How can I stop this from breaking?

[Nitroaddict]

Okay - everytime i land hard with my RC10GT, the ball end that attaches to the lower park of the shock ram breaks off. it doesn't break, but it pulls out and falls off, causing the shock to fall apart. this is becoming annoying. i am thinking that because of all the mods i have done, this is the only weak part left. how can i stop this from happening? i have tried threadlocking it in there, but it just pulls right through the threads? does anyone make these in metal? if not - would changing the shock mounting positions help?
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If u want to see a photo of what i am talking about - download my GT chassis pic in my gallery, and zoom in on the front left shock, where it attaches to the lower part of the chassis. that lil plastic piece that threads into the shock ram is what keeps popping off.

 

[DarthRacer]

The rod end pulls off of the bottom part of the shaft???

If that's the case, maybe some ends by RPM or GS will help.

 

[Nitroaddict]

yes - they pull out of the shaft. i can screw them back in, but it takes 5minutes, and as soon as i land wrong from a jump, they pop again. I tried to find some by RPM, but cannot find them. i replaced the ball ends with RPM, and that was great, but if u look at how this part is set up, its more like a captured ball end, with out a ball, the bolt goes through it.

Mind you - this problem only happens when i dish out alot of abuse - not under normal driving conditions. would softer springs help?

 

[Candyman]

You've probably done enough damage to the end to make it unusable at this point. If it keeps pulling out, the threads are toast. You're going to have to replace it for sure. I don't know if RPM or GS make replacements. I don't think changing your shock set up will make much of a difference. You probably did the initial damage on a tough landing (read CRASH) and from there, any little bobble will pull it out. A nice new end will make things all better.

And a little tip to thread them on faster...get your needle nose pliers. The kind that have the wire cutters at the base. Open them up wide enough so that you can grip the last set of threads on the shock shaft with the wire cutter blades. That way you can hold the shaft easier while threading the shock end on. And you won't mar the shaft.

 

[Nitroaddict]

Candyman - this is the third replacement. i figured that i stripped it out, and i do, everytime it pops off. this is an ongoing problem. any ideas how i can stop it from happening? it happens when i land flat as well, not just on crashes. usually on any jump over about 3 feet.

 

[Candyman]

What about putting bump stops on the shock shafts? All you do is remove the shock end (which in your case happens every time you drive it) and put about 1/4" of fuel tubing on the shock shaft. That will keep your shocks from bottoming out completely and may keep the shock end from popping.

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

So this is the plastic piece on the bottom of the shock that is screwed onto the piston????http://www.rc10.com/pdf/catalogs/drawing_t4.pdf
part number 7217?

If that is the case I would buy these:
http://www.rpmrcproducts.com/products/assoc/steering.htm

 

[Nitroaddict]

thats a really good idea - ill try that - how long should the tubing be? about 2 or 3 mm? also - i think that the are snapping because the shocks are not traveling directly up and down, they are folding at that point, and causing the ends to come loose. is this possible? if so, would mounting them in a diff position help?

 

[Candyman]

I wouln't think the angle they're mounted at should be a position. To paraphrase some other philsophy, if the manufacturer thought it would break it, they wouldn't build it like that. The only other thing I was thinking was perhaps the piston in the shock is binding. That might be causing the shock to act extremely stiff. If it were a problem with the shock oil or spring, I would think the same thing would be happening to the right side, too. How do the threads on the end of the left shock shaft look? If they're starting to wear, this problem may continue and you may need to replace the shock shaft...

Just a thought.

 

[Nitroaddict]

the shafts are the ubutonium shafts that come with the fact team kit, so i dont theink they are stripped - dont look that way anyways. the only reason i was thinking about the position problem, is that the front shock tower is the aluminum version, so maybe the mounting holes are different. i thought about the binding problem, might need an oil change, ill try that tonight. but u are right, if thats the case, then the right one should pop too, and it doesn't.

i was thinking that due to the fact i have up graded so many other parts, that maybe all the stress is now on these parts, and thats why they are snapping.

 

[LarryA]

I'd have to guess that your shock shaft has to be bottoming out and transfering the stress to the end. Obviousely, the plastic is going to give first. Cure, don't know.
Anyway, I looked at the gallery and the girls with wet or see thru T-Shirts are much nicer than the RC10GT :whistle:

 

[Nitroaddict]

Originally posted by LarryA
I'd have to guess that your shock shaft has to be bottoming out and transfering the stress to the end. Obviousely, the plastic is going to give first. Cure, don't know.
Anyway, I looked at the gallery and the girls with wet or see thru T-Shirts are much nicer than the RC10GT :whistle:

Thanks for the help, lol. Like those, eh? its a band called TATU. mmm, yummy. Basically they sing, and just fondle each other on stage.

 

[Candyman]

Sorry NA, rumor has it that TaTu is splitting up... GIRL FIGHT!!!! GIRL FIGHT!!!! LOL!!!!

Anyway, try the fuel line on the shock shafts and see how that works..

 

[Nitroaddict]

will do, candy - i dont care if they split - i still have my pics, hehehe