Ok I see what you mean. You shouldn't complain about what you have if you can't afford the good stuff.

Well no matter how much research you do, you always miss stuff, huh? Hadn't heard that expression...

Which is why I didn't even consider it. Yeah, a lot more could be wrong. I know you're trying to school me that I'm thinking about this from the wrong frame of mind. And I appreciate your honesty and experienced viewpoint. Hell, half the reason I got into this was to have something to tinker with. But (and again, you'll probably say I'm wrong here) doesn't having standards mean you actually care how your RTR or Factory Team product functions? It's totally acceptable to me that several months from now after actually racing the crap out of this thing that the shocks might be toast or an a-arm would bust or the screws might fall out. But my ride is basically a brand new car.

I've run it around the street and park about 40 minutes every other day for the last week and a half. No big crashes or stupidity. No big jumps, unless a driveway or off a curb onto the street is considered big.. After watching some actual races, the amount of punishment I've given the shocks is equivalent to maybe two laps on a decent-sized, good track.

If the RTR shock builds are so crappy that they immediately need to be disassembled, I think AE wouldn't be where they are today. Either that or things have gone way downhill. Or, people have really low expectations. After reading the thoughful, intelligent discussions on this thread, I doubt that thoughful, intelligent people would accept this in a supposedly ready-to-run kit. (Yeah, I realize I'm on the FT thread - please, this is the best place to hang out)

Granted, not a valid analogy. I'd like to think it was a Golf R32, but that's just me. I guess I didn't mean that a RTR B4.1 is a Porsche, more that AE is, if not the best all-around RC mfr., they're certainly in the top 2 or 3.

Don't ever think I would knock the majority of you guys for parting together your rides. It was never a question of a RTR being even close to a FT with well-picked parts, it's always been about the budget, and what I can get past the wife. I've put more than $400 in this new hobby and I'm still nowhere. I'd love to drop a grand or two (or more) to really sculpt a work of art, but it ain't happening. The couch is NOT comfortable enough for that.

BTW, TBird, my speed control just exploded and killed my daughter's fish.

NOW are you with me?!?!?

Welll, since racing-minded guys are the ones that are ultimately responsible for designing and OKing this stuff, ThunderbirdJunkie's thoughts on the matter are that they probably figure shock rebuild kits are essentially a disposable wear item, which is probably why RTRs (in almost all manufacturers) come with different shock hardware than the kits (this is most prevalent with Losi's XXX-based RTRs), as noted by Ryno with the difference between the black and white O-ring spacers. ThunderbirdJunkie is fairly certain the actual O-rings are different, too.

To ThunderbirdJunkie, this would be a great time to buy the FT V2 shock bodies, caps, and a V2 rebuild kit

BTW; thanks for being mature in the discussion (to everybody), because far too often people have gone way off on folks for maturely expressing their differing opinion...this is why this is ThunderbirdJunkie's favorite thread on Tech

It's no Fiesta, is it?? If so, this @#$% is going BACK.

Again, it's all about standards. Even if my cheap RTR is a Fiesta, the friggin' shocks shouldn't go bad in 2 weeks of light duty. If AE decided they wanted to put out a crappy RTR kit just to get suckers hooked, well then I guess I'm a sucker.

But damn if I don't want to be that cynical.. at least, not when I'm not at work.

Definitely not a Fiesta. ThunderbirdJunkie would liken it to a supercharged Cobalt SS...a little rough around the edges in some ways, but a fun, durable, quick car that drives pretty darn nicely.

Yeah the only problem now is that you've just tried to destroy any faith I have in the reliability of AE's products. If I fork over more hard-earned dough to get the V2 shocks, you'll give me the cold shoulder when those eff up in 2 weeks too?

Or are those so more more superior that they don't instantly need rebuilding? And if so, what does it say about a company to put out obviously inferior products to force an upgrade?

STANDARDS, man, jeez.

I've been a small business owner, and now work for a multinational. You realize, in both cases, that either you care ALL the time, or you might as well not care at all.

My dad always told me, never do anything half-assed.

Always do it like a complete ass.

That's the thing with building shocks...until you have it down pat (which, realistically, the people at the factory SHOULD), there are going to be inconsistencies...ThunderbirdJunkie has blown out a freshly rebuilt shock on a number of occasions.

The V2 bodies with the bleeder caps make it way easier to build the shocks, especially for somebody new to it. Just the bleeder caps would be a great upgrade.

The thing is, while we see companies like Associated that have been in business since the '60s, a lot of us assume this is a huge company, where RC is really not very big in general. Maisto probably sells way more of one particular craptacular model of theirs than AE sells of all of their cars in a year.

If you call Associated, ThunderbirdJunkie is positive that they'll help you out. They are indeed a great company that does, indeed, care. Just don't expect them to ship out a new set of shocks that are prebuilt...the best thing to take away from this is a learning opportunity for building shocks properly.

BTW, at 40 min every other day for the past two weeks...your car has definitely seen more runtime than ThunderbirdJunkie's car has in the past month or two

We'll see how this goes with AE first... But yeah, sounds good.

Which is why I never eat at Mcdonalds.

You had me til that last line. You realize you just turned into the most evil
PR guy ever, right? Let me explain:

British Petroleum PR Guy: The best thing to take away from this is it's a learning opportunity for drilling oil properly.

I like how when the product fails, it becomes a learning opportunity for how to build the product better than the company that manufactures it. I am giving you crap a little, but honestly, that's the funniest damn thing I've heard in a while. I think you could easily make a Dilbert strip out of that one.


Now that right there may be more tragic than anything discussed here. Way to play the trump card at the end of the hand. I feel bad enough that I haven't raced at a track -- Get out there!

Im not familiar with the RTR, but this seems to be what you're looking for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkRbR...eature=related

Welcome to the hobby.

Good vid(s) and thanks! The V2 doesn't really seem that much easier, mainly since the RTR shocks don't seem hard.

I guess the big thing is preventing the oil from leaking out the bottom where the shaft meets the body (my issue)..

What I don't get is, how will rebuilding the shocks correct this? Is it a washer issue? If so, are the washers interchangable between RTR and V2 kits (meaning, if the RTR washers are no good, can I get the V2 washers to solve the problem..)?

Dont be to upset.. My B44.1 FT V2's leaked 3 weeks from new..

Not an issue. Just routine maintenance.
Get these for your rebuild:

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...ild-Red-O-Ring

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...am-Green-Slime

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...tric-Buggy-Kit

Are other brands really any better (just talking about quality, not progressiveness, feel, etc.) or is this just a case of tolerances not being tight enough so you get a good set of shocks, then a bad set?

Quick question, mite have been covered but getting a B4 n am wondering if the B4.1 upgrade parts will fit on it? Yeh a newbie!