Manny

I saw Steevo's earlier post where he showed the graphite shock towers are about 5gr lighter than the plastic ones. Can anyone tell me if they are significantly stiffer? Does anyone think this is a must have item?

PizzaDude

Manny,

A friend of mine has them and he says the following.
The towers are indeed stiffer.
But now the flex starts at the plastic bulkheads.
Less flex, but flex nonetheless.

But I've got them on order at this time, tough.
Also a little more tuning options on the graphites...

Also an idea is to use 2 shocktowers put together.
Jilles Groskamp from Holland raced last years 414 that way!

Best regards,
Pizza

Steevo

Yes Manny The Carbon Fibre Shock Towers are definately a lot stiffer and fractionally lighter. I don't know about using 2 sets instead of one as In my opinion this will do little to stop the very limited flex at the bulk heads. I have them on My car and I like the fact that there are many varied positions over the standard plastic set, they weigh less and they look great too.

Steevo

PizzaDude

Steeevo,

I'm sorry but I wasn't very clear before.

Indeed doesn't a double shock tower anythinhg to reduce the flex at the plastic bulkhead.

But Jilles beleived that the graph shocktowers from Tamiya (which are pretty thin) were flexing a bit on his 414.
The 414 (as we know) has aluminum bulkheads. So no flex at the bulkhead...

My point being flex probably always will exist in one way or another, at some place. But how much and where, you decide.
Right.

CU
Pizza

Steevo

Pizza,
After having a good look at my 04, I would agree that the rear Carbon fibre tower could use a little stiffening and would probably benefit from fitting a second one. As far as the front goes it is rock solid and fitting a second unit would be unnecessary in my opinion.
BTW just for your info, the shock towers are made of carbon fibre not graphite. These are two different things.
Also keep an eye out for my "Weight Watchers" post coming tomorrow. I'll also have some new pics of my 04.

Steevo

Dragoonz09

Hi pizza dude, thanks, thats the one i got but unfortunately like i said earlier the arms fit to a T but the rest doesn't. this set is meant for a 414

PizzaDude

Steevo,


Sorry if I got the terms wrong. But you got my drift.
Indeed the front tower is rock solid. The rear one I agree totally.

I can't wait for you to put up those numbers.



Dragoon,

Please follow this link

http://www.tamiya.de/images/service/49258.html

This is the German Tamiya importer Dicky Toys.
Quite a big company.
They say this set is ment for the TA-04!!!

Don,t know any more than this either.


Cheerio
Pizza

Steevo

OK here it is.
The story on some of those hop-ups and what they will lose or cost you in precious weight.
The weights are only the items that you need to use from the hop ups bag. For instance the “Stock Parts weight” is everything that had to come off the car to fit the hop up option part. A brief note will be added where necessary to clarify exactly what was weighed and what was not. So here goes………

STD TA04 Bevel Gear Diff …………………………………………………...34.1g
TA04 Ball Diff Item #53436 ………………………………………………….28.35g
Standard Ball Diff Outdrives with Plastic diff housing Plate…18.6g
TA04 Lightweight Diff outdrives #53480………………………………5.3g
Standard Alloy Motor Plate………………………………………………………8g
TA04 Aluminium Motor Heat sink #53437……………………………18.15g
Standard Plastic Upper Deck without belt tensioner …………26.85g
Carbon Fibre Upper Deck #53465 without tensioner…………11.5g
Std Front Damper Stay with hardware but not incl. mounting Screws………12.8g
TA04 Carbon Damper Stay Front #53460 incl Hardware ……13.8g
Std Rear Damper Stay with hardware but not incl. mounting Screws………….17.6g
TA04 Carbon Damper Stay Rear #53461 incl Hardware ……14.82g
TA04 Std Steel Steering Posts (pair)…………………………………………7g
TA04 Aluminium Steering Posts (pair)……………………………………2.6g
TA04 Std Plastic Steering Arms (not incl. plastic connecting arm)………………8.7g
TA04 Alloy Racing Steering Set (not incl. Plastic connecting arm)……………10.65g
TA04 Standard Plastic dual Centre Pulley with Alloy Sleeve…4.4g
TA04 Aluminium Centre Pulley # 53474 X 2…………………………..7.7g
TA04 Std Plastic Battery Hold Downs (pair)……………………………4.5g
TA04 Carbon Fibre Battery Hold Downs (pair)………………………4.1g
TA04 Std Plastic Hex Hub Set (incl. Pins) ………………………………3.1g
TA04 Lightweight Aluminium Wheel Hub #49120………………4.45g
TA04 Racing Hub Carrier Set #53458 ……….+ 6.25g over standard set.

OK so that’s about all the mods that I have made to my kit so far..

In summing up by making all the above changes to my car I not only improved handling and adjustability and of course looks but I also dropped a total of 36.73g over stock.

If you have any Questions feel free to ask and I will try and answer them. My Tub Chassis Has remained Stock to date because I like its Handling characteristics.
I will however, be buying the Carbon Fibre chassis shortly so I’ll give you the weights when I have them.
Hope some of you can use some of the above info.

Cheers
Steevo

rough512

iTrader: (12)

So what advantage does the racing Hub carrier set bring? I have'nt tried running with the standard set on my 2nd hand 414 yet. I find that camber links which attach on the ball stud ontop of the racing hub, so easy to pop off. One minor bump and I get a lame car.

Also, a lighter non-sprung suspension should be better, right?

IMPACTPLAYR

iTrader: (7)

rough--- dude read your post!!! The racing hubs stiffen up the front and makes the car more responsive.... replace those worn ballcups, infact go ahead and replace all of them on the car...... you will thank yourself!!!!

Steevo

Hello Rough512,
OK firstly the Racing Hub Carrier set increases the caster angle slightly over stock. This will help increase straight line stability which is particularly useful with powerful low turn Mod motors. It also does stiffen up the whole assembley some what to reduce slop.
As far as the connectors popping off, well I have not had that problem at all (so Far!!). I do however change the plastic ball cups regularly and do not use any lubricants on them. You could change to a captured ball if you are having persistant problems.

Steevo

rough512

iTrader: (12)

Why didn't I think of that? Yes, the ballcups must be that old. I'll go ahead and replace all of them. Maybe I spent too much time with myTA03. That thing could take 5 Minutes running against the boards without popping a link. and it's also second hand.

PizzaDude

Steevo,

Here are a few weights to at to the list.

Stock dogbone incl axle 11g each
Steel univ 10g
Alu univ 7g

Stock plastic gear holder with stock 120t spur 9g
Alu holder incl hard spur 120t 12g

When 2 steel univ upfront and 2 alu's at back, incl the alu spur holder as mentioned.
You will get a more stable, efficient and secure drivetrain and save 7g rotating mass in the process.

A friend off mine switched all his coppercolored ball ends for alu's
and exchanged all the screws for titaniums. All the screws and ball ends found on the car.
Ball ends saved about 8g
Crews about 13g

Again an advantage of 21g.

I'll soon also have my hands on the carbon saddle pack chassis.
Lets see who's first to weigh this baby.


CU
Pizza

PizzaDude

Anyone cared to wheigh their one way diff????

Please tell me what this weighs... (incl. pulley)

Or what the differnce is if it would be exchaned with the stock (ball) diff.

Thanks

IMPACTPLAYR

iTrader: (7)

I don't think the weight of the one-way would be very useful, because if you are racing a track that requires a one-way to preform you really won't worry about the weight of it due to the preformance advantage...... however I do know it would be heavier than the ball diff........ The one way should never be used as a weight saving/adding option.......