RB5 2008 Conversion Kit

[mart]

Hi All,

Any one been running the new rear conversion and what are your thoughts?

Cheers, Martyn

[sparrow.2]

Kyosho team Germany have all been running the conversion kit and reckon it's better on dirt. One of the biggest advantages apparently is the smaller rear shock tower that breaks less.

[Taman]

So is it the same just replacing the shock towers with the Atomic Carbon ones? I'm assuming they arent going to break in a hurry and they also allow you to change teh shcok angles.

[RSharpy]

Originally Posted by Taman

So is it the same just replacing the shock towers with the Atomic Carbon ones? I'm assuming they arent going to break in a hurry and they also allow you to change teh shcok angles.

The new rear end is not the same as the atomic carbon tower. It drops the tower down and it also includes shorter shock bodys. If anything it does the oposite and lays the shocks down rather than giving you the option of having the shocks stood up straight like with the AC tower.

I have never ran the new rear end but have seen one built up on a car and can see why it would be better on dirt but for British tracks i'm not convinced it would be of any benifit.

My RB5 is going that well standard with the AC tower, I'm not in a rush to change it

[RogerM]

I have been running the wide rear end on my car since the begining of the year and I personally, for my driving style, think it is an improvement.

The conversion pack includes

rear wishbones from the ZX5 "mid-rear" set .... part number LA243
driveshaft dog bones for the orginal ZX5, 65.5mm long
purple rear springs

All these parts are fitted to my car (although mostly I use silver rear springs now)

it also includes...

shorter rear tower and shorter shock bodies.

The combination of these actually lean the shocks over more than the stock arangement as has been said. This is the very last thing you want with the car in the UK!!!!!!!

I keep meaning to ask Jonathan at Atomic Carbon to do some new shorter rear towers but keeping the shock angles as per his current towers ..... I'll ask him at the weekend if I see him.


The wider rear end actually reduces the loading at the rear tires contact patch and thus helps the car rotate, not only earlier but with more control. To my mind the combination of the Atomic Carbon rear tower and wider arms / driveshafts really make the RB5 the best 2wd car I have ever driven (and considering how fond I was of my XX-CR & B3 cars that is really a bold statement).
Everybody who has driven my RB5 has said how nicely balanced and predictable it is, no matter what car they drive themselves they have been instantly on a similar pace with my RB5.
The only surface I am struggling with is carpet / high grip indoor but on the odd occassion I get to run on that sort of surface the car is improving run by run.

My advise is to go for the conversion kit but not fit the tower / shock bodies ...... until the AC version is available that is.

[mart]

Thanks for you replies guys...

Like sharpy, my car has also been awesome in the standard form with the Atomic rear tower but I decided to go against "if it aint broke..." and have a play with the conversion set at Coventry last Sunday!

Roger you've confirmed my thoughts and the new rear tower/shocks doesn't need to be fitted. With the new lower tower fitted the car does tend to buck around a bit and felt getting those rear shocks stood up would help this. The new shock bodies do look ace and will be a shame to take them off, for now any way!!

[caneye]

Originally Posted by RogerM

I have been running the wide rear end on my car since the begining of the year and I personally, for my driving style, think it is an improvement.

The conversion pack includes

rear wishbones from the ZX5 "mid-rear" set .... part number LA243
driveshaft dog bones for the orginal ZX5, 65.5mm long
purple rear springs

All these parts are fitted to my car (although mostly I use silver rear springs now)

i....

are those the original silver springs that came with the kit?

[Supergreg]

Originally Posted by RogerM

The conversion pack includes

rear wishbones from the ZX5 "mid-rear" set .... part number LA243
driveshaft dog bones for the orginal ZX5, 65.5mm long
purple rear springs

so there's no change in rear hubs, is that correct?