RCCrawler Forums

jeeper_05 · 03-08-2009, 09:02 PM

I received the RC4WD Sparks comp crawler shocks this last week, and was quite impressed by the quality of these little guys. The nicest thing about them is the balls on both ends of the shock...

The shocks are just over 4" eye to eye, 4-1/8" to be exact...another nice feature of these shocks is they will accept any maxx size spring, and or and losi crawler shock spring....

The shock shaft measures in at 3/16" !!!!! I filled them with 100 weight oil and they seem very smooth and have fully adjustable collars...

Still have to mount them on a truck and test them, but first impressions are very good

Stock springs

Losi Whites

Comparison of RC4WD Spark Shock to Losi Crawler Shock with short Traxxas Ball mount mod

Mounted to SWX (this will not be the truck they are tested on, they will be tested on my buddies SW3)

Nice being able to mount them upside down for low CG and resist leaking as much as possible

Rokpile · 03-08-2009, 09:52 PM

are the housings aluminum? and do they have different piston sets for tuning. it's nice having more shocks to choose from, thanks for the post

badnuz · 03-08-2009, 09:54 PM

those look good ill have to buy some now lol.Nice crawler btw

crawldog · 03-08-2009, 09:56 PM

sweet lets see how they do.i need new shocks.will wait before i order up some new 1s

2JSC · 03-08-2009, 09:58 PM

Very nice - so there is no "shock cap" just the lower part the rod slides through?

roksloski · 03-08-2009, 10:12 PM

and mounted that way, any air that gets in, will go and stay up at the shock cap where you dont want it..
am i correct??
at least its that way with losi's...

jeeper_05 · 03-08-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rokpile

are the housings aluminum? and do they have different piston sets for tuning. it's nice having more shocks to choose from, thanks for the post

Yes, the housings are aluminum

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2JSC

Very nice - so there is no "shock cap" just the lower part the rod slides through?

Exactly, no cap

mann0mann · 03-09-2009, 07:04 PM

They look considerably shorted than the losi...is it just the pic?

Slowkrawl · 03-09-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rokpile

are the housings aluminum? and do they have different piston sets for tuning. it's nice having more shocks to choose from, thanks for the post

You could just drill very small holes if you want to adjust them? Granted if you don't like it, then you need new pistons lol.

jeeper_05 · 03-10-2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mann0mann

They look considerably shorted than the losi...is it just the pic?

dont just look at the pics...read...lol

they are 4-1/8" long eye to eye, I am not sure what a stock losi is, but my modded losis with the ballend on the top are about 4-5/8", stock I am guessing they are the same...

crawling82 · 03-10-2009, 08:06 PM

I just recieved mine the shipping was great at my front door in 2 days

. I filled mine with 60 wt oil and they were way to soft. The pistons have why to many holes. Sent rc4wd a e-mail about the pistons and they are working on new pistons with less holes. I ended up using some 3hole t-maxx pistons just had to drill out the center to fit the shaft. With 55 wt oil they are now more to my liking. It was kind of tough to get all the air out. Over all these seem to very well made and with new pistons on the way should be great. I will buy them for my next build. makes it so nice having balls on both ends of the shock

quickster47 · 03-24-2009, 07:00 PM

Has anyone found or figured out a good procedure for filling these shocks?

The red o-ring seal at the top is a genuine PITA to get seated. I have owned a dozen different brands of shocks and while these are great in many aspects. they are just plain not easy to get filled and sealed correctly. Even Associated shocks are easier to assemble and bleed than these RC4WD Sparks.

And as previously stated, the piston has way too many holes for serious use as rock crawler shocks. Even with 100wt oil.

I am seriously considering returning them because so far they are not worth the effort.

Carl

Racer4Life · 03-24-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickster47

Has anyone found or figured out a good procedure for filling these shocks?

The red o-ring seal at the top is a genuine PITA to get seated. I have owned a dozen different brands of shocks and while these are great in many aspects. they are just plain not easy to get filled and sealed correctly. Even Associated shocks are easier to assemble and bleed than these RC4WD Sparks.

And as previously stated, the piston has way too many holes for serious use as rock crawler shocks. Even with 100wt oil.

I am seriously considering returning them because so far they are not worth the effort.

Carl

I had to use my fingernail to make sure the o-ring got seated. I was able to seat them pretty easy.

As for the holes. I think there may be other pistons on the way out.

I just built them like a Losi shock. You can find a manual online for the Losi's. If it doesn't push all the way in, drain a real small amount and check again.

quickster47 · 03-25-2009, 07:49 AM

Racer4Life - thanks much for the reply.

I sort of figured they would be built similar to the Losis.

I also used my fingernail. And that worked good after my hands were coated with silicon shock oil.

Amazing how great minds think alike.

Will try again tonight to finish up assembling the rest of the set.

Carl

j33pownr · 04-15-2009, 11:30 AM

Are the threads in the shock body the same inthe LOSI and RC4WD shocks? If so can you thread the LOSI chock cartridge into the RC4WD Spark shock Body? That way I can swap from the crap end on the LOSI to a nice ball end.

Robbob · 04-15-2009, 11:50 AM

Outer Diameter of the RC4WD piston vs the Losi pistons?

Jeepial · 04-15-2009, 12:05 PM

Looks like a pretty good set up...I have been waiting on some good alternatives for the Losi shocks...
Not sure if I will get these or wait for the Pro Line shocks.
Good write up on these shocks!

j33pownr · 04-15-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Outer Diameter of the RC4WD piston vs the Losi pistons?

