Oil Shocks

[Sheedy]

Is any one using oil shocks and if so could you help me choose what shocks and set up is best for the trailfinder? Are there any advantages to using the oil shocks? Do i have to modify the truck to make the oil shocks to work?

[roborg5000]

Which shocks do you have now and what shocks are you wanting?

[Sheedy]

i have the stock shocks that come with the trail finder, but i took out the rubber O rings and the plastic seal in the bottom, i also took out the stock spring since they are very stiff, i replaced them with a stock set of springs that came with my Tamiya F350. They gave a little more support than with no spring but still have enough give that they will compress under load. but i seen some are using TLT oil shocks and wondered if they work better than the spring shock set up? I also forgot to mention that i am using the RED soft leaf springs to.

[Sheedy]

did not have any shocks in mind, was just wondering if I should go to oil shocks. I did not know if they gave any better performance or not compaired to what i got?

[roborg5000]

The TLTs dont work any better. RC4WD is releasing a softer set of springs for the White scale shocks :) Which I believe will help them to function better .

[Sheedy]

so the oil shocks are not any better performance compared to the scale white spring shocks with soft springs?

[scubadaveojr]

they are ok but it more or less is preferance... i like oil but i some times dont need it.... it is a hit or miss thing... i say give the white shocks a try and see if you like them.... they are better than you might think. lol..... i know i was shocked when i got mine... no pum intended. lol

[scottinvt]

I agree the Stock white shocks work well w/ springs removed, I also got the new Red Leafs, Big improvement:D

[Sheedy]

i am using the stock white shocks with the O rings removed and the stock springs removed and i replaced them with stock tamiya shock springs off the hilift truck and replaced the stock black leafs with the soft red leaf springs, that seems to work real well, and sounds like that is what most ppl are using.

[scubadaveojr]

YEP!! lol... also you can leave the harder leaf springs on there for when you want to give the truck a beating. lol

[ruffryder]

The thing with a leaf spring set up is the leaf is the spring.You dont really want another one doing the job too.I use G-made(junfac) 94mm zero shocks without the external spring.So i have the red leaf springs and the shocks for damping.Works well too.,plus the rubber boots fit them.
I would use RC4WD dampers if there were a set that worked as well.
The white(and now black) RC4WD shocks would be ideal if they had better o rings and a 2 or 3 hole piston,so they could be filled with oil.

[roborg5000]

The white(and now black) RC4WD shocks would be ideal if they had better o rings and a 2 or 3 hole piston,so they could be filled with oil.

Yep! Ive said that time and time again. Oil cannot flow through the piston because the e-ring covers the hole at certain times IMO.

[Thump Wallop]

Hey All,

It seems this debate will rampage on for some time still. In one of the other threads I put my findings on paper so we could all share. It seem that although not the best solution it is an improvement on the original shock working...just a recap, so I can see how it compares with everyone elses designs :-)

Std shocks with the following mods.
Removed springs
Cut a notch into the pistons to allow oil passthrough
(this is also not an ideal way, as mentioned previously, the e-clips can stil obscure oilflow)
All 0-rings intact.

Now I am curious to know which o-rings you guys are removing. In the base of the shock, where the shaft passes through, there are 2 o-rings which are squished flat as the shock base is tightened. Are you all removing one of those? I would have thought that thos o-rings would ensure that the oil doesnt leak out?? Am I misguided :-)
Someone mentioned somewhere, may be in the tips/tricks thread, that they replaced them with tamiya one's?

I would love to get less resistance from the o-rings and more oil damping, but I fear that achieving this will result in leaky shocks.

It is awesome to see the different methods people are using to get the steering how they want it. I personally am well impressed with the way my steering handles, may need a more powerful servo, but other than that it is great. Even though it is on front of the axle, it suffers no impact damage. The same cannot be said for the Ford body though, I have sent that thing through hell!! Each approach adds scars to the front (no bumper, help us RC4WD designers!), each traversal of rocks lends damage t the body sides (no rock sliders, help us RC4WD designers!) and going off ledges munches into my rear panels....but it is WAAAY to much fun to stop doing it! I am building a HILUX body for the shelf, but this Ford is going to get HAMMERED! :-) Never was a fan of Fords anyway.
Regards to all.
Andy

[akura2]

I gave up trying to make the white shocks work and ordered a set of the Junfac G-Made shocks to use w/o springs... I got them in the silver... and they look and work great... I just wish they were skinnier so that they would look more scale... up side is that i can use my shock boots

[scubadaveojr]

well those look cool!!!!

[Sheedy]

I think im going to order a set of those myself to try!