XVD or Universals?

[ssh22]

Hello everyone,
I'm planing to build a bully 2 from a kit. I actually build one years ago, but sold it (regret it).
Anyways, I see that rc4wd released universal shafts: https://store.rc4wd.com/Universal-Se...es_p_7209.html
If I remember correctly, my 1st bully 2 kit came with XVDs: https://store.rc4wd.com/XVD-Axle-for...le_p_3303.html

What do you guys run nowadays? Whats your opinion?

[xxlostonexx]

I run dlux shafts. they will never break and you get increased steering.

https://dluxfab.com/7mm-FBA-Bully2-F...afts-p12079026

[ssh22]

Originally Posted by xxlostonexx

I run dlux shafts. they will never break and you get increased steering.

https://dluxfab.com/7mm-FBA-Bully2-F...afts-p12079026

It says you need to drill the axle tubes to fit the new shafts. What about the bearing on the end of the axle? Do these shafts fit into the bearing?

Also, how do you mount the wheel hub? You can choose the axles with either the 8mm or wraith/xr stub?

[HumboldtEF]

Universals always, you'll get more angle and strength compared to a CVD/XVD type.

If you go the Dlux route you do need their knuckles too. The 8mm stub will require new hubs for your wheels, if you want it to be like stock get the wraith/XR stub.

Are you breaking axles? do you need more strength? If so the 8mm stub and huge tang (and new gears) will provide that.

I still run stock universals myself and haven't had any issues but I dont do the silly stuff comping makes you do at times (getting bound up and driving through it).

[ssh22]

If I go with the dlux knuckles for 8mm stub and dlux fba axles with 8mm stubs, which hub should I choose so it can be mounted on the stock bully 2 wheels?

[HumboldtEF]

These are the 8mm hubs: https://dluxfab.ecwid.com/Wheel-hubs...haft-p19777271

These use a bolt pattern of 6 x .666" which does match up with the Bully wheels, I just double checked.

[ssh22]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

These are the 8mm hubs: https://dluxfab.ecwid.com/Wheel-hubs...haft-p19777271

These use a bolt pattern of 6 x .666" which does match up with the Bully wheels, I just double checked.

What should be the size… closest to the stock wheel hub?

[HumboldtEF]

Thats up to what you prefer. Personally I prefer a narrow track width over a wider one but you also need to consider if you have any clearance issues. I added the Dlux knuckles and had to step up to a wider (RC4WD) hub (not the 8mm hubs) and add a small spacer to get the steering link to clear the tire.

I'll try to get some measurements off my Bully II a bit later. I have the Dlux knuckles but not the 8mm stub shafts so these should be close enough that all you might need is some spacers to fine tune them (linked below)

If you have a 3D printer you can print these spacers I put up on Thingiverse, these are just to fine tune your fitment: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4761180

[HumboldtEF]

Okay I pulled a wheel off my Bully II and if you want it as narrow as possible a .350 hub with a small 1.7mm spacer will match what I did to clear the Dlux knuckles. Or you can play it safe and go 1.5mm wider with a .475 hub.

Since the 8mm stub shafts may be slightly different you should probably also email Dlux to see if they have a recommendation, they're pretty helpful.

[ssh22]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

Okay I pulled wheel off my Bully II and if you want it as narrow as possible a .350 hub with a small 1.7mm spacer will match what I did to clear the Dlux knuckles. Or you can play it safe and go 1.5mm wider with a .475 hub.

Since the 8mm stub shafts may be slightly different you should probably also email Dlux to see if they have a recommendation, they're pretty helpful.

Thank you for the help! I have already emailed them.

[v3dg]

I just bought a Bully 2 kit and I must say I'm a little disappointed with the steering. Not sure if I have a dud but the maximum angle I can get before the wheel starts twitching is less than 35 degrees. On RC4WD's website it says that the XVD can do 50 and the universals can do 45. Do people actually get 45 degrees out of the universals? I'm looking to upgrade but not sure if I want to be disappointed again... On a side note, do people actually get 50 degrees on the XVD's or is mine simply not working correctly?

[HumboldtEF]

I've never tried the XVDs so I cant comment on the max angle. I will say that all front axles will surge/twitch when they get close to the max angle especially when theres no load (rig upside down or wheels off the ground), put the rig down and it should lessen a little bit. That said there could also be something wrong.

If you can post up a short video that would be helpful.

[v3dg]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

I've never tried the XVDs so I cant comment on the max angle. I will say that all front axles will surge/twitch when they get close to the max angle especially when theres no load (rig upside down or wheels off the ground), put the rig down and it should lessen a little bit. That said there could also be something wrong.

If you can post up a short video that would be helpful.

Thanks for the quick reply! As you said though, this is on a test bed with wheels in the air and servo horn removed. All going by feeling. My old Berg Tracer does the same thing at pretty much the same angle so I assumed it was normal but wanted to confirm. I did however break the CVD pin on my berg from running it that way so I wanted to avoid that. Sourcing parts for a model that old was impossible so I had to get creative to fix it up. I then decided to order the Bully 2 axles (after a few drinks that became the kit) because I wanted more steering but now I'm stuck with the same thing. I see pictures of some Bully's with insane steering angles but I wonder if those are all running the Dlux axles which is out of my budget. The universals are pretty cheap so I guess I will try it out to compare...

[HumboldtEF]

Well I just checked my Bully 2 and it does have the CVDs after all. I can get what looks to be about 50° of steering though I did set the trim a bit conservative at maybe 45° just so I dont run the shaft into the drive cup and break things. Its surprisingly smooth at fully lock, it still surges a little bit but not as bad as I was expecting and not as bad as most of my other rigs that use universals.

You might try applying some light machine oil or grease to the CVDs.