Help! Leaky 501x shocks!

[Lplate]

Hi,
Anyone know what I can do to hop up / improve the front shocks of the TRF501x buggy? Mine seems to always feel so soft (compared to the rear shocks) and when I inspect closer, they are oily/wet at the bottom retainer. My rear shocks don't have the same problem.

Also, are the DF-03 TRF Hop Up Shocks better than TRF501x stock shocks?

[jimmy]

No the DF03 shocks are not as good.

I've not seen them leak - are they both leaking? are you sure the cartridges are nipped up tight? do you have all the spacers in there that you should - two plastic and two orings. I can't remember but I think it's supposed to have an oring around the top of the cartridge also to seal it up.

The shocks are great and I've never had any problems with them - you say they feel soft, so what oil / piston / spring are you using?
my setting up front is generally smallest hole piston, 35wt AE oil, AE blue spring.

[Lplate]

I'm using AE Buggy Front Blue Springs but cannot get the rear springs in Singapore, so still using stock Tamiya white springs for the rear.

I also cannot get AE oil, and not sure if the rating is based on universal measurement standards so just got the Tamiya medium-weight oil set 500, 600 and 700. Currently using the 600 for the front but probably leaked most of it out by now.

I'll try rebuilding the front shocks with the smallest of the hopup pistons (Tamiya) and see how it goes.

Thanks for the tip!

[jimmy]

Check to make sure the orings that seal the cartridge aren't torn up as they can easily get damaged when assembling the shocks.

[B4james]

I was having some leakage on the rear shocks but tried a few things different and now have not had an issue since

I run the Tamiya rod guide kit and use the Kyosho RB5 Ultima X type option orings (the orange ones). These orings make it like you are running 4 orings per shock as each oring has two sections which seal against the shafts. Shocks are also super smooth with these orings and rod guides.

Another tip that I received was to bleed them in the same manner as an associated shock as the factory drivers do not use the bleed screws.