Softer Springs for Lift Kit Long Shocks

[udlose]

Has anyone found or had any luck finding softer springs for the Long shocks? Everything that Traxxas makes is way to stiff. Thank you in advance.

[ryanwkennedy]

I was wondering the same thing. This guy seems to have great results from the stock Redcat Gen8 springs. He was able to get back to stock height.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYYeajpCig4

[Inspector86]

Traxxas makes a whole range of TRX4 spring rates ranging from 0.22# to 0.62# pounds. These springs work on both the stock GTS and long shocks.

[83trekker83]

Do you think gthe softest spring would work good on a trx4 with out the lift kit?RCreeview with the lift kit and gen springs crawls like a champ purely amazing what it can do, but with it being $260 for the lift kit here in CND no way i can afford it.

[Inspector86]

I'm running the optional Traxxas 0.30# springs on stock GTS shocks on my Sport with no spring pre-load. This gives me about a 50% static droop on the shocks. I have been thinking of trying the 0.22# springs just to see what happens but I suspect they will be too soft. This is with the stock lift suspension links. Contrary to some I actively try to get my suspension as low as possible to reduce COG. This truck currently sets about 1/4" lower then it did with the stock springs. I don't have a set of the longer shocks but I suspect that you could get the same or close ride height using the stock length springs so long as the same no pre-load spring adjustment was used you would just be compressing the shock a bit more than the stock length shock.



This pic gives you an idea of the amount of flex I have with the stock GTS shocks and 0.30# springs. Probably not as much flex as a longer shock would provide.

[83trekker83]

Stupid question is the GTS shocks the ones that come with a stock trx4?

[Inspector86]

Originally Posted by 83trekker83

Stupid question is the GTS shocks the ones that come with a stock trx4?

Yes.

[rattmobbins]

Originally Posted by Inspector86

Traxxas makes a whole range of TRX4 spring rates ranging from 0.22 to 0.62 pounds. These springs work on both the standard and long shocks.

Really? When I installed the lift kit I compared the springs and it seemed like they're a fair amount longer than the stock springs.

[Inspector86]

Yes really! The lift kit springs are longer, they are also stiffer. The softest long spring rate is 0.47#. You can install a short spring on a tall shock you just have to adjust the upper retainer down to touch the spring. So long as the springs don't coil bind they will work just fine. The problem is that a soft spring combined with a high COG is a lose/lose combination because you have now raised the COG which naturally wants to cause the truck to be tippy and then on top of that you install softer springs which allow the body to lean more making it even more tippy. For whatever reason the OP wants soft springs on a lift kit. Personally, I think the lift kit is a complete waste of money!

[jessedacri]

Originally Posted by Inspector86

Yes really! The lift kit springs are longer, they are also stiffer. The softest long spring rate is 0.47#. You can install a short spring on a tall shock you just have to adjust the upper retainer down to touch the spring. So long as the springs don't coil bind they will work just fine. The problem is that a soft spring combined with a high COG is a lose/lose combination because you have now raised the COG which naturally wants to cause the truck to be tippy and then on top of that you install softer springs which allow the body to lean more making it even more tippy. For whatever reason the OP wants soft springs on a lift kit. Personally, I think the lift kit is a complete waste of money!

The "whatever reason" is this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYYe...ature=youtu.be

Seems like a really solid option - the extra travel enabled by the lift kit + very soft Redcat springs. The truck sits nice and low but can reach when necessary.

[Teng]

Did not the stock TRX4 springs already very soft? I wonder why would people still need more softer springs than the stock springs ?

[jessedacri]

Originally Posted by Teng

Did not the stock TRX4 springs already very soft? I wonder why would people still need more softer springs than the stock springs ?

The results in that video are pretty dramatic with the soft springs. I'm not sure I'd go softer at stock height but I think the combo of lift kit + softer springs on the longer shocks is a pretty nice setup. I'm gonna at least give it a go on my setup.

[mewalsh100]

Just checked the youtube link posted above and it's the same one I was going to post regarding the OP's question. Basically, the way they set up the "LIFT KIT", it's allowing for more wheel drop in crawling situations. With the spring selection he went with, he's got the sag set up to at or very close to original ride height, so the ill effects of higher CG should be largely mitigated in most situations. I think the potential issue here, as Inspector86 touched on, will be in situations like side-hilling. The downhill side is going to get full, or very nearly full compression, and the up-hill side is more than likely going to completely unload, thus sending the rig tumbling. A lot of this symptom could be dealt with - more weight down low, good foams, and some fine tuning once installed. However, the Lift Kit is not cheap, and I can think of a number of different areas I would spend the roughly $175.00. Just my .02 pesos.

jessedacri - let us know how it works out for you. In the RC Review video, the rig actually seems quite stable. He does that fast drive by while turning and the rig handles it with very little body lean.

