How to stop the stock shocks from leaking?

[skiiermike]

I just stripped my stock shocks down to clean and re-oil them.

I have read a lot of threads on here that say replace them. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to do that right now.

I did buy the rig used and noticed when taking them apart that the shocks were quite low on oil and it was dirty.

Is there anything I can do to create a better seal?

[Honchoforever1]

I just fill them up and go but seriously you may as well start Savin for new ones...

[Ohioskills]

replace the oil with internal spring

[Cultus]

the best cheap solution for you is to get some green slime or something similar and slather up all your O-rings and shock shafts with it, it really does help till you can afford to get some upgrades.

[skiiermike]

Thanks for the responses.

My next purchase will be a set of aluminum beadlocks that's why I'd like to get as long as I can out of these.

For the internal spring suggestion. Is that something I could borrow from around the house or are they special order?

How often do you need to replace the green slime?

[Gravebane525]

there are some well working cheap beadlocks out there. gmade vr01 work pretty good though my pitbulls are pulling lose alittle and will have a few drops of glue to help hold them in place they use a bolt and nut so you don;t have to worrie about stripping out plastic threads.. super shafty has aluminum dog dish steelies that are almost as cheap as the gmade plastic ones, haven't used them though.

[Cultus]

Originally Posted by skiiermike

How often do you need to replace the green slime?

well that depends on conditions, mudding, dust ect. You wont have to rebuild the shocks any more than normal, probably even less often. It really depends on how dirty you get em.

[skiiermike]

Awesome idea on the slime and thanks for the rim suggestions I'll look into them.

[theloudone]

for 15 bucks on ebay you can get a brand new set of plastic traxxas shocks. ive never had them leak.

[Dostradamas]

Originally Posted by Ohioskills

replace the oil with internal spring

What springs?
MRC or some other mini?

[craddock35]

I put mine together with 3 orings instead of the normal 2 and I have not had a issue since. I also used the green slime along with them.

[skiiermike]

OK so apparently I have a lot to learn, unless this turned out ok.

I rebuilt my shocks with 50wt as that's all I had laying around the house.

Boy are they stiff. They take quite a bit to compress but are not springy which I assume is good.

I think crawler shocks should be pretty soft, am I right?

[Lentsnh2012]

What pistons do you have in the shock (how many holes)?

Did you bleed the air out of the shocks as you were putting on the cap?

50wt is a little heavy for such a light truck like a SCX-10. I would try the things above and decrease the oil down to 20-30wt.

[skiiermike]

2 holes.

The light bulb in my head just turned on thanks to you.

I put the seal in the shock first then screwed the cap on. I bet the cap is full of air.

Should I place the seal in the cap and screw it on instead?

I know to compress about halfway before tightening.

[Lentsnh2012]

Originally Posted by skiiermike

2 holes.

The light bulb in my head just turned on thanks to you.

I put the seal in the shock first then screwed the cap on. I bet the cap is full of air.

Should I place the seal in the cap and screw it on instead?

I know to compress about halfway before tightening.

Put the 3 hold pistons in the shocks. that will definitely help. I leave the rubber bladder on the under side of the cap, then I push up the shock piston halfway (by this time the oil should be level with the top rim of the shock body) and then I screw on the shock cap. this should give good down travel and up travel without being too rigid or too weak.

I'm glad I can turn the light bulb on!

[skiiermike]

Thanks for the assistance.

I'll use them like this for a few days and see how it is.

[toyota2]

My Icon shocks leaked from day one and it was driving my crazy. I took them apart and cleaned everything up real good and when I put them back together I packed the bottom where the o-rings go with silicon grease (Shop GUNK 0.5 Oz Pipe Joint Compound at Lowes.com) and then put the o-rings and spacers in. So far it has held up good and not a sign of leaking but I have not put that much run time on it since I did this.

[Calderwood]

Have you checked out the scx shock tech thread? I have included all the part numbers you need. I suggest venting the caps, duratrax bladders, green slime, and new orings. Tech Thread -- SCX10 shocks

[Jus]

I don't run oil in my scx-10 shocks. The suspension reacts more like 1:1 without oil. It's not bouncy at all and they still do their job just from the friction of the o-rings. Keep them lubed with a little grease is all I do.

[johnnyh66]

drain the oil and run the stock shocks. I've won many a comp with that setup.