DIY Shock Tower Brace

[tonyfalkon]

After jumping and crashing in all the wrong angles, breaking and shredding the shock tower in a lot of places, I went and pondered on how to reinforce the shock towers. I saw that most if not all other RC's with shock towers have some type of brace to keep it from breaking. With 4 bent rod ends and 60-65 mm cap screws I came up with this.

 

[avted]

Cool!

 

[cmbscx10]

After jumping and crashing in all the wrong angles, breaking and shredding the shock tower in a lot of places, I went and pondered on how to reinforce the shock towers. I saw that most if not all other RC's with shock towers have some type of brace to keep it from breaking. With 4 bent rod ends and 60-65 mm cap screws I came up with this.

Great idea. Since i haven't broke mine can you say where the tower breaks? When mine did i was going to brace the center with a Losi SCTE 2.0 brace to provide a rigid tower but still a little flex, drill a hole on the top of the tower and the alum brace as to not loose the shock holes for the awesome tuning capability of the front of the YXL.

 

[tonyfalkon]

Great idea. Since i haven't broke mine can you say where the tower breaks? When mine did i was going to brace the center with a Losi SCTE 2.0 brace to provide a rigid tower but still a little flex, drill a hole on the top of the tower and the alum brace as to not loose the shock holes for the awesome tuning capability of the front of the YXL.

On the middle and some tugging on the bottom screw hole next to the link holes. Looking at the YXL tower I thought about reinforcing the middle, putting the brace there is the obvious choice but it becomes more complicated and expensive, the bottom has a lot of support I didn't even consider the top. Until 2 days ago it just dawned on me why not consider putting the brace on the top its simpler, not a lot to parts involve and in theory should help stiffen the shock tower which was the idea in the first place.

Now I have only tested on the ground running no jumping yet but please note that this just an idea. I am hoping this will help from tearing the tower apart and from what I have been reading from other threads and forums the aluminum towers aren't immune to bending at the bottom. Jury is still out on the carbon fiber tower though it could be the solution to what ails the YXL, but for now at least this will keep the problem contained, on budget and can be used on the OEM, aluminum and carbon fiber tower.

On the ground testing, no jumping, I noticed the suspension is slightly more responsive, cornering is also slightly tighter I guess those are subject to spring/oil combo and driving style. Be that as it may, further testing is required specially jumping and crashing, its too early to tell maybe I just drank one too many of my own cool aid. :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

 

[Fordfreak95]

I stole your idea Mr. Falkon! I like it..seems to be pretty good. I have the Carbon shock tower....Ive had it for some time now. It is a nice in-between solution for some flex but still WAY stronger than stock plastic.
I used the angled links from the Axial 480 parts bag and some Lunsford Ti links I had laying around.

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[avted]

I've shamelessly copied your idea as well. I used the heavy duty front camber links from the kit, tied from unused shock mount positions on my Hot Racing aluminum shock tower down to the middle position on my Hot Racing upper bulkhead. Possibly not needed, but just too cool of an idea not to try it.

 

[tonyfalkon]

I stole your idea Mr. Falkon! I like it..seems to be pretty good. I have the Carbon shock tower....Ive had it for some time now. It is a nice in-between solution for some flex but still WAY stronger than stock plastic.
I used the angled links from the Axial 480 parts bag and some Lunsford Ti links I had laying around.

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Nicely done I specially like the stabilizer on top of the shock tower, I might copy that, and the RPM upper adjustable camber a-arms, Savage X/XL/flux if I'm not mistaken, those look beefy and sturdy befitting the YXL.

 

[tonyfalkon]

I've shamelessly copied your idea as well. I used the heavy duty front camber links from the kit, tied from unused shock mount positions on my Hot Racing aluminum shock tower down to the middle position on my Hot Racing upper bulkhead. Possibly not needed, but just too cool of an idea not to try it.

Please post some pics.

 

[Fordfreak95]

Nicely done I specially like the stabilizer on top of the shock tower, I might copy that, and the RPM upper adjustable camber a-arms, Savage X/XL/flux if I'm not mistaken, those look beefy and sturdy befitting the YXL.

