GEN7 portal axle upgrade

[FunkMasterFlex]

Has anyone successfully put this upgrade on yet? I got mine decent but I had to put a spacer on the bottom panhard bar link. It doesn’t seem to achieve full flex

[brimdogg]

Originally Posted by FunkMasterFlex

Has anyone successfully put this upgrade on yet? I got mine decent but I had to put a spacer on the bottom panhard bar link. It doesn’t seem to achieve full flex

I've had them since summer as a beta tester. It did take a bit of fiddling, but they work pretty well.

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[FunkMasterFlex]

I had no idea they existed until a few weeks ago lol

[elirgraves13]

quick question and this might be stupid but i've seen this upgrade and i'm wondering. Is it 2 full axles or all the parts to take the gen7 axles and turn them into portal axles?

[Dat240zg]

It’s two full axles. I’ve had mine on for a while but am need info to change out the pinion and spur to get a bit of speed back. Other than that, they’re pretty nice!

[mgputer]

It's a decent kit. I have one ready to go in my son's truck. I picked up a Gen 8 trans and transfer case off eBay cheap so I might see if I can make brackets to get it to fit.

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[Herber]

I installed mine last Friday. I didn't like the link setup at all. I couldn't get it to stop binding. I found a Vader skid plate for the Gen7/Everest 10 that made a huge difference. I had to replace the rod ends to get them to fit in the slots. I also had to mess with the link mounting locations on the axle and chassis. Once I got it dialed in everything is working much better. Now i just need to order driveshafts.

[elirgraves13]

thanks for the info and pics everyone.

[Jim85IROC]

I've got the portals in my Gen7. I also now have a Gen8 to compare it to. The portals in the Gen7 don't have the bump-steer problem that the Gen8 has, but it's got a bind that I haven't been able to get rid of yet. The whole truck leans to the left under power. The left side compresses much easier than the right.

[jimmiejump]

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC

I've got the portals in my Gen7. I also now have a Gen8 to compare it to. The portals in the Gen7 don't have the bump-steer problem that the Gen8 has, but it's got a bind that I haven't been able to get rid of yet. The whole truck leans to the left under power. The left side compresses much easier than the right.

Torque twist

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[Jim85IROC]

Originally Posted by jimmiejump

Torque twist

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Not entirely. The suspension on that side of the truck compresses much easier than on the other side because of a bind issue associated with the 3-link suspension.

[jimmiejump]

I used straight links on mine replacing the bent originals. 95mm bottom 75mm top. I have no binding until near full comprehension, thinking maybe the panhard is slightly long. May try shorting it by .5mm and see what affect it has.

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[Jim85IROC]

It's not a bind in the sense that the suspension stops working entirely, but the arch that the suspension swings in makes the side that the panhard mounts to the axle much stiffer than the other side. I definitely need to spend some time getting it to work better or I'm going back to a 4 link. On the Gen8, torque steer aside, the front suspension works much better. I've heard from people who replaced the skid on their Gen7s with one that positions the links further in more like an SCX10 that this issue went away, but I'm stubborn and I want to get it to work with the stock skid, then I'll replace it.

[mgputer]

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC

It's not a bind in the sense that the suspension stops working entirely, but the arch that the suspension swings in makes the side that the panhard mounts to the axle much stiffer than the other side. I definitely need to spend some time getting it to work better or I'm going back to a 4 link. On the Gen8, torque steer aside, the front suspension works much better. I've heard from people who replaced the skid on their Gen7s with one that positions the links further in more like an SCX10 that this issue went away, but I'm stubborn and I want to get it to work with the stock skid, then I'll replace it.

Usually the culprate for what you are describing is either due to the side step the 3 link panhard causes, one of the shocks could rub or be binding on the chassis or link mount. This can also be lessend by extending the panhard bar and tie rod.

[Fifty]

Does the portal axle upgrade solve the terrible steering angle issue? I just got a gen7 pro and im used to my trx-4 already.

I cant wrap my mind around how bad the steering is. I was either going to get the redcat high steer kit and I saw the portal axle kit. Figure maybe it solved the problem.

Or is it a matter of needing both?

[WhiskeyThrottle]

Originally Posted by Fifty

Does the portal axle upgrade solve the terrible steering angle issue? I just got a gen7 pro and im used to my trx-4 already.

I cant wrap my mind around how bad the steering is. I was either going to get the redcat high steer kit and I saw the portal axle kit. Figure maybe it solved the problem.

Or is it a matter of needing both?

+1 one the crappy steering, it's like a driving school bus. I was hoping to find a fix for it as well.

[Fifty]

I got the Portal kit and installed it yesterday.... Here are my observations:

1) Customer service at redcat. The guys are just super nice. (although they are in sales, but its getting more and more rare..so credit goes to where credit is due. Then again, if they were not nice, Id have a second TrX4 and not a gen 7 lol)

2) the instructions that came with the portals is horrible. Almost worthless. And they dont cover the slipper clutch part of the install.

3) Go online where they have a video by redcat. The portal instructional video is iffy but combined with the print instructions it will get you through.

4) the video slipper clutch and gear install is much better but leaves you guessing on how tight to make the bolt on the slipper clutch. I went from too weak to screw it, my m12 milwaukee impact one ugga ugga tight.

5) The binding or tight compression on the front passenger side is a real thing. Not smooth at all, very stiff. I will need to look into that later and solve it.

6) Steering. It still sucks, just a little less sucky than before. I need to find a stronger servo and figure out a way to get more steering angle. It went from a full size school bus turning radius to a 80% school bus turning radius.

There has to be a solution. Now Im off to find a new steering servo, arm and set of softer springs for this thing.

[FunkMasterFlex]

Old post I know but holy crap I just figured it out, I was trying to run all 4 links plus the pan hard which was causing the binding and no flex lmao I appreciate all the help tho