suspension arms should move up and down freely and drop down when lifted under their own weight with no binding or hesitation. This is often overlooked and leads to a slow inefficient drivetrain.Īlways start with the manual’s baseline setup. When building the drivetrain, make sure all bearings are properly seated. This will prevent it from falling out of the axle when the hex comes off, but the pin will still be easy to remove when needed. If your short course truck has non-pressed in drive pins on the axle, you a small dab of silicone glue on the pin. This is especially true on wheels that mount directly on a drive pin where a slightly loose wheel can lead to a stripped out rim. Make sure the bead is glued all the way around on each side of each tire and that the wheel nuts are properly tightened. Bead-lock rims might look more realistic, but they add unneeded rotating mass. While that often works with a 4WD short course truck, 2WD trucks may benefit from having a less aggressive tire up front. ![]() You do not have to run the same tire in front as you do in back. Ask the fast guys and the track owner or race director. Make sure you have the right tread and compound for your track. Tires are the most important aspect of setup. Another place to make even larger vent holes is in the rear of the body in the area in front of the rear posts. Most racers place a few holes on the hood right in front of the windshield and along the front fenders. Next, use a body reamer to create holes for trapped air to vent and thus preventing the dreaded parachute effect. Also, open up the rear tailgate area as much as you can without destroying the look of the body.This will allow air to escape, but more importantly, will remove areas where flying dirt can get trapped and add weight to your truck. With the front suspension fully compressed, turn the front tires in both directions to make sure they do not hit the body. Make sure your wheel well openings are large enough that the tires are not rubbing. Mount the body as low as possible and protect the inside of the body where they tires may rub with some thin stickers. They really do not protect the Lexan body and actually just wear the paint out faster where they rub the sides of the shell.Ī painted and stickered body weighs a good amount and this component contributes to a high center of gravity. If you’re extremely serious about racing and want every advantage, another item to consider is removing the nerf bars to save some weight. Team Associated also offers chassis protector film you can cut to size (ASC9787, $9), as does JConcepts (JCI1155, $8). You can go one step further and add a smooth chassis protector to the bottom of your chassis. Companies such as Upgrade offer graphic chassis protectors for specific vehicles. These often have a rough surface in the circle that can be sanded smooth with a file. These usually perfectly round marks are left from where the piece is pulled from the mold. The aluminum chassis plates are usually fine right out of the box, but molded plastic parts can have flashing and molding marks on the bottom of the chassis. Most short course trucks use molded plastic chassis, but a few 4WD trucks use aluminum plates. Short course trucks frequently bottom out, so it’s essential that the bottom of the chassis is smooth. A tool that is extremely useful when building shocks for racing is Losi’s Shock Matching Tool (item no. Lastly, they should extend at the same rate. When compressed without springs installed, they should extend the same amount when released. When comparing two shocks, say the fronts, you should ensure they are the exact same length when fully extended. The front shocks should be twins and so should the rear shocks. It’s essential that you think of the shocks as pairs. It’s far more important that you build your shocks correctly than it is to find some black magic setup. You’ll probably be tempted, but don’t change your kit’s baseline setup based on another driver’s suggestion or a pro driver’s setup sheet. The stock pistons, fluid and springs are always the best starting point. Check out these tips and you’ll be well on your way to owning a truck that will help you win races. The first step in finding your way to the victory lane with your short course truck is in the build of the kit or the prepping of your RTR. But, frequent winners know that winning ways start before the truck even hits the track. ![]() We know you want to win when you’re out at the track and as such, we try to share as many driving tips as possible.
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