Oil Shocks' mounting

[nospam]

Hello,

This week end I finished the tunning of my monster truck.

When I put the motor and elctric starter I realized that
the springs were not strong enough at the gear to make
the car go up.

I went to my LHS to buy stronger springs.
They did not have stronger so they suggested me to mount
them differently?

They were like: / \
/ \
/ \

Now they are like: | |
| |
| |

Is it a problem to run my truck with this config?
If yes why?

My LHS people told me that I sould change the oil
(although it is soft and brend new).
I was quite sceptical.
Could an oil change prevent my car to stay the lowest?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[MikeF]

hi B,

Are you talking about the stock springs or the ones i sold you?
My old setup had the shocks almost straight up-and down, and the springs
were strong enough to lift the car back up.
If your using the stock shocks, then yes, get stronger springs. The shock
oil will depend on how it handles. If the front wheels push forward when you
try to turn, then you are getting too much rear traction and not enough in
the front (understeer) then go with thicker oil in the rear.
Remember that the springs shouldnt be too firm, just strong enough to get
the truck almost all the way back up.


"nospam" <nospam@antispam.com> wrote in message
news:3e911169$1@nntp.unige.ch...
> Hello,
>
> This week end I finished the tunning of my monster truck.
>
> When I put the motor and elctric starter I realized that
> the springs were not strong enough at the gear to make
> the car go up.
>
> I went to my LHS to buy stronger springs.
> They did not have stronger so they suggested me to mount
> them differently?
>
> They were like: / \
> / \
> / \
>
> Now they are like: | |
> | |
> | |
>
> Is it a problem to run my truck with this config?
> If yes why?
>
> My LHS people told me that I sould change the oil
> (although it is soft and brend new).
> I was quite sceptical.
> Could an oil change prevent my car to stay the lowest?
>
> Thanks in advance for your answers.
>

[nospam]

MikeF wrote:
> hi B,
>
> Are you talking about the stock springs or the ones i sold you?

No I was talking about the springs that came with the shocks
from duratrax, but they are the same color as yours.
So I guess they are the same.

> My old setup had the shocks almost straight up-and down, and the springs
> were strong enough to lift the car back up.

There are two way of having a config thst would fit.
The first is with an angle of 45 degrees (/ \) and
the second with an angle of 90 degress (| |).
I am refering to the angle between the chassis and
the shocks.

With the first config the car stays the lowest.
With the second it is quite ok.

Be carefull the electric starter adds weight in the gear.

I do not know if the second config is ok because shocks
are attached close to the edges.
This may easier break, but I do not know if there are big
forces.

> If your using the stock shocks, then yes, get stronger springs.
But yours have the same collor as the originals (yellow).
The strongest are red from what I have seen on tower.

The shock
> oil will depend on how it handles. If the front wheels push forward when you
> try to turn, then you are getting too much rear traction and not enough in
> the front (understeer) then go with thicker oil in the rear.
> Remember that the springs shouldnt be too firm, just strong enough to get
> the truck almost all the way back up.
I was told that they should get half the way back, when you push on
them. Is it what you mean or half is still not strong enough?

[MikeF]

> No I was talking about the springs that came with the shocks
> from duratrax, but they are the same color as yours.
> So I guess they are the same.

Yeah. they should be fine. And i think i did switch to 20wt oil.


> There are two way of having a config thst would fit.
> The first is with an angle of 45 degrees (/ \) and
> the second with an angle of 90 degress (| |).
> I am refering to the angle between the chassis and
> the shocks.
>
> With the first config the car stays the lowest.
> With the second it is quite ok.


then go with (I I). Thats the way i had it, and it didnt break....


> Be carefull the electric starter adds weight in the gear.


Agreed, but i also had a heavier engine, tranny and fuel tank.


> I do not know if the second config is ok because shocks
> are attached close to the edges.
> This may easier break, but I do not know if there are big
> forces.


hehe...everything breaks eventually. Try the lighter oil. If that isnt
enough, move the shocks out. By the way, did you adjust the threaded spring
collars? you can 'lift' a car somewhat by spinning them down.


> If your using the stock shocks, then yes, get stronger springs.
> But yours have the same collor as the originals (yellow).
> The strongest are red from what I have seen on tower.


I tried the red springs. They were too strong for my setup. the back end
bounced around too much.
Try that last.

> I was told that they should get half the way back, when you push on
> them. Is it what you mean or half is still not strong enough?
>

Yeah....between half way and almost all the way is the range you want.
Depending on how the car handles, you may want more or less. I preferred
more rebound (screwed down the spring collars and used lighter oil) in the
rear because it gave me better steering response and also more ground
clearance in the mud.
Honestly, i would take the car outside right now and drive it as-is just to
see how it handles. If it handles well, leave it all alone. Maybe play with
some different springs and oils to satify your curiosity, but it may not be
critical now.
If the rear end drags around, then start experimenting.