I'm ready for brushless, is my Lazer?

[rociduro]

Hi All, thanks to everyone for the advice on brushless systems for my ZX5.
I just want to make sure I've set my buggy up right for the change in power (plan to run 5.5 motor), if anyone can offer any more tips on what I should do to ensure reliability, that would be most welcome. Here's what I've done so far (RTR version) -

Proline tyres
Ceramic balls in diffs (shimmed fairly tight)
3 Racing heavy duty diff tubes
Ceramic outdrive bearings
Aluminium suspension hinges
Lunsford turnbuckles
Decent oil in shocks
SP motor mount
3 Racing Aluminium hubs front and rear
10 degree front hubs
20 tooth pinion ready for new motor

Now before anyone bags me for buying the RTR version, that was my best choice offered by my wife's budget, now that I have it, she has no idea of what I spend on it, so I don't mind spending money to get it right.

[kek23k]

Should be fairly bomb-proof now, I would recommend the triple cap velvet shocks as the next major upgrade and have you replaced all the bushings with proper bearings/ballraces?

[madmax]

like what kek said. im running a nex lrp x12 4.0 in my sp, and is spot on, a 5.5 will be fine

[rociduro]

Thanks guys.

Yes, my next upgrade will be the velvet shocks, just waiting for stock to arrive. I haven't replaced the bushes yet, I'm assuming your talking about the ones located in the steering assembly...you think this is really necessary? I have replaced all the suspension bushes with the SP delrin items though. Oh yeah, and a shiny new Proline Vortex shell!

[Neil Skull]

What about drive shafts?

I dont think the readyset ones will last with a 5.5 motor!

[dibble34]

i can confirm they don't! Or at least they didn't in my ZX5 with a 4.5. After 2 race meetings the joints were chewed up. Had to get dog legs for for the back and the expensive metal driveshafts for the front.

[rociduro]

Driveshafts hey, thanks for the heads up.

5.5 went in yesterday, great power, but my slipper is umm...slipping. I took the slipper apart, flipped the pads over and tightened up, yet still massive amounts of slip. The slipper nut is almost all the way tightened!Do the pads wear thin, should I be putting them on the same order as my soon to break driveshafts?

[Jez]

Originally Posted by dibble34

i can confirm they don't! Or at least they didn't in my ZX5 with a 4.5. After 2 race meetings the joints were chewed up. Had to get dog legs for for the back and the expensive metal driveshafts for the front.

expensive?????where you been looking my friend?

[Darren Boyle]

UJ's are expensive compared to dogbones , they are three/four times the price...... but worth their weight in gold still.

[warped]

Originally Posted by rociduro

Driveshafts hey, thanks for the heads up.

5.5 went in yesterday, great power, but my slipper is umm...slipping. I took the slipper apart, flipped the pads over and tightened up, yet still massive amounts of slip. The slipper nut is almost all the way tightened!Do the pads wear thin, should I be putting them on the same order as my soon to break driveshafts?

Is it definitely the slipper or is it the diff?

The way to tell is to hold both rear wheels and then rotate the spur gear.

(don't turn the wheel as this doubles the load on the diff, and will usually make the diff slip first,)

If the driveshaft and front wheels rotate, then it's your rear diff slipping. -

If the spur gear rotates, but the driveshaft and front wheels don't then your right and it is the slipper.

Worth checking the front diff is fairly tight too, although this isn't as critical as the rear.

Personally I struggle to get the slipper loose enough. on my car.

The slipper should always slip before the diff, but other than that shouldn't do a lot in a 4wd.

[rociduro]

Definitely the slipper...I noticed that the RTR version has two red slipper pads, whereas I can only find the white and red pad versions as available parts, I'm guessing the rtr has lesser quality slipper pads?

Anyway, that's the least of my dramas, while overtaking my mates Kyosho Inferno, I clipped a drain in the street and did a whole bunch of carnage to the Lazer, as well as the slipper disks, I need new shock tower mounts, new shocks tops, a new driveshaft and a suspension arm. I always look for the positives though, and this just means upgrading to better parts. Sure beats waiting for those weak rtr driveshafts to shag out completely, and finally an excuse to get some carbon fibre on the buggy!!

[RogerM]

I'd personally advise against the carbon fibre towers etc. The latest plastic parts are far more durable than the carbon stuff could ever hope to be.

If you order LA209 / LA210 you'll get the latest tower mounts and transmission cases. LA216 and LA217 will get you the latest towers. I know they are the same part numbers as the originals but the improvements have been a running change.

[rociduro]

Cheers, I've got a truckload of parts on order now, but have gone with the plastic shock towers as advised. Now the long wait to receive the parts from the states...

Does anyone have any more advice on the slipper issue? I have new slipper pads coming, a tension spring, and the drive disks as well, surely that will fix the issue???

[RogerM]

Why have you ordered from the USA?

I've never had an issue with the slipper slipping up to and including a 4.5R so you should be fine!

[rociduro]

Order from the US for two reasons, firstly, my local hobby shop is very slow to react to my orders, plus they're expensive. Secondly, US has better dollar exchange rate to Australian dollar than the pound or euro. I usually have to wait around 3 weeks for my parts though...

From what your saying, once I have the new slipper pads, I should be OK. I used to set my slipper quite loose with the old motor, so perhaps this has worn the pads out, as once I put the 5.5 in, the buggy went nowhere, even with the slipper fully tightened.