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what shocks to get??

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SaVaGeR21

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hey, i just got my engine running so i dont need a new engine now. and i got 130 bucks to spend. what aluminum shocks do you think i should get?? i would like silver since i'm tryin to get my savage .21 all silver. all advice would help. thanks
vince
 
Don't get the Hot Bodies threaded aluminum shocks. I destroyed a set in no time flat, and have read about similar incidents from other users. The HB racing aluminum ones are much better, so you might consider a set of those, and I think they are silver (or dang close to it).
 
I have the Hot Bodies threaded ones. I'm not real impressed with them. At least one of the seals/bladders moved when I tightened the shock cap and caused it to leak badly. The spring cap on the bottom of the shock sits too low and hits the A arm when they are fully extended. I also don't like how the bottom pivot balls are narrow and cause them to tighten down close to the arm. The springs that come with them are actually a little lighter than the stock HPI black springs. I put the HPI springs on there and it does pretty good. I am also thinking of retrofitting different ends on the shock shaft to move the spring cap up some and space it out away from the arm slightly. Maybe get some ends from the "High Performance" ones they sell or try using Traxxas ends.

My dad just bought a set of the "High Performance" ones from Hot Bodies. They use the same type piece on the bottom of the shaft as the stock shocks do except with metal balls, so they will mount correctly without any interference. The bodies are not threaded, so you use spacers instead. If they made them threaded I would sell my others and buy some. They don't use the dome shaped bladder seal in the top either, just an oring. The shock cap is also molded so that the oring shouldn't move when you tighten the cap.

The humpback shocks look pretty sweet, I want to find out more about them.
 
from what little "touch feely" I had with the set El Pirata got when I bashed with him, it looked to me that the high perf. HB shocks were almost a copy of the stock shocks, except they were aluminum, and I was impressed.

When I said I destroyed a set of the threaded ones, I meant destroyed. I had 3 bladders that were torn, and two shafts looked like bananas. My theory was that the bottom seal design sucked, and alowed too much side load flexing, not to mention leaking too. This inturn caused a binding, then a bending action.
 
Yep that's true, I forgot to mention that one of my shafts got bent. I would agree the High Performance shocks look pretty much like the stock ones except they are aluminum.

Do the piggyback shocks perform that much better I wonder?
 
Does anyone have any experience or comments on the threaded shocks by GPM?
 
I ran stock long enough to remove them and replace them with a set of Hot Bodies Threaded shocks. They were all aluminum construction and fit my Savage fine. I did not have a lot of the problems that many here have described. In fact, after several bash sessions the shocks are still in great shape.

I ended up removing them and opting for a shock set up that I have more experience with. While doing so, I decided to experiment just a smidge. I ended up buying a set of New Era upper a-arms that allow the Savage to take T-Maxx sized shocks. I then purchased a set of Mugen Seiki big bore 1/8 scale rear buggy shocks (my experiment as I only purchased four of them) instead of T-Maxx shocks. I then bought a beefier spring set and built up the beast.

I now run four, that's right only four, 1/8 scale rear buggy shocks on my Savage. It handles everything I have thrown at it so far. Error can attest to the performance as he saw it first hand.
 
Yup, see it, was very impressed. Good looking too.

I still run the stock shocks, though I have changed out the oil and put the New Era purple springs on. More dampening and stiffer springs.
 
I just picked up a set of the Hot Bodies aluminum threaded shocks the other day and was curious....what weight shock oil would you recomend ??
 
Those are the Hot Bodies threaded shocks he was talking badly about. I have a set for sale if you'd like them. No damages, just can't use them anymore. I have a way different set up on my Savage now.
 
Yea the new era's are really cool. Buddy of mine has them and not like the stock ones the new era's are a little bit stiffer. When u go on a turn and all uur truck wont almost flip anymore and when u do jumps ur truck wont bottom out anymore either. They are pretty cool i am gonna get a set of them.
 
hey skymaxx, are you talkin about the ones i posted? cause it didnt say threaded anywhere on the website. and i do a lot of jumping. a few days ago i got like 10 feet in the air and landed perfect. nothin broke. i just need some new shocks cause the stock ones i go now are like gettin low.thanks
vince
 
Vince if that is your only problem you could go through a shock rebuild much cheeper than a new set of shocks. Shock oil is like $4.00 from your LHS and you can get some o-rings and even a set of shock shafts for another $10.00. Now may be a good time to take a look at the weak points of your savage and improve those things. Have you improved the steering yet or is it all stock?? bearing upgrade is like$20.00 from LHS if you get it from tower it is much cheeper. Brake upgrade $18.00 from tower. I dunno if that is the only reason that you want new shocks just get some silicone oil and what not and make improvements elsewhere just my .02
 
ok thanks. ya everthigns stock besides, aluminum chassis brace, fuel filter, air filter, tires, and rollcage.i havent upgraded the steering r nothing and i wanted to upgrade that. i really dont need brakes. I'm waitin for a new radio box that i ordered. thats pretty much it. i got 130 bucks to spend. yo think i should do thesteering?
vine
 
Well shocks would be a really nice upgrade for sure. I just couldn't stand the steering at all. I still have to get a new servo saver and a new servo after that I will start looking at some aluminum parts. If the stock steering doesn't bug you than leave it alone I just didn't dig how the truck turned stock. I have a buch better steering response with the bearings alone. I don't like slop in my steering. I ran it at the track totally stock and I was all over the place. This might just be a good time to evaluate what bugs you about the truck and see if you can't fix it. I too one day will be getting a set of better shocks just had to fix the things that bugged me about functionality first.
 
the steering does kidna bug me. but i nly have 7 shocks cause my front right shock broke. and that makes me turn alot to one side nd like none to the othr side cause it lopsided and the shocks are already low.
vince
 

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