AR44 rear axle bearings? 2 or 4?

[GTSLOW]

OK so I've built and installed four different sets of AR44's on various builds now (both new and used). One thing I've noticed is only one out of the four have had the bearings installed on the axle end and in the lock out. Now I can't be the only one who's encountered this. I went ahead and installed the extra bearings on the other three. But why aren't they installed like this from the get go? The axle shaft itself has an area cut into it to accommodate these extra bearings.

Maybe I've had fluke axles or someone removed them?

[MattySlimz1987]

Have you been buying kit version axles or rtr? Or it wasn't specified when you bought them?

Makes me wonder about my rear end now... when I get home I'm going to pull it apart and see if I have those extra bearings... I can't remember if I put them on both parts either when I assembled the axles. I've seen talk of this but didn't go into detail.

[Di_Spencer]

Originally Posted by GTSLOW

OK so I've built and installed four different sets of AR44's on various builds now (both new and used). One thing I've noticed is only one out of the four have had the bearings installed on the axle end and in the lock out. Now I can't be the only one who's encountered this. I went ahead and installed the extra bearings on the other three. But why aren't they installed like this from the get go? The axle shaft itself has an area cut into it to accommodate these extra bearings.

Maybe I've had fluke axles or someone removed them?

I have 2 sets. Both were from the kit version and neither came with all 4 bearings. I did add bearings in both sets when building them though.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[GTSLOW]

For anyone curious this is what I'm talking about. That bearing on the inside had been MISSING.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Di_Spencer]

Yeah, the kit manual doesn't even show those bearings so I'm pretty sure the ones that you got that had them were added by the previous owner.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[GTSLOW]

Originally Posted by Di_Spencer

I have 2 sets. Both were from the kit version and neither came with all 4 bearings. I did add bearings in both sets when building them though.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

It just seems like it makes sense. Can't figure out why they wouldn't come pre-installed.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[GTSLOW]

Originally Posted by Di_Spencer

Yeah, the kit manual doesn't even show those bearings so I'm pretty sure the ones that you got that had them were added by the previous owner.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

My friend just pulled his apart (used) and one side had two and the other only the lockout bearing. What the heck LOL....

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Di_Spencer]

Originally Posted by GTSLOW

It just seems like it makes sense. Can't figure out why they wouldn't come pre-installed.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Cost probably, axial probably decided that the extra support they supplied wouldn't be worth the extra cost for most people. They probably decided that if someone wanted them they could just add them on their own.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[GTSLOW]

Originally Posted by Di_Spencer

Cost probably, axial probably decided that the extra support they supplied wouldn't be worth the extra cost for most people. They probably decided that if someone wanted them they could just add them on their own.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Makes sense. Just funny how they went through the trouble of machining the axle shafts to work with an inner bearing.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Jeepy84]

Interesting, I never even thought to see if a bearing fit there. Good sealed ones would help keep gunk out of the tube that slips between the lockout/C Hub.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[jimkill]

I thought this same thing while building the kit. I just put some extra bearing in and called it good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[malickie]

I swear when I built my Kit I had all four for the rear... That and I recall seeing 4 in my RTR as well when I redid the lockouts with different ones. Just checked to make sure I wasn't wrong and I have 4 bearings in the axles of both.

[SSD]

I noticed this issue in the first SCX10.2 kits I had last year and expected more people to notice this...

The instructions say install one at the end on each side. However, if you only use one the rear axle shafts will have slop and move inside the axle too much and may cause the hex to rub on the rear lockouts.
So while the shafts dont really need two bearings on each side to function well they do need the inner bearings to keep them in the correct position to avoid any issues.

[GTSLOW]

Originally Posted by malickie

I swear when I built my Kit I had all four for the rear... That and I recall seeing 4 in my RTR as well when I redid the lockouts with different ones. Just checked to make sure I wasn't wrong and I have 4 bearings in the axles of both.

That's what's weird. Some have them and some don't.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[malickie]

Originally Posted by GTSLOW

That's what's weird. Some have them and some don't.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Strange indeed. I wonder what the cause was, maybe first runs? Still that wouldn't explain you having multiple ones like that. Possibly factory where assembled or lol, I have no clue. Just strange some people have that and some don't.

[QuesoDelDiablo]

My kit didn't have them..

[GTSLOW]

Originally Posted by malickie

Strange indeed. I wonder what the cause was, maybe first runs? Still that wouldn't explain you having multiple ones like that. Possibly factory where assembled or lol, I have no clue. Just strange some people have that and some don't.

Very possible. The one that struck me odd was having two on one side but only the outer on the the opposite. Three rear bearings really?

[MattySlimz1987]

Thanks for the write up. My kit must have been a first run too. Took it apart because I couldn't remember if it was 2 on both sides or not. Only 1 on each side afterall. Luckily I had some Traxxas bearings that were the right size in a extra parts bag. I don't know why Traxxas uses a blue housing..(maybe they want us to think they are waterproof) umm no, I'm not convinced ANY ball bearing is waterproof..
*UPDATE* The slop is also gone in the rear axle shaft as SSD stated. Good work.