Cautrell05

iTrader: (8)

Whats the difference on the AE ball studs between the silver ones and the black ones? Both are aluminum as far as I can tell.

Second question. Is there any reason I cant drill a small hole in the rod end to be able to put an allen wrench in the end of the ball stud? It would be nice to be able to change shims without stretching the end from constant removal and installation.

Nick

GizmoJunkie

iTrader: (5)

I thought the black ones were steel? Im not looking rite at them so im trying to remember...

There is no reason why you couldnt drill a hole in the cup itself. All it is going to do is let dirt in and wear it out faster. Almost seems like it may contradict itself...

If you want good ball cups, try out the RPMs. Less slop and ive never seen one break. Pretty sure they dont stretch too bad either. They take some extra grunt to get them on/off.

Cautrell05

iTrader: (8)

I have RPM ones on the way and the studs I have are new. I cant feel a weight difference between the black and silver though. I know the original ones were stainless and noticably heavier.

I forgot about dirt being an issue. The car I saw it done to was a carpet touring car so I can see where it would be fine there.

Nick

racer1812

iTrader: (31)

Silver should be stainless, I know they're not aluminium. Black are probly a mild steel with a coating on them. Don't think AE has ever made aluminium ball studs, I wouldn't want them if they did/do.

Cautrell05

iTrader: (8)

Gonna have to argue that one. The original 20yr old 10T studs all stick to a magnet and twice as heavy as the new ones. 4 black ones come out to 3 grams on my scale and the silvers come out the same.

racer1812

iTrader: (31)

Quality stainless won't stick to a magnet. Stainless weighs more than steel but at 3 grams you'll never see the difference.

Try to "mar" one with a pliers and you will see really fast if they are aluminium or not.

Cautrell05

iTrader: (8)

This is from the sc10 manual
Front camber links- inner 6277 shiny, doesent specify material
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHZX9&P=7

outer tierods - 6277 same as above

outer front camber links 3983 black aluminum

inner tierods - 3981 black aluminum
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHZX6&P=7

rear camber links- inner 6278 shiny, aluminum
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...6278&search=Go

rear camber links, outer 3983 black aluminum
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHZX7&P=7

I have yet to see a pattern of what gets the shiny ones and what gets the black ones. but yes they are aluminum.

Nick

geeunit1014

iTrader: (14)

The silver ones have a longer shank height than the black ones (the ball is farther from the base of the stud), by .030" IIRC

racer1812

iTrader: (31)

I'll give you that but being this is the off-road forum my mind wasn't thinking on-road stuff which I haven't run for a few years. I was also assuming you meant ball studs that come in the kits, again off-road kits. In the end I wouldn't run an aluminium ball stud off-road, not as strong and will wear really fast.

racer1812

iTrader: (31)

Which would be why they run a black one on the servo..

Where did you get this info, I never knew this...?..

racer1812

iTrader: (31)

dumb ? but what is IIRC, I see it all the time but don't know. I have a guess but....

BuggyKing

iTrader: (17)

+1.

racer1812

iTrader: (31)

sorry Buggy, he proved me wrong on this one..

Cautrell05

iTrader: (8)

I wasnt trying to be rude about it, hopefully it didnt come across that way. after looking close at the pics I can see the difference between the stud height above the shoulder. Was the black and silver simply to make it easier to tell them apart?

Nick

GizmoJunkie

iTrader: (5)

That might be the only reason i guess?

Still if you need them to stick out more, the ballstud washers can do the trick.

I know some of the older ones are steel as i was looking at my old 10T the other day and can see some rust on them and the camber links/tie rods.

For a second there i was thinking the black ones could also be coated brass as ive seen some of those before in other kits. But if they state aluminum, i guess thats what they are