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Old 12-27-2019, 09:18 AM   #1
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Default Rebuilding a used Sport

Picked up another TRX4 out of the classifieds...

Not sure what's wrong with me, bought a Defender, bought a Bronco, bought a Sport. Converted the Defender for performance, sold the Bronco to fund the other two, and modded out the Sport. Then converted back the Defender to almost stock, converting the Sport to a Bronco in the most expensive way possible and bought a new Sport. For, well, sporting. So I'm kinda back where I started, just a lot poorer.

In any case, I have the Defender and eventually the Bronco now for trail running and this one is going to go play in the rocks. I'd like to go with a Brazin' chassis eventually, but building it with the stock chassis for now until funds allow.

What it looked like when it arrived. I have this exact jeep body laying around unpainted and had planned to swap it on, but nothing ever goes to plan...just didn't like the fit on the chassis.


Chassis was pretty well hopped up when I got it - lots of brass, aluminum axles, desert lizard shocks, Bowhouse tray, etc. Looks like very little run time as well.




I always tear down a used rig and go through it piece by piece...Started with the axles. I wanted to mix and match some of the upgrades that were on my Bronco, so I took off those axles (which were due for a going over anyway,) took the axles off the new Sport and started tearing them both down to start swapping parts around.


Tearing down 2 sets of TRX4 axles is a lot of work... holy moly. Gobs of screws.


Noticed this with my Defender - the axles turn somewhat hard. There's only 3 mating gear surfaces, they shouldn't turn that hard! The rubber shielded bearings that Traxxas uses have a TON of drag, and there's a lot of them in each axle. I pulled the seals off each one, blasted them with bearing cleaner and re-lubed them with some oil.


This time, I tried something different. I left the seals off the inner bearings - old trick from my racing days to remove drag in the driveline. The inside of the cases were clean, even after months of running so I'm not super worried about them. I left the bearing seals only on the bearings that face outside the axle - one on the pinion, and one each on CVD and axle.


Rebuilt the axles with steel housings, HR weights up front, YR (I think) out back, adjustable shock mounts, bearing modded steering, and an aluminum diff cover up front. OD/UD gears on stock lockers for now. I have aluminum shock mounts on the way as well. Heavy, strong axles... the rest of the truck will be as light as possible. In theory of course....


Completed and ready to go. All that time spent on the bearings was well worth it, they spin super free now. It's an absolute night and day difference from when I took them off. I'll be doing the same to my Bronco axles. Has to pay dividends in power delivery and runtime.

Last edited by OSRC; 12-27-2019 at 09:23 AM.
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Old 12-27-2019, 10:06 AM   #2
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

You do find nice deals - that's for sure. This looks like a great deal.

Removing the bearing shields is a good idea for improving run times.

What's the VW project in the background?
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Old 12-27-2019, 11:46 AM   #3
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

That's the body for this build (I hope) ... light lexan up top, as light as possible. I like bug builds, something different.

Last edited by OSRC; 12-27-2019 at 12:20 PM.
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Old 12-27-2019, 12:48 PM   #4
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That's the body for this build (I hope) ... light lexan up top, as light as possible. I like bug builds, something different.
Yeah I really liked them too. No idea whey I've never built one.
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Old 12-27-2019, 05:23 PM   #5
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Nice job on those axles. I just ordered the UD gears for the rear axle on my Sport. I gather running the OD up front as well is your preference? I debated all of the options and figured I would start on underdriving the rear axle. Its winter up here and have been running traxx in the snow. They have a large contact patch which seems to accentuate the need to get the front axle spinning faster. The turns are getting frustrating.
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Old 12-28-2019, 10:02 AM   #6
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Smog, I've never run OD/UD, just one or the other. This is the first time I'll be trying both.

