Regarding the ball ends popping off do you have to use SC10 4x4 parts? I had some Durango camber links and Traxxas captured ball ends lying around and decided to see if they would fit. After I installed them I checked for clearance and binding and everything looked good. The Durango links are 4mm, but made out of aluminum so there pretty light.

This is what I was running, Lunsford HD ball cups.

Durango 4mm links on left, Lunsford in the middle and stock 3mm on the right.

Durango links installed.