Suspension setup question

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lordraptor1 said:
so basically you have the stock shocks, stock springs, correct mounting holes, no aluminum hop ups on the rear adding weight then? there is only 1 other thing i can think of then and that is there was a mix up in assembly/re-assembly and teh rear shocks have teh front shock shafts and vice versa. the oil in the rear shocks wouldnt cause a sagging.

with that said, just to clarify by sagging are your dogbones level? that is when the vehicle is setting on the ground and you look at it from the back are the dogbones running in a stright line or do they look slanted? if the bones are running level then there really isnt a problem at all ;)
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The shock shafts are not switched front to rear. The bones are slightly angled up toward the wheels. I think the springs are some sort of funky aftermarket parts that are soft. I'll know for sure this weekend....
 
MX304 said:
The shock shafts are not switched front to rear. The bones are slightly angled up toward the wheels. I think the springs are some sort of funky aftermarket parts that are soft. I'll know for sure this weekend....
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that is a defintae possibility, try a set of new stock hpi springs first, if you go with the hd and don't have a lot of weight on the rear your suspension will be very bouncy or pogo stick like if you prefer LOL.

anyway, let us know bud.
 
lordraptor1 said:
that is a defintae possibility, try a set of new stock hpi springs first, if you go with the hd and don't have a lot of weight on the rear your suspension will be very bouncy or pogo stick like if you prefer LOL.

anyway, let us know bud.
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Will do. I just just finished pulling the shocks apart and getting them all cleaned up.
 
lordraptor1 said:
bigga i didnt change my oil at all when i changed out springs but i changed teh springs because i added a ton of weight to teh rear end LOL. i do not have any problems with mine as far as the rear shocks go now but i am wondering why his is sagging if he doesn't had alot of aluminum on the rear end of it
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Sounds like wrong springs or they have gone past their sell by date!! I would put some Ramtechs on see how it changes things then look at a small increase/decrease in shock oil weight.
 
Quick update. I haven't been able to run it yet, but I put the HD springs on it tonight. Now when I pick it up and let it drop, the rear suspension settles with the dog bones almost level. (Slightly higher on the diff end) It's definitely going to be a step in the right direction. I'm going to leave the 5wt oil in them and run it that way first, then I'll switch to 15 or 20wt and see what that does. I also plan to try mixing the old upper spring with the HD bottom springs, and the other way around with both oils.
 
MX304 said:
Quick update. I haven't been able to run it yet, but I put the HD springs on it tonight. Now when I pick it up and let it drop, the rear suspension settles with the dog bones almost level. (Slightly higher on the diff end) It's definitely going to be a step in the right direction. I'm going to leave the 5wt oil in them and run it that way first, then I'll switch to 15 or 20wt and see what that does. I also plan to try mixing the old upper spring with the HD bottom springs, and the other way around with both oils.
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nice, glad you are getting somewhere with it
 
lordraptor1 said:
nice, glad you are getting somewhere with it
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I got to do a little testing last night. The shocks were still set with the HD springs and 5 wt oil. I mounted a black swaybar on the rear, and a gold bar in the front. All I can say is WOW. That was a HUGE improvement. Unfortunately I snagged a rock funny and killed my steering servo so my testing was cut short. With my work schedule I won't get back to it until late next week, but I will keep updating. Another thing I am going to try is using automatic transmission fluid as shock oil. That used to be my trick on motocross suspension since it doesn't break down as much due to heat. I'm sure I'll have to play with my valving, but it might be worth it if I can find a combination that works.
 
MX304 said:
I got to do a little testing last night. The shocks were still set with the HD springs and 5 wt oil. I mounted a black swaybar on the rear, and a gold bar in the front. All I can say is WOW. That was a HUGE improvement. Unfortunately I snagged a rock funny and killed my steering servo so my testing was cut short. With my work schedule I won't get back to it until late next week, but I will keep updating. Another thing I am going to try is using automatic transmission fluid as shock oil. That used to be my trick on motocross suspension since it doesn't break down as much due to heat. I'm sure I'll have to play with my valving, but it might be worth it if I can find a combination that works.
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let me guess it was the output shaft on your sttering servo that broke right? that happened to me with my sfl10 mg it had a plastict output shaft/gear, i then went to an afl11mg and problem was solve although i only ran the sfl 11-mg like twice for testing repairs before i moved to a hitec servo :D
 
lordraptor1 said:
let me guess it was the output shaft on your sttering servo that broke right? that happened to me with my sfl10 mg it had a plastict output shaft/gear, i then went to an afl11mg and problem was solve although i only ran the sfl 11-mg like twice for testing repairs before i moved to a hitec servo :D
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It had a sfl 11-mg in it. It stripped the splines on the arm, and two gears. I have a Hitec 5755 and adapter ordered.
 
lordraptor1 said:
im using the hitec now but i have an sfl 11 mg for a backup just in case :D
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I finally got the testing finished. I ended liking the 15 w oil and the softer short spring combined with the stiffer long spring. With both stiff springs it was a little too "springy" over small rocks etc. With the soft short spring it is more compliant over the small stuff, but still takes the big hits without bottoming out sagging too much. I stayed with the gold front bar and black rear bar. The back works so well I am going to experiment with a split spring setup on the front next.
 
MX304 said:
I finally got the testing finished. I ended liking the 15 w oil and the softer short spring combined with the stiffer long spring. With both stiff springs it was a little too "springy" over small rocks etc. With the soft short spring it is more compliant over the small stuff, but still takes the big hits without bottoming out sagging too much. I stayed with the gold front bar and black rear bar. The back works so well I am going to experiment with a split spring setup on the front next.
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yeah mine was fine with stock oil and stiff springs but now that i have the extended arm kit on it the suspension is way to soft in the rear and i have even went to 40wt hpi oil on all 4 corners the front is fine but the slightest bump cause my rear to bottom out so i am now playing with that again but also still working on my engine issues LOL.
 
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