Oh ya...I forgot to make a post about those. They are from a Savage XL. They are not RPM..stock HPI parts. I used the inner part and the small turnbuckle...but used a big m5 Axial rod end. It works real nice with the carbon tower...not sure if it would fit other towers. It stops a lot of the lower A arm twist.

 

[tonyfalkon]

Oh ya...I forgot to make a post about those. They are from a Savage XL. They are not RPM..stock HPI parts. I used the inner part and the small turnbuckle...but used a big m5 Axial rod end. It works real nice with the carbon tower...not sure if it would fit other towers. It stops a lot of the lower A arm twist.

No it won't fit OEM since it's about 7 mm needs a little sanding down but with just 5 mm of plastic left I doubt if it will survive, aluminum ones stand a better chance after sanding while carbon fiber is 5 mm a perfect fit. A few months back I was looking into easing some of the A arm twisting or as you put it stops a lot of the lower A arm twist, seemed like a good idea then. To make it work I would have to shave 1 mm from the stock tower and .5 mm from each side of the Savage upper A arm, aside from precise sanding there is still the question of durability. I wished there was carbon fiber then but I am glad to see its working out for you, I hope you keep us updated on the durability of the carbon fiber and the mods you implemented as I said in my previous comment it could very well be a cure to what ails the YXL.

 

[avted]

Here are a couple of shots of my version of the shock tower brace.

 

[tonyfalkon]

Great setup putting it in the middle makes it more stable, if I had aluminum front clip thats probably where I'd placed it too. BTW please keep us posted on your experience I'm actually curious if it helps to minimize damage on the OEM lower front control arms by minimizing shock tower flex or if its useless ad-on.

 

[avted]

I haven't been able to run it yet (waiting in a new ESC fan). My front end is all aluminum (accept for the bumper), so I may not be able to offer much insight regarding the plastic A arms. I got tired of the sloppy front end, and had the itch to do some more upgrades.

 

[Capwn]

This is my version. I like it being spread more out on the chassis itself

Killer idea man!! Thank you x10 "thumbsup"

 

[avted]

Capwin, a hit strong enough to bend your shock tower might transfer the force right to those plastic holes in the chassis tub and rip them out.

 

[Capwn]

Those screws go almost all the way thru the chassis, I'd imagine a blow that intense, a part will fail well before the chassis is damaged .. Who knows really..


I mean, I'm not saying you are wrong, Just. From my imagination, It will be fine.

 

[avted]

Cool Capwn, I never installed the stock plastic bulkhead, and assumed it used shorter screws on top like my aluminum one.

 

[Capwn]

What I did, I measured how deep the hole was + the rod end, and found a screw that took up the entire hole...
giggity

I'm going to install my dhawk diff case sometime this week, and do a gear inspection.. Ive put 3 sets of packs thru, This truck runs like nothing Ive ever driven.. Tonight I fixed my front springs, Re-tuned my ESC ( set brakes @ 25%, Punch control to 30% ) and added that front brace, and boy howdy did it ever make a difference. I have a feeling this truck will be getting almost all of my RC attention for the foreseeable future.

 

[tonyfalkon]

Theoretically a wider stance at the bottom will transfer some energy in the middle of the tower but at the same time stiffer on the front to back movement however, crashing and or landing on one side will result in a twisting movement which puts more pressure in the middle. No problem with aluminum towers, OEM will flex and with consequent impacts will crack the middle of the tower, all it takes is a small fracture, energy transfer like electricity always takes the path of least resistance. But like I said in theory I haven't actually tested it extensively and to date I've done 17 intentional crashes 10 - 15 feet with a narrow bottom stance, I'm weary to try a wide bottom stance. Please keep us posted on your results I'm curious to see how a wider bottom stance would play out.

 

[tonyfalkon]

Oh ya...I forgot to make a post about those. They are from a Savage XL. They are not RPM..stock HPI parts. I used the inner part and the small turnbuckle...but used a big m5 Axial rod end. It works real nice with the carbon tower...not sure if it would fit other towers. It stops a lot of the lower A arm twist.

Well your prayers have been answered RPM finally made the lower A arm hopefully it will be durable for this beast, sure hope they become available soon