disaster999

iTrader: (1)

i had that kinda problem when with my tamiya cars, i think getting the once from RMP should keep the ball joints where they belong!

IMPACTPLAYR

iTrader: (7)

Your Ball cups are probably worn, and the diff problem sounds like a a faulty bearing, maybe the thrust bearing possibly....

TRF-Powered

I never have the ball joint poped on itself when hit. It never happen to any of my Tamiya cars.

Just wondering: when you build your car did you use a piler to tighten the ball joints and leave like those piler teeth mark on the ball joints? if so that might be the problem.... i'm so sure though... it's either you damage the ball joints when building or maybe you just got bad ball joints out of the box.

disaster999

iTrader: (1)

TRF: yaya...i used to use piler to disconnect the ball joints, and it pops out really easily...i still use pilers, but im like 10 times more careful

TRF-Powered

I don't pop the ball joint directly. What I do is try to spin around the ball joint a little when poping the connector. It's easier that way and it doesn't leave you the uneven wear of the connector where some places might be worn out faster than others and causing it to become loose.

IMPACTPLAYR

iTrader: (7)

There are a few parts I have found to be "consumables", here is a short list and how I determine that they need replaced:

Ballcups- whenever they seem to "pop-off" too easily during disassembly, usually well before they will ever pop-off in a wreck.

Hinge pins- always check after each day of racing, or in between heats if you have a hard collision. Roll on a smooth flat surface, if you I see any wobble no matter how little they get bent in half and trashed.

turnbuckles- as soon as any sign of tweek is detected

diffballs- during every rebuild I replace all and throw the old ones away, if carbide I will replace every 3 rebuilds or whenever I cannot get the diffs to rebuild smooth.

body posts- if I replace the body because it is too damaged to run the posts it resided upon get the can too.

front bumper- after the first sign of tweak.

That's all I can think of now, but I am sure there are others. I also some of these may be extreme, but I have never been sidelined due to any minor parts failure, and it has been 7-8 years since I have had a ballcup pop in the middle of a race, now have one split in half that is another story...LOL

stik

Tamiya ball cups are standard on all of 04 series. They do wear out specially if you pop them in and out often. Try using captured ball. But they may cause you more damage than using ordinary cups if you hit frequently and hard.

Alvin

thanks for the tips dudes.

Stick, is a "captured ball joint" a joint where u need to push a metal ball into the joint, and the ball has a hole to be screwed into the bulkheads?

Yesterday's race was too slippery and my 04 slammed into the guard rail from the side, bugger joint popped out.

I believe it is worn: reason: it is the joint where I frequently remove to adjust my rear ball diff.

Thanks again!

~Alvin

stik

...yup, that's the one.

erap

or you instead of using ball connectors, you could use set screws. so basically you don't pop your shocks or steering linkages back in, you screw them in. the only problem is if you crash hard enough, the set screw will probably stay on and the shocks plastic ends or steering pivots could be ripped. they are plastic, after all. hope this helps

Alvin

Dudes,
Forgot all about the anti wear grease which comes wit hthe kit. Do you think placing some of these on the ball joints will aid in less wear and tear ilf I need to pop them?

IMPACTPLAYR

iTrader: (7)

I don't think so, any type of lubrication on ball joints would be undesirable, and make them pop faster.

senna

I have mine TA04 for sale!

Anyone interested?

erap

do not put any type of grease on the ball connectors. IMPCTPLAYER is right when he says it'll just make the ballends pop out more often aside from making one hell of a mess everytime you run your car!

IMPACTPLAYR

iTrader: (7)

Not to mention the grease will attract dirt and act as sandpaper from the inside wearing the ball cup and ball joint out prematurely.