I want to build a race only On-Road 1/10 scale rc car but I do not know which to pick a Belt Drive or Shaft-Drive which is the best for racing

Racing on a clean, flat track or on the road in front of your house???

Racing on a clean flat track

Pick the car that suits your needs best. There are high end cars with both drive systems, it comes down to preference really.

I ask this because at the rc racing track were i live every one say that Belt Drive takes more power to move then a Shaft Drive for 4wd

Hi. It takes power to move bothe shaft drive and belt drive. Most of your top end racing
1/10 scale cars and most world champions in TC both in US and Europe use belt driven
cars. However you can choose the one you like depending on your budget. Regards
Norman2

If a belt drive is setup and tensioned correctly, it shouldn't take more power to drive than a shaft drive. Just like a properly setup shaft drive shouldn't have more slop than a belt drive.

Most belt drive on road cars have more open drivetrains, which make it easier to work on, but also more susceptible to damage from debris.

I find belts give smoother response but shaft driven give more instant response. Each person has their own preference.

I'd personally go belt for competitive racing on a clean track but that's me.

Originally Posted by kingofking1

I ask this because at the rc racing track were i live every one say that Belt Drive takes more power to move then a Shaft Drive for 4wd

Sounds like a lot of engineers there. I guess all these companies that manufacture high end touring cars have it all wrong.

AE TC5/6 - belt drive
HB TCX - belt drive
Xray T3 - belt drive
T.O.P Racing Products Photon - belt drive
Schumacher Mi1 -belt drive
Serpent S411 - belt drive

Originally Posted by Y2kGTP

Sounds like a lot of engineers there. I guess all these companies that manufacture high end touring cars have it all wrong.

AE TC5/6 - belt drive
HB TCX - belt drive
Xray T3 - belt drive
T.O.P Racing Products Photon - belt drive
Schumacher Mi1 -belt drive
Serpent S411 - belt drive

Don't forget the Tamiya 416 = belt drive.

Originally Posted by Druss

Don't forget the Tamiya 416 = belt drive.

I always forget about Tamiya's as all the plastic stuff you have to weed threw to find the 1-2 race cars they have.

Tamiya makes some great models, even the plastic stuff... Since they cater to the entire gambit of users from beginners to expert and the plastic stuff tends to be more durable and much cheaper they are a good way to get into the hobby. Plus they are one of the few companies left that make kits which are great for beginners to start learning about RC cars, even if they go on to one of the higher race models later on they have a solid basis on which to build.

one good reason i like belt over shaft is that you can install a one way on a bllt drive and shaft drive not so much . all of the belt drive cars ive owned have had far less trouble with the diff units also as most use ball diffs and the shaftys use spider or gear diffs where a pinion and gear mesh are as much inportant because of it gets out of sync it can lunch the gears .

heres my experiance.I've owned plenty of both cars and I always lean towards belt unless im doing rally,I'll buy a shaft drive and custom mod it.

beltdrive produces less rotational mass than a shaft drive car,all the drive parts are lighter therefore it takes less energy to move them and stop them which make electronic speed control brakes work better.

Drifting wise belt wins hands down due to the direction of the rotational mass

a shaft drive car will drift and turn smoother in one direction better than the other(which ever direction the motor and drive line rotates turns sharper).Not by much but noticable when drifting.

Belts do wear and are normally exposed to the elements

Belts have ball diffs that need more attention than the shaft drive bevel gears.

Shaft drives make it eaiser to make custom cars/chassis out
Belts and custom chassis is hard to find the perfect belt to match another wheelbase.

To be honest,just playing around at the track and bashing with friends.I vote shaftdrive.

shaftdrive
Nitro: Hpi RS4 Evo3
Electric:Team Associated TC series

Tamiya's are good and affordable too but there cheaper line is not as high quality as others,They do have higher quality with a higher price though.

Beltdrive:
Older HPI rs4's were belt and good platforms but parts are scarce

electric:
HPI Sprints are great lil cars and tons of hop ups.

I still have an original HPI rs4 pro from 98,with all the extinct hop ups.Its beltdrive and I use it as a dirt rally car.Cant find any parts for it but it has'nt been thru a belt yet becase I take proper care of them

Some affordable cars are redcat and exceed,get brushless.
They are higher quality than most people give them credit for.

x 2 on the exceed i own 2 drift versions and love them . redlined pretty much gave the best brake down now just decide you best choice and post pics !!! of the new ride .