My thoughts are that the Associated truggy was built with one intention, racing. Associated is not known for bashers. I had a similar situation with my b44. I had a ton of $ into it and it broke nearly every other time I drove it, though it was usually shock shafts and front a-arms.
If your track is packed with gravel, and the jumps are huge, I would say that it is an out of the ordnary track. Most have moderate jumps, and are clay, with out a gravel mixture.
My advice, though you may not want this advice, is to sell your RC8Te and buy more of a track worthy basher like an eRevo (for example).
Im a huge Associated fan, but went through a similar delema between the two trucks, and havent broken a single thing on the eRevo, both on the track or when bashing.