Belts vs Shafts for 4WD
 

I've noticed cars like the Losi xxx-4 and the Cat SX are belt driven, where as the likes of the B44 and ZX-5 are shaft driven.

Just wondering out of interest which people prefer and why.

When I used to race many moons ago I used to have to regularly replace belts on my Cat 2000, but I was only 14 at the time so I may have setup the car wrong.

I think belts are unfavored with off-road vehicles due to dirt getting onto the belts and wearing them away?

Shafts are clearly a better choice, they are typically made from steel and can withstand being "attacked" by dirt.

Shafts are easier to clean if the belt cars dont have gear box covers but if the belts do then they are a better buy as the balance is more manageable with a belt as the chassis is easier to work with. The tamiya belt drive you can buy gearbox covers and is a stunning drive so if i were choosing between the b44 and 511 then id go tamiya.

Shafts are a little more robust, but have the downside of having more torquesteer.
Touring cars are now pretty much exclusively belt having gone through a brief phase of shaft drive. Strength isn't that big an issue, but the belt cars have notably better handling.
In contrast 1/8th off road is exclusively shaft drive. The power of the engines means the durable shaft is a lot better and they are heavy enough that torque effects from the drivetrain are not significant.

Now the thing is in 10th off road we sit kinda halfway between touring and 1/8th off road, which means that in practice either system works effectively.

^

Well said.

I think for 1:10 Off Road, it's purely down to preference. There's no real major disadvantage to either now.

Personally I've always preferred belts, so that's what I'll stick too.



Julius.

Just get a Durga :D Sealed belt drive which gives the best of both worlds :thumbsup:. To be fair tho Ive broken more bevel gears than have snapped belts so in my experience belts have been the more reliable drivetrain.

you may find its not the shaft drive thay creates torque steer its the motor layout, brushless dont suffer not where near as much torque effect

hold a brushed motor and give it full power, then do same with brushless, the brushed will try to jump out of your hand

me i prefer shaft and gear diffs for less maintanence :thumbsup: