Broke front suspension arm — AI trying to help me figure this out 😅

[JetFalcon]

Hey everyone,

I’m new to working on my RC cars and I broke the part that connects the wheel to the turning motor — basically the front suspension arm that holds the steering knuckle. The wheel can’t turn anymore.

I actually used AI (ChatGPT) to help identify the issue, and it said it’s likely my front lower A-arm that snapped near the hinge pin. It also explained that the servo still works fine but the wheel can’t pivot because the arm isn’t supporting the steering knuckle.

This happened when I was doing some normal driving on a soccer field with minimal terrain. I hit a small bump that gave the car a little air time, and right after that, the wheel went limp and stopped turning.

Before I order parts, can anyone confirm if this sounds right from experience?

Also — would it make sense to pay a hobby shop to teach me how to replace it instead of just doing it for me? I’m in Orange County, CA (Lake Forest / Rancho Santa Margarita area).

Any tips on learning proper RC repair (or shops that are open to teaching) would be awesome.

Thanks for letting an AI-assisted newbie into the hobby

 

[332_RC]

The screw snapped or came out of the steering pivot ball from the ackerman bar. It's supposed to be attached to the ackerman bar.

 

[332_RC]

These screws are missing but have nothing to do with the steering link problem.

 

[JetFalcon]

I probably will take it to an RC car shop. I could ask my RC car guy I trade with (I trade arcade prizes with him). He has helped me fix stuff but he lives far and it's not worth bugging him to fix it all the time, and he lives far, so it's hard to meet up with him.

I never paid for RC car repair how much should this cost? I am hoping it's 10% of the car's worth. How does the RC world determine if their car is totaled or worth fixing?

I always see videos of those RC cars doing crazy stunts but is fixing it part of the deal of this hobby? I never had to fix my Tesla this much before, but then I never jump my Tesla or crash it into walls. Can RC cars be similar to something like a monster truck that does shows at Monster Jam and needs constant repairs due to stunts? Because I don't think anyone will buy a $30 ticket and $20 beer & hot dogs if they they were too timid to drive it hard.

 

[JetFalcon]

These screws are missing but have nothing to do with the steering link problem.

Thanks for pointing that out. Should I put screws in there as well? It's hard to do this hobby, always something to fix. I am hoping I can learn to do simple fixes on my own, can it sort of be like being a hobbyist car mechanic? Do hobby grade RC cars share similar functions to a real car? But it seems hobby grade RC cars impress people more than toy store bought RC cars, they know it's something different.

 

[332_RC]

How many times have you had to fix your Tesla?

 

[Chubaka]

Welcome to the site. This below should help you. If a shop isn't local, id look the part numbers up on ebay.

https://www.google.com/search?clien...HQKMGSEQtKgLegQIIRAB&biw=384&bih=701&dpr=2.81

 

[CertifiedMike]

I never had to fix my Tesla this much before, but then I never jump my Tesla or crash it into walls.

Have you considered trying? This is the ONLY way I would drive a Tesla!

 

[JetFalcon]

Have you considered trying? This is the ONLY way I would drive a Tesla!

I once hit my front wheel against a curb going about 20-40 mph on surface streets. It was enough to bend my car rim so I had to get a new wheel and likely fix some parts responsible for the axle. I couldn't see the divider / curb thing Las Vegas doesn't really put cones or signs to warn drivers of curb dividers.

But otherwise not really, doesn't break down much just keeps driving.

I'm just wondering if hobby grade RC cars are a more affordable version of doing performance driving like a poor man's Monster Jam. Or your own Red Bull truck but it's in the form of an RC car than a real race truck. I assume most people get hobby grade RC cars for entertainment not commuting to work.

 

[Beer_Goggles_RC]

a poor man's Monster Jam

I feel attacked

 

[Chubaka]

I assume most people get hobby grade RC cars for entertainment not commuting to work.

Ya think?

 

[CertifiedMike]

The only cones in Vegas are on ppls' heads.