Kinda....this is a shock cartridge

I wanted to take the shock body from the sparks with the ball end and swap everything from the LOSI crawler shocks into the sparks (pistons, shock shaft, orings). I only ask because I have 4 replacement cartridges for the LOSI shocks that would be junk if I switch over.

dieselfuel · 04-15-2009, 02:57 PM

with those thick ass ballends on them will they even bolt onto berg axles? the associated ballends on my shocks are larger diameter than traxxas and losi and i had to swap them out for traxxas ones because they were rubbing.

03-08-2009, 09:02 PM	#1
jeeper_05 RCC Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Prosser Posts: 1,278	RC4WD Sparks Comp Shocks Review I received the RC4WD Sparks comp crawler shocks this last week, and was quite impressed by the quality of these little guys. The nicest thing about them is the balls on both ends of the shock... The shocks are just over 4" eye to eye, 4-1/8" to be exact...another nice feature of these shocks is they will accept any maxx size spring, and or and losi crawler shock spring.... The shock shaft measures in at 3/16" !!!!! I filled them with 100 weight oil and they seem very smooth and have fully adjustable collars... Still have to mount them on a truck and test them, but first impressions are very good Stock springs Losi Whites Comparison of RC4WD Spark Shock to Losi Crawler Shock with short Traxxas Ball mount mod Mounted to SWX (this will not be the truck they are tested on, they will be tested on my buddies SW3) Nice being able to mount them upside down for low CG and resist leaking as much as possible

03-08-2009, 09:54 PM	#3
badnuz Quarry Creeper Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: by a river Posts: 253	those look good ill have to buy some now lol.Nice crawler btw Last edited by badnuz; 03-08-2009 at 10:05 PM.

03-08-2009, 09:52 PM	#2
Rokpile Quarry Creeper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tumwater Wa. Posts: 345	are the housings aluminum? and do they have different piston sets for tuning. it's nice having more shocks to choose from, thanks for the post

03-08-2009, 09:56 PM	#4
crawldog Pebble Pounder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: MODESTO Posts: 142	sweet lets see how they do.i need new shocks.will wait before i order up some new 1s

03-08-2009, 09:58 PM	#5
2JSC I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2006 Location: FOUR 8 OH Posts: 4,913	Very nice - so there is no "shock cap" just the lower part the rod slides through?

03-08-2009, 10:12 PM	#6
roksloski I wanna be Dave Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Deep in Swing Town Posts: 3,011	and mounted that way, any air that gets in, will go and stay up at the shock cap where you dont want it.. am i correct?? at least its that way with losi's...

03-09-2009, 07:04 PM	#8
mann0mann Like a boss... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NorCal Posts: 1,008	They look considerably shorted than the losi...is it just the pic?

03-10-2009, 08:06 PM	#11
crawling82 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: 95667 Posts: 11	I just recieved mine the shipping was great at my front door in 2 days . I filled mine with 60 wt oil and they were way to soft. The pistons have why to many holes. Sent rc4wd a e-mail about the pistons and they are working on new pistons with less holes. I ended up using some 3hole t-maxx pistons just had to drill out the center to fit the shaft. With 55 wt oil they are now more to my liking. It was kind of tough to get all the air out. Over all these seem to very well made and with new pistons on the way should be great. I will buy them for my next build. makes it so nice having balls on both ends of the shock

03-24-2009, 07:00 PM	#12
quickster47 Quarry Creeper Join Date: May 2005 Location: Crossville,TN Posts: 363	Has anyone found or figured out a good procedure for filling these shocks? The red o-ring seal at the top is a genuine PITA to get seated. I have owned a dozen different brands of shocks and while these are great in many aspects. they are just plain not easy to get filled and sealed correctly. Even Associated shocks are easier to assemble and bleed than these RC4WD Sparks. And as previously stated, the piston has way too many holes for serious use as rock crawler shocks. Even with 100wt oil. I am seriously considering returning them because so far they are not worth the effort. Carl

03-25-2009, 07:49 AM	#14
quickster47 Quarry Creeper Join Date: May 2005 Location: Crossville,TN Posts: 363	Racer4Life - thanks much for the reply. I sort of figured they would be built similar to the Losis. I also used my fingernail. And that worked good after my hands were coated with silicon shock oil. Amazing how great minds think alike. Will try again tonight to finish up assembling the rest of the set. Carl

04-15-2009, 11:30 AM	#15
j33pownr Quarry Creeper Join Date: May 2008 Location: ncrccrawlers.com Posts: 216	Are the threads in the shock body the same inthe LOSI and RC4WD shocks? If so can you thread the LOSI chock cartridge into the RC4WD Spark shock Body? That way I can swap from the crap end on the LOSI to a nice ball end.

04-15-2009, 11:50 AM	#16
Robbob Custom Carbon Fiber Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Connecticut :( Posts: 4,501	Outer Diameter of the RC4WD piston vs the Losi pistons?

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04-15-2009, 12:05 PM	#17
Jeepial I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: behind the wheel of a monster truck... Posts: 2,878	Looks like a pretty good set up...I have been waiting on some good alternatives for the Losi shocks... Not sure if I will get these or wait for the Pro Line shocks. Good write up on these shocks!

04-15-2009, 02:57 PM	#19
dieselfuel I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Henderson/Las Vegas, NV Posts: 5,032	with those thick ass ballends on them will they even bolt onto berg axles? the associated ballends on my shocks are larger diameter than traxxas and losi and i had to swap them out for traxxas ones because they were rubbing.

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