Im looking at various builds using trx4 GTS or other big bores and I notice a lot of people installing them upside down. Is there some sort of secret performance benefit Im missing here? I dont know much about real life trucks, but I dont think Ive ever noticed their shocks upside down.
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Why do people install their shocks upside down?
- Thread starter Rekreant
- Start date
tapped-out
I wanna be Dave
Trying to keep weight low is why guys run shocks upside down.
To keep the weight down low and also as a Band-Aid to try to stop leaking shocks.
Your signature says you shouldn't be here...
Your signature says you shouldn't be here...
HugoBiermann
Quarry Creeper
I do it to plain and simple to stop them from leaking all over the place.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah shocks are pretty light anyway. As for leaking, if you have good shocks THEY WONT LEAK. Not to mention putting it upside down should do nothing to stop leaking. I would think it would actually make them leak more as the weak point is usually the cap.
tapped-out
I wanna be Dave
My traxxas big bores don't leak.. but my scx10 shocks leaked a few drops ea comp from o-rings around shock shafts. i never ran the scx10 shocks upside down.
I built my Traxxas Big Bore shocks using Kyosho shaft o-rings. Both sets haven't lost a drop yet...
For each is there own if you aren't feeling it. don't run your shocks upside down."thumbsup"
Btw I'm speaking about shocks on my comp rigs not a scaler.
My scale scx10 icon shock are mounted stock configuration.
I built my Traxxas Big Bore shocks using Kyosho shaft o-rings. Both sets haven't lost a drop yet...
For each is there own if you aren't feeling it. don't run your shocks upside down."thumbsup"
Btw I'm speaking about shocks on my comp rigs not a scaler.
My scale scx10 icon shock are mounted stock configuration.
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really? I honestly dont know.
In my mind Big Bores are the pinnacle of the shock market. Now if only Traxxas would make them in the actual Ultra size, which ironically has a bigger bore.
im gunna crawl
Rock Crawler
I always flip them upside down. Not cause I try to stop them from leaking. But to gain every advantage of weight savings. Moving weight down lower in the chassis. It helps. Learned it in scx10 scale rigs years ago.
My ZJ Grand Cherokee had upside down rear shocks - the boot was on the bottom on the rear end.
Depends on shocks, but funny thing years ago during 2.2 shafty comping, I weighed shocks and mine were actually more weight down low when right side up. The weight bias varies as shocks are compressed too, so ride height affects this too. Upside down also reduces damping because shock pistons are more prone to being in the air or less aerated portion of the oil. I tried it and immediately went back to right side up, ymmv.
Yes, can decrease leaking, but better to buy better shocks that don't leak. "thumbsup"
Couldn't agree more.
Well that's a Jeep thing and I don't understand so... :lmao:
Depends on shocks, but funny thing years ago during 2.2 shafty comping, I weighed shocks and mine were actually more weight down low when right side up. The weight bias varies as shocks are compressed too, so ride height affects this too. Upside down also reduces damping because shock pistons are more prone to being in the air or less aerated portion of the oil. I tried it and immediately went back to right side up, ymmv.
Yes, can decrease leaking, but better to buy better shocks that don't leak. "thumbsup"
Interesting! Must have been some thick shafts!
Agree 100% on the non-leaky shocks!
DadCanyoufix?
Rock Crawler
I ran a set can/body down and didn’t notice any leaking from the top cap now on the bottom. As for air getting aeration of the oil, I fill my shocks with the piston and shaft at full bump. Teflon tape the caps and watch a tiny bit ooze out as I tighten the cap that the shock shaft runs through. Sure, this creates a vacuum that pulls the shaft back in when extended, but when the spring and retainer are installed, the vacuum acts like a tiny amount of preload. A small amount of air does get in over time, but it is minimal. When I rebuild they almost always have vacuum still, unless I’ve boogered up a shaft that has damaged an o-ring. The amount of air in there isn’t enough for the piston to get to causing aeration/bubbles in the oil. This is the case wether the shock is right side up or upside down in my personal experience. I prefer to run them can up as I like the appearance.
Another factor, depending on your build and shock size(and sometimes wheel hub) chosen is clearance. I’ve met people that run them can/body down because the tires don’t catch the spring and retainer as much with them that way.
I don’t see clear affect all advantages or disadvantages to either preference. As said before though, that may depend on your build.
Forgot, I’ve heard running them shaft up and body down can reduce the chance you damage shaft and destroy an o-ring. Can* should be noted as I run them shaft down and have only damaged maybe 2 shafts in about 7 years of rock crawling and the use to be occasional mud bog. I hate mud and avoid it like the plague now. We don’t really have to worry about denting our shock bodies like 1:1 guys do. Also, most of our shock options can be installed either way as they are a more simplistic design and the weight of our trucks is not sufficient to rub flats spots in the shafts. I run Can up because a 1:1 doing the things I’m doing with my truck would likely run them the same way.
Another factor, depending on your build and shock size(and sometimes wheel hub) chosen is clearance. I’ve met people that run them can/body down because the tires don’t catch the spring and retainer as much with them that way.
I don’t see clear affect all advantages or disadvantages to either preference. As said before though, that may depend on your build.
Forgot, I’ve heard running them shaft up and body down can reduce the chance you damage shaft and destroy an o-ring. Can* should be noted as I run them shaft down and have only damaged maybe 2 shafts in about 7 years of rock crawling and the use to be occasional mud bog. I hate mud and avoid it like the plague now. We don’t really have to worry about denting our shock bodies like 1:1 guys do. Also, most of our shock options can be installed either way as they are a more simplistic design and the weight of our trucks is not sufficient to rub flats spots in the shafts. I run Can up because a 1:1 doing the things I’m doing with my truck would likely run them the same way.
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Im pretty sure all 1:1 struts have the shaft on the top so upside down but my rc i run them both ways sometimes for.cleance sometimes for no reason at all i let the rig dictate how the shocks sit
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