There are certainly RC monster truck races and such but to be more specific, no.
I do not run my ALL carbon fiber, carpet racing purpose built Optima Mid like its a poor man's monster truck. Even though its 4x4 and intended for offroad use, I have 'repurposed' it.

Most ppl who build their RCs do not unmercilessly beat their RCs and then rebuild them. Though a person might get that impression from watching too many Talbot videos I suppose.

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

Though a person might get that impression from watching too many majin videos I suppose.

Yep

 

[CertifiedMike]

I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys-R-Us kid, there's a million toys at Toys-R-Us that I can play with

Gee-whizz!

 

[JetFalcon]

Yep

The only cones in Vegas are on ppls' heads.

There are certainly RC monster truck races and such but to be more specific, no.
I do not run my ALL carbon fiber, carpet racing purpose built Optima Mid like its a poor man's monster truck. Even though its 4x4 and intended for offroad use, I have 'repurposed' it.

Most ppl who build their RCs do not unmercilessly beat their RCs and then rebuild them. Though a person might get that impression from watching too many Talbot videos I suppose.

I mostly saw them from Dude Perfect, that's the only main stream YouTube channel that features Traxxas & hobby grade RC cars to YouTube masses.

 

[JetFalcon]

I feel attacked

I don't think anyone is going to be buying $30 tickets & $20 beers for an RC car show.

Maybe $50 for a birthday party show if you're lucky, maybe a parent out there will pay for an RC car show spectacular for kids birthday parties.

I was paid $60 to $120 for bringing bunnies to a birthday party.

 

[mapper]

Well, I might go down that "hold my beer and watch this" rabbit hole.

Meaning that i am awaiting delivery on a new scratch n dent discount proboat blackjack 24, for about 50 bux more than a new stripped hull. I've got a 120 amp esc I pulled from a upgrade and planning on putting it in, along with a diffrent reciever..

So the plan is see what that 4s boat can do on 6s.. now here is the why, at least in my mind.. its a lot cheaper for me to do it to this boat, and learn about catamaran, center of gravity, weight placements, handling differences, than doing it with my miss geico 36 that's almost unobtainium..

You
know "for educational purposes only"

 

[Littlemotor]

 

[aklindeman]

You asked if working on the cars is just part of the deal. Yes, yes it is. Fixing the cars is just part of the hobby. The real monster jam trucks break all the time too. Teams of mechanics working to keep the beast running for the shows. The ability to buy parts and repair broken cars is the biggest difference between hobby grade and toy grade RC. It's not just the better performance available with the hobby grade cars.

It's just like my old British sports car. Owning that Triumph would be a rather expensive proposition if I couldn't work on it myself. Which is just as much part of that hobby as driving it is. There are still guys out on the drives who pay someone else for everything, and that's cool too. It's a hobby, enjoy it in whatever way you want.

 

[JetFalcon]

You asked if working on the cars is just part of the deal. Yes, yes it is. Fixing the cars is just part of the hobby. The real monster jam trucks break all the time too. Teams of mechanics working to keep the beast running for the shows. The ability to buy parts and repair broken cars is the biggest difference between hobby grade and toy grade RC. It's not just the better performance available with the hobby grade cars.

It's just like my old British sports car. Owning that Triumph would be a rather expensive proposition if I couldn't work on it myself. Which is just as much part of that hobby as driving it is. There are still guys out on the drives who pay someone else for everything, and that's cool too. It's a hobby, enjoy it in whatever way you want.

I can understand why most people would rather have a PS5 over a $500 RC car. You can buy a racing video game and have no need for maintenance. Most kids know how to play a video game and it's much more predictable than a $500 RC car.

I don't mind paying within reason, but I would hope to find a store that is commutable, or are there people who are mobile? It seems these hobby stores are always located in cheaper areas which I will have to drive out to, you won't find hobby RC cars in a premium shopping mall. It's always in a small shopping center that's next to a local hair salon owned by a mom and pop.

Would be nice if there was a main stream Best Buy style store just for RC cars, but it seems people in this world are more interested to fix real cars or iPhones over RC cars.