I dremelled the motors rotor down so it was further away from the batteries, cells are also servotaped in, i havent seen the bracket, can you link me?
Hadnt heardof the chassis snapping but the new alloy parts may replace any bits they've had problems with:
http://www.hpiracing.co.uk/piw.php?partNo=67580
and
http://www.hpiracing.co.uk/piw.php?partNo=67581