Wraith project by Hay Ewe - 1st - Shocks

[Hay Ewe]

Af'noon all

I have been interested in Rock Crawlers for a while but not that interested to get one until I met NorthKona on this forum.
He put me in touch with a guy selling his built up kit so I got lucky.

Its all there, a bit dirty and needed going over with tools and batteries charging.
Previous own cut the frame down and made his own aluminium panels and custom paint job. Its ok for the moment. It is all stock, stock wheels and tires, shocks, drive train etc.



That picture area above, thats my back yard at my weekend holiday home. Its a bit rocky in that region.

Here is another picture of the general area. Camera doesn't do it justice.


After reading many threads and seeing so many upgrades and options and some awesome builds, this vehicle wont be like this for long. I think its going to end up like Paddy's axe, still a Wraith but nothing original.
I intend to use this thread as my project and as I investigate component changes and take it places, post them up here. I shall change the thread title to reflect the next / current upgrade.

I had to service all the shocks as there was a lot of stiction and not very smooth and extension is weak.

The first thing I want to do is to upgrade the shocks.

So people, tell me what are the best value for money shocks. Preferably I want metal body shocks (and preferably green or yellow, color coding for my end result) and a good place to buy would be helpful as well (I dont purchase much on the internet)

Let the fun begin!
Thanks
Hay Ewe

[Odd-M]

I like Traxxas Bigbores. Cheap, very strong, don't leak and work well.

[DrDiff952]

ProLine Power Stroke shocks. They work and do NOT leak!

[ASKAL]

Well Hello there Hay Ewe! Askal here from Canberra.
Will be purchasing my first Wraith in about a month. Very keen.
Nice Rig you got there mate.

[Fatskie]

Originally Posted by Odd-M

I like Traxxas Bigbores. Cheap, very strong, don't leak and work well.

what ones do you use? do you have the part number? or what traxxas rig would be using them?

thanks!

[littletoyboy]

I like my g made xd piggy backs.

[Hay Ewe]

Originally Posted by ASKAL

Well Hello there Hay Ewe! Askal here from Canberra.
Will be purchasing my first Wraith in about a month. Very keen.
Nice Rig you got there mate.

Thanks Mate
I cant take any credit for it though. I didn't build it or paint it, just brought it second hand.
I am intending that this thread will document its transformation into a good rig, bit by bit starting with the shocks.
Though I do think I have an axle geometry problem so a link kit might be in order sooner as well.

Cheers

Hay Ewe

[Odd-M]

Originally Posted by Fatskie

what ones do you use? do you have the part number? or what traxxas rig would be using them?

thanks!

I run Slash rear shocks, #2662, with Level3 droop kit. These are about the same length as stock shocks. You could also run the 3,5" #2660 without droop kit. These cars need some lowering of COG in my opinion.

[Hay Ewe]

Originally Posted by Odd-M

I run Slash rear shocks, #2662, with Level3 droop kit. These are about the same length as stock shocks. You could also run the 3,5" #2660 without droop kit. These cars need some lowering of COG in my opinion.

Do these shocks come with springs?
of not, which springs should I get?

thanks
Hay Ewe

[mr dave]

I also run the Traxxas Ultra shock, and with the progressive rate springs. Look on the Traxxas website under downloads to get the part #'s for them. STRC also has parts on their website. You may need an upper mount or a spacer to keep them from hitting your frame because they are pretty big in diameter.

[Hay Ewe]

argh!
so many different brands and thoughts about shocks, didn't think it would be this hard.
Went out for a run yesterday and one guy has tricked up wriath and running standard shocks.

I need to pull the motor apart as well. Doesn't seem to run so well.
Or buy a new motor.... and that would be a bottomless pit with the upgrades required.

Also seems that the two battery packs I have dont work so well. Did a balance charge on them but they dont seem to hold charge. Am going to go for a drive around soon and run them down in the car and then balance charge and see if that helps.

Have also been thinking about more mods, upgrades, improvements that i would like to do as well.

So many things to do!

[Percymon]

The axial shocks aren't that bad actually, the RTR versions came with stiff springs but swapping them if the softer variants and using 30wt oil seems to work pretty well - Harley talks about it in his beginners guide to the wraith thread.

I have the Gmade xD piggybacks on a racing clod buster and they are great shocks. I've just bought the Gmade team zero 104mm shocks for my wraith build - I know they are pretty good quality items and prices not too bad from rcmart.

[Hay Ewe]

well bit of a gap due some other things
I pulled the motor apart and cleaned the brushes.
I also got some new batteries and a cell tester thing.
Both of the batteries I got with it had a cell that was dropped.

MUCH better with proper 3cell batteries!
thing is, I now need to re-program the speed control as the braking function is too sever.

Will be getting a new brushless motor soon and as well a new speed controller and so will program it when that all happens

Pics soon!

[Hay Ewe]

I realised that I hadn't changed the title of the thread.
Shocks took a back seat after a service, though one leaks as the diaphragm is torn.

Next up will be a sensored brushless motor.

I also picked up some sticky back to go over the panels.
the existing paint job i dont like much but dont want / not able to put too much effort in at this stage so this should brighten it up a bit.