My original sport with OD gears installed had a tendency to lift the nose on steep climbs. I added larger wights in the front to help keep it planted, and stiffer springs out back. Those weights are now here on this rig...I'm thinking OD/UD will help that as well as he front should be able to pull the rear a bit more. We'll see. Getting around that high portal COG can be a bit tricky.
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Old 12-28-2019, 10:09 AM   #7
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

The bug body should help a little with the COG and not to mention should look killer as well.
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Old 12-29-2019, 12:26 PM   #8
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Got a bit more done today..

Tore down the chassis and trans to clean and inspect everything. Looks great!

There was a Traxxas sticker on the side of the chassis - that had to go. Cleaned the chassis and touched up a few scrape marks along the bottom.


Trans was in perfect shape, if a bit dry inside. Pulled the seals from the bearings and blasted/oiled them just like the axles. Reassembled with a light coat of R&T on all the gears. Spins super smooth and much more free than when I pulled it.


Back together and ready to go! Well almost, slider were scrubbed off and are drying out.


Kind of stuck with this one until my Amain order ships...been a few days since I placed it (12/24) assuming they are a bit behind with the holidays. Have a new 1080 and Crawlmaster 12t Sport en route, along with a few other odds and ends.
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Old 12-29-2019, 05:15 PM   #9
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Cool! I just stripped my Stampede down to the screws after I put my new Sport together. It’s fun to strip and rebuild.


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Old 12-29-2019, 06:08 PM   #10
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

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Originally Posted by OSRC View Post
Smog, I've never run OD/UD, just one or the other. This is the first time I'll be trying both.

My original sport with OD gears installed had a tendency to lift the nose on steep climbs. I added larger wights in the front to help keep it planted, and stiffer springs out back. Those weights are now here on this rig...I'm thinking OD/UD will help that as well as he front should be able to pull the rear a bit more. We'll see. Getting around that high portal COG can be a bit tricky.
I follow you. I assume you noticed improved climbing after weighting the front and stiffening the rear suspension? While my focus is more on the deficient turning radius on these tracks, I will have to consider what you did for climbing. i can see how it might also help keep the front planted in getting these traxx to turn a tighter radius.

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated OS
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Old 12-30-2019, 12:35 AM   #11
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Nice looking build so far!
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Old 01-02-2020, 07:29 AM   #12
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Shocks came in and I had to do some mock up.... still waiting on the aluminum link mounts. Using stock TRX shocks for now, though I do like the idea of running the desert lizards in droop for a lower COG:


Picked up a set of Defender links to stretch out the WB to 324mm.



The Yeti body was slightly too long, plus I don't like the fact that it does not have molded in headlights. Just looks weird to me... I was looking for a Revo bug body, but I guess they are long gone. Picked up a Slash body as it has the same wheelbase as the Defender. Fits pretty good overall!


Hacked off the rear "motor", I'll trim the chassis a bit and install a stinger bumper back here. Works incredibly well on my CR01.


Front fenders have an odd profile, to accommodate the extreme kickup of the Slash chassis I think. I'll probably trim them down a bit both front and rear.

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Old 01-02-2020, 09:27 AM   #13
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Beetles always seem to look cool. That body appears to fit really well, slides right into the slots on the sliders? The only odd thing about it is perhaps the shape of the front fenders. However that is, of course, just a question of personal taste. They do give it a custom look.

Coming along nicely OS.
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Old 01-08-2020, 05:52 PM   #14
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Thank you sir!

Project is creeping along... Hacked the fenders up a bit and swapped on the Desert lizards. I didn't get the springs that come with them since I bought this used, so I fudged some in from some other shocks. I've got them set up in droop and I like the stance much better. Looked a bit tall to me before....filled with 30wt to start. Front springs are just a touch harder on compression since the majority of weight is up there.


Can't really drop it any lower, the links are at about maximum uptravel. This is the rear links at rest - they just touch the battery tray at full compression.


Then this happened. Damn truck just fell apart on the workbench!


While it was apart, I sectioned off 1 inch from the back of the chassis to better fit the bug body.


Got the STRC aluminum link mounts in finally....


Going good until ... whoops! Front link mounts were both set up for the same side.