[jessedacri]

Originally Posted by mewalsh100

Just checked the youtube link posted above and it's the same one I was going to post regarding the OP's question. Basically, the way they set up the "LIFT KIT", it's allowing for more wheel drop in crawling situations. With the spring selection he went with, he's got the sag set up to at or very close to original ride height, so the ill effects of higher CG should be largely mitigated in most situations. I think the potential issue here, as Inspector86 touched on, will be in situations like side-hilling. The downhill side is going to get full, or very nearly full compression, and the up-hill side is more than likely going to completely unload, thus sending the rig tumbling. A lot of this symptom could be dealt with - more weight down low, good foams, and some fine tuning once installed. However, the Lift Kit is not cheap, and I can think of a number of different areas I would spend the roughly $175.00. Just my .02 pesos.

jessedacri - let us know how it works out for you. In the RC Review video, the rig actually seems quite stable. He does that fast drive by while turning and the rig handles it with very little body lean.

Yeah, it seems to handle side loads pretty nicely but it's also a sport body. I'm starting with the Bronco for now so it may be a bit heavier up top. Gonna drive it stock (well, stock plus a better servo+BEC and SSD brass portals) for a week or two before I go modifying too much and see where it needs attention. I already anticipate it being a bit too stiff for my liking so I've ordered some low rate Traxxas springs (.22 and .30 sets) to experiment a bit as they were cheap. I've seen some setups running Ascender shocks and then this Lift Kit + super soft springs and I like the way it appears to be handling in trail videos, but it's tough to say how that'll actually handle behind the wheel once I get it into a bunch of different situations.

[mewalsh100]

Originally Posted by jessedacri

Yeah, it seems to handle side loads pretty nicely but it's also a sport body. I'm starting with the Bronco for now so it may be a bit heavier up top. Gonna drive it stock (well, stock plus a better servo+BEC and SSD brass portals) for a week or two before I go modifying too much and see where it needs attention. I already anticipate it being a bit too stiff for my liking so I've ordered some low rate Traxxas springs (.22 and .30 sets) to experiment a bit as they were cheap. I've seen some setups running Ascender shocks and then this Lift Kit + super soft springs and I like the way it appears to be handling in trail videos, but it's tough to say how that'll actually handle behind the wheel once I get it into a bunch of different situations.

The Bronco body is definitely a good bit heavier than the Sport body. I think you're on the right track to drive it a bit and play with some spring set-ups, different oil weights, etc.

[rcreview]

Traxxas is finally making softer springs for the lift kit. Yay!!! The springs are longer than standard TRX4 ones and that is key.

https://www.amainhobbies.com/search?...ft+kit+springs

.29 would get about 50% droop I think. .39 would be the safe bet.

[mass-hole]

Originally Posted by rcreview

Traxxas is finally making softer springs for the lift kit. Yay!!! The springs are longer than standard TRX4 ones and that is key.

https://www.amainhobbies.com/search?...ft+kit+springs

.29 would get about 50% droop I think. .39 would be the safe bet.

Hell yes! I just put 110mm shocks in the front and 120's in the rear but have been having issues getting the springs to work. I am running the the normal length GTS .22 springs in the front with a short secondary spring to take up the extra length. The rear is using the white .30's that came on the front of the sport kit along with secondaries, but sits slightly too high.

This is the answer. Get rid of the secondaries and be able to run at the correct height. The only issue that may crop up is if you use the .29 long springs in place of the .3 regular springs it may be a bit stiff at the top of the travel since your now compressing the same rate spring 20+% farther.

[01f1502wd]

Here's a question I have yet to see:

A stock height Defender wheelbase is 324mm
A lifted long arm Defender wheelbase is 324mm
whats a lifted long arm Defender at stock height?

I'm curious to get the long arm kit, but run the shocks on the top mount of my aftermarket shock mounts (that would lower the rig). so with stock lifted springs it should in theory sit about stock ride height but with the long arms. I'd hate if it makes the wheelbase too long and makes my tires not be centered in the wheel wells.