Shocks too soft???

[INFIHunter]

I have read on here a few times that the stock springs that come with the AX10 are too soft. Well, I just got mine assembled, this is my first real crawler, and mine are so stiff I can not compress them on the truck without fear of breaking something. Did I do something wrong? Is this normal? Also, no matter how tight I get the shock caps, when I hit a hard bump, they pop off. What did I do wrong?

 

[ky_18b]

My stock shock did the same thing. For a while i just kept the oil a little low so the preasure didnt pop off the caps. I just got new shocks so I didnt have to deal with the stockers.

 

[solomon7]

Sound like maybe they're too full or you have some air in them preventing them from compressing.When you fill up the shocks fill up to a few mm's below the top then slowly pump the piston up and down to remove any air bubbles. Push the shaft all the way in and then tighten the cap only strong finger tight.
BTW a little silicon thread tape around the threads on top goes a long way to preventing as much leakage later."thumbsup" Never had mine pop and I'm not easy on it.

 

[mtnyote]

Sound like maybe they're too full or you have some air in them preventing them from compressing..

Im just curious how could air prevent them from compressing.

1) air compresses and liquid doesnt

2)air moves more quikly through the shock than oil.

:?:

 

[little Loopie]

Im just curious how could air prevent them from compressing.

1) air compresses and liquid doesnt

2)air moves more quikly through the shock than oil.

:?:

Air does compress, but not to nothing. If air is trapped in the oil (ie. not bled properly) combined w/ too much oil then the shocks will get spongy feeling and not compress all the way. :?

 

[INFIHunter]

The shocks are full to the top with oil. I tried to get all the air out. The only other thing mentioned here it to put the top on with the shock compressed. It did it with the shock exteneded. Could that be the problem?

 

[Dmitchell80]

Yes that is most likely your problem. Allways put shock cap on with the shock compressed. Otherwise you get too much oil in there as the shock shaft takes up space when it is compressed.

 

[roninwarrior555]

sounds like their's air and tom much oil, but the spring it's self to me was stiff as hell so i changed them.

 

[Natedog]

The shocks are full to the top with oil.....The only other thing mentioned here it to put the top on with the shock compressed. It did it with the shock exteneded. Could that be the problem?

Your shocks are too full.

The Axial manual is not clear about this, but you should push the shock shaft all the way in, then screw on the cap. Otherwise, yes you'll blow the caps off all the time and they will be very hard to compress.

 

[INFIHunter]

Thanks guys. MAJOR improvement. Now on to replace the springs with something softer.

 

[colonelangus]

ax springs

the stock springs are super stiff .i went with the axial soft all the way around .mine works great now.im set up with just under 3 inches of clearence with little to no torque twist.

 

[SBNFred]

Just had to redo my shocks. Put the stopper also inside the shock. Well worth the do over. Stock shocks are a little stiff. I will be replacing the springs thats for sure