Mouunted up, one is upside-down.....hmm... no real way around it, kinda fits on only 1 way.



Thought about getting AMain or STRC on the horn, but honestly don't see how it makes a difference. Doesn't change the geometry or anything. Dremeled it out a bit, bolted it on and called it good. Actually I didn't need to dremel at all...not sure what I was doing in hindsight.


Mostly reassembled, I touched up the rear of the chassis with some flat black and realized I never drilled the new bumper mount holes, which was the whole reason for blowing it apart. I'm on a roll today!


Love the shock setup with the droop shocks and adjustable lower perches.. got it nice and low!


Motor and 9t pinion arrived. Finally, I ordered this a while ago - I must have been at the back of the line.


Forgot the Sport comes with the small spur - Ordered a 54t, steering arm (Thought I had one, and whoops! I don't) and a few other odds and ends. Bumpers should be here tomorrow and a few other bits later this week.


Oh, and another TRX4 is on the way..... traded off an E-Revo... what am I going to do with 4 of these? No clue.
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Old 01-11-2020, 07:41 AM   #15
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Spur and steering arm arrived in 2 days, not too shabby! Peeled off the slipper pads that were glued on for some reason and re-affixed them to the larger spur.


With that done, soldered up the motor and got all the electronics in. Batteries will be mounted on the slider like my other two trucks. Just testing on the bench, this motor seems SUPER smooth, can't wait to try it out.


Switched over to some Predator KM3's... thought they fit the bug body well. Used SSD wheels with .225 hubs to try and keep the scrub angle down up front.


Down to bumpers and paint! Bumpers are here, nothing fancy, just some low energy KYX bumpers front and rear.


OH, and this fell out of the sky..... bone stock, and good Lord this body is hideous. Going to leave it mostly alone, and keep it as a spare rig for my daughter, friends, etc. May change the body though, because it's bringing down the entire workshop.
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Old 01-15-2020, 07:15 AM   #16
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

Got the bumpers mounted front and rear. I had to trim off quite a bit of the body in the back to clear the stinger, but I like the way it's tucked in there. Simple KYX bumpers stinger bumpers, nothing fancy. All that's left is to lay down some paint and it's ready for action.



The Verdict? Killer!
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Old 01-15-2020, 09:32 AM   #17
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Well, that one definitely got the complete work over...and then some. Look forward to see it with the paint, it's come together nice and tight.

The Tactical just screams 'post-apocalypse' when I look at it. It certainly ain't pretty but it's an X4, the crawler that's got me hooked these days as well. Curious to see where you take it.
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Old 01-16-2020, 08:31 PM   #18
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Are you running skids on the diffs?
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Old 01-17-2020, 07:29 AM   #19
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Default Re: Rebuilding a used Sport

No, I don't run them on any of my TRX's.

Best part of any paint job....unwrapping the shell... This is the last time around with my old Aztek brush...worked fine for my needs until I dropped it. Hasn't worked right since, and messed up in a few places with a few drips. It's done. Picked up a mid level Iwata.


However, got it done and ready for the next outing.. Sprayed in my normal colors. I love it! Sits a little high and it's a bit airy under there, but it's a performer, not a scale truck. Can't wait to see how it does!



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Old 01-17-2020, 08:57 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nez02 View Post
Are you running skids on the diffs?
Skids for the diffs? They have those for the TRX-4?


Quote:
Originally Posted by OSRC View Post
No, I don't run them on any of my TRX's.

Best part of any paint job....unwrapping the shell... This is the last time around with my old Aztek brush...worked fine for my needs until I dropped it. Hasn't worked right since, and messed up in a few places with a few drips. It's done. Picked up a mid level Iwata.

However, got it done and ready for the next outing.. Sprayed in my normal colors. I love it! Sits a little high and it's a bit airy under there, but it's a performer, not a scale truck. Can't wait to see how it does!
As I've already told you, I love this truck. It looks great. I'm going to need to do a Beetle some day.
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