bilinvic's TRX4

[ScoJac]

Originally Posted by bilinvic

I really like the SSD metal bumpers. They sure take a beating, but will bend with some force. So far they have been easy to hammer back straight! They are 190mm wide, 12mm high and 8mm deep. These SSD bumpers are too narrow for the Bronco body. Hopefully SSD will produce some OEM looking metal bumpers for the bronco.

Thanks, looks like I make some them.

Truck is really looking good

[bilinvic]

Some significant changes to my first TRX4 happened this week.

Yeah Racing Alloy Diff Cover (Titanium Coated) TRX-4
Yeah Racing Alloy Front Axle Housing (Titanium Coated) TRX-4
Yeah Racing Alloy Rear Axle Housing (Titanium Coated) TRX-4
Yeah Racing Aluminum Front Shock Towers (Black) TRX-4
Traxxas TRX-4 Machined Overdrive Ring & Pinion Gear (12/33T)
Traxxas TRX-4 Machined Underdrive Ring & Pinion Gear (10/35T)
Samix Traxxas TRX-4 Aluminum Hub Carrier (Black)
Team KNK v2 Aluminum Body Mounts w/Screw Pins (Black)

The YR axles are very nice and definitely have some good low down weight compared to the stock plastic axles (stock w/diff cover = 26g 0.90oz vs YR alloy axle w/ diff cover = 144g 5.1oz)
The casting, machining and finish is very nice, my only little gripe is the inner pinion bearing doesn't sit as tight as I would prefer, but I'm sure it will be fine. I also went against my believe that the hub carrier should remain plastic since it encounters plenty of rock scraping; I went with the Samix aluminum versions only because everything else on the front axle is metal and with the weight of the brass inner and outer portal covers, I felt I needed a little more structure at this point.

Stock hub carrier = 5g 0.20oz vs Samix aluminum hub carrier = 16g 0.45oz each side.

The completely assembled front axle comes in at a whopping 676g (1 lb 7.85oz).

While I had the axles torn apart, I went ahead and installed the under & overdrive ring and pinion gears.

The Yeah Racing front shock towers with a double shear Panhard mount are also very nice pieces. I've read too many reports of the Hot Racing single shear Panhard mount snapping off....so those are gone! I reverted back to the stock rear shock towers as well.

Once everything was buttoned back up, I performed a bit of testing out on the rocks in my backyard and the performance was extraordinary! There's a specific section that a little bump is required to get over this ridge on the face of a steep climb...all my crawlers (1.9 and 2.2 rigs) need just a blip of throttle to bump over it but with all the low-down weight of my TRX4, I slow crawled over this ridge...needless to say I was impressed. A quick shout out to the Vaterra Super Swampers too, these tires are working REALLY good!

Here's the obligatory pics!!!!

[Topher Builds]

Looks fantastic! Love the choice in diff covers too. Very beefy axles, thanks for the weight numbers.

How did you find the process of reinstalling the diff lock cables? I recently added steel alloy housings this week as well. I struggled with the locker cables and currently have all 4 wheels locked. The rear servo died in the process but the front should still work if I give it another go, once I find the proper approach.

[bilinvic]

Thanxs Pant Danza. I didn't encounter any difficulty installing the diff lock cables, slid in just like the stock axles.

[Topher Builds]

Did you detach them from the servos or just from the axle housing itself?

The video I watched before jumping in had me detach the plastic ball cups from the servo, and from there I made the mistake of taking the horn off the rear and couldn’t get the throw right before I lunched the gears.

[bilinvic]

Yes, I detached them at the servo and unscrewed the servo mount cup thingy! lol

[Topher Builds]

Well shoot, you’re the man then! I might have to give it another shot when I get a replacement servo.

[bilinvic]

I simplified my TRX4 and added Traxxas spools front and rear. With the servos and stock locking diffs removed, a total of 101g (3.55oz) was saved. If I didn't own a second TRX4, I would have left the locking diffs in place.

[Browneye]

Like what you're doing here...been going the same way on mine. It's a really nice platform to build from, solid.

I'm stealing some of your mods.

[mewalsh100]

Looking good! It seems quite a few people are heaving the remote lockers if their intent is pure crawling.

[ProjektONE]

I hope this rig is still in service after so many years!

[bilinvic]

It is....still one of my favs.

[Stormin2u]

It looks really good in blue and white. A two tone is the perfect choice for that body. I've been building a TRX-4 axle based crawler using the Brazin RC "All Time Low Chassis" currently. Seeing your two tone has inspired me to go that same route. I really like the TRX-4 axles and tranny case Traxxas did a great job on this truck and the after market has everything completely covered, what's not to like.

[bilinvic]

Thanxs Stormin2u. This body is starting to get fairly beat up and it's time for a new one...not sure which way I will go.