Opinions about aluminum parts..

[pantherqs]

so i'm a total newb to this whole nitro dealio, i got two onroad nitro cars, i'm just wondering if i should stick with plastic or get aluminum parts for it [a arms etc]... my buddy says stick with plastic because if it hits anything, it'l just break that one part, and i wont run the risk of bending anything else.... i dont know though, opinions?

 

[JESSE G]

Your friend is right. Also aluminum parts will bend and also add that much more weight which will slow down your car/truck and make it handle worse. I would go with Rpm "plastic" parts they are light weight super strong and have a life time warranty full replacement for free! Thats my opinion



By the way welcome to the site

 

[mnm]

Ahh the word aluminum, how nice that word sounds. just love it.
Any how. IMHO, I think you should just replace some parts of your car with aluminum. Parts that are the weak link, and break often. Yes aluminum bends, that’s what’s so bad about it. I wouldn’t suggest aluminum parts for an Off-road at all just doesn’t cut it. But for On-road I wouldn’t mind having a couple of aluminum parts in a car to reinforce it. When looking at aluminum parts watch out for that pull in your brain that tells you get that get that and get that, it is addicting trust me.
All in all I wouldn’t mind having a couple aluminum parts here and there in a Sedan to reinforce it and make it that much stronger.

 

[.21Rc10GT]

Aluminum isnt all that great... It does weigh a little more than plastic, but is stronger in "some" situations, but will bend and break other stuff... I would go with plastic, unless you feel the need spend some money...

 

[evan811]

full warranty?! where? what compnay?

 

[FastEddy]

RPM has a 100% guarantee on all their parts.
If it brakes, they replace it for free.

 

[vbgagnon]

RPM they make arms and other plastic parts for many vehicles

 

[mnm]

You should also look into Carbon Fiber; it is dramatically lighter than its paired plastic parts and stronger.

also what are the R/C you own?

 

[4u2nv]

since its a on road Id say get some Rpm arms and other goodies. I myself like aluminum, and never had any probs with it on my maxx, and plus it looks cool. But with a onroad, I think it would get pretty heavy and be a little harder to handle. can't go wrong with Rpm.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

You can decrease the likelihood of extensive damage to your plastic parts by boiling them as well. HPI even suggests this. Boil them for like 10 minutes or so then slap 'em on! When something does break, as the "tweeners" above have mentioned, RPM is the way to go.

 

[Diver6127]

For and on-road, stay away from aluminum arms. You want these to break when you do hit or extensive damage may occur to associated parts as well as just slightly bending the arm.

I do have some aluminum on my serpent but it's for strength and rigidity as well as upgrades for better response. It's mostly pulley brackets and braces. Everything else on the car is either plastic or CF. Aluminum on the arms is a big "NO-NO." Good for the bling factor, even better for the headaches they will cause after a hit or enough hits after time.

 

[evan811]

I akways thought RPM was alum? so RPM is a conmany? do they make parts for Ofna buggys?

 

[vbgagnon]

http://www.rpmrcproducts.com/

Check them out...

 

[evan811]

eh, nothing of use to me....

 

[rocknbil]

I've found that aluminum is fine if the part is compact, such as a bulkead or tranny case, but if the part has any sort of span, it will indeed bend instead of break, and the damage transfers to more expensive parts.

Especially stay away from A-arms. Even if it never breaks anything, the hinge pin holes stretch and become ovalized, making for a really sloppy suspension.

All in all plastic parts break so they don't break something more expensive, which is a pretty good design concept. The thing with RPM parts is that they are "rubbery" - that is, they have more flex, which is why they don't break. I've played around with RPM arms on AE trucks and GT's and have found they drive a little differently. Feels squishy to me. But they'll definately outlast stocks in high impact situations. Uhh, curbs.

 

[Devine]

Can you list the most essential parts to upgrade to aluminium on my rs4?

 

[rocknbil]

Well if you're asking me, I'm not the person to really answer as I haven't had an RS4 for over 2 years (moved to country) and never needed to put any aluminum on it at all. Except for swapping out the engine.