My spur/pinion is absolutely fine. I believe I might have tightened the screws too tight. The thing is I can't remember if I was running the whole time with that noise... I'm pretty sure after like 15 mins of running the sound came up tho.

What are the recommended companies for pinions? I see there is AE and robinson.

Spurs? There is AE, JC Slient Speed, and Kimbrough.

Please provide opinions/reasons for your choosing.

Thanks!

Robinson pinions pair up with the AVID spurs great ...

very quiet combo

Since you didn't ask about the AVID, i'll rate the 3 spurs you listed:

1: Kimbrough(light and high quality)
2: JC Silent Speed(Machined teeth, i like the precision. Downside being available sizes and possibly heavier)
3: AE stock spurs(rumors say Kimbrough makes em for AE, but their own are higher quality than the ones they sell AE)

I like Robinson pinions, recently started buying their black anodized aluminum pinions and love em. Less weight and to me, they seem quieter and make a better noise than the steel ones, more of a "Whirring" sound.

When running the vts slipper,what gear covers work. I have heard the black associated one does but not sure if i head correctly. thanks

The clear on that comes wiyj the b4 wc fits

Offroad newbie here (well scale offroad anyway)

I have just picked up a B4.1 FT, having never driven offroad before, but plenty of onroad, I would like to know what spares do i need to buy ?

What the weaker points on the car ?

Do i really need to upgrade anything while i am learning, or will the kit be fine for a few months ?

I have seen there is a wheel hex upgrade is this worthwhile ?

I will be running in 17.5 so it wont be too abused.

Beth.

Yes the black AE cover fits. Locals who ran the RPM gear covers could not get clearance. The stock clear cover also fits.

You can make the RPM cover fit but it will be paper thin when you are done. Better to stick with the AE cover.

Gear diff, correct? Sounds like your diff is skipping. You can either get some shims and shim it or upgrade to a ball diff. I've never actually run the gear diff...just heard it acting up plenty at the track.

also check axle pins at the wheel

Congrats on your B4.1, you made a great purchase. As far as must have spares.............I've drivinn the WC for a calendar year and I've broken two front arms and a front shock tower, they are pretty tough. You will hear on upgrades
1. Avid aluminum steering rack (a must to eliminate slop)
2. Hexes
3. Triad Slipper by Avid (hold out on this, jury is still out, the stock V2 is pretty stout)
4 Big Bore Shocks (associated finally came out with their own and they are great, they arent Kyosho great but they are pretty damn solid) and for the price of a pair kyosho springs you can get a full set for one end of the car with cash to spare.
For now hang out here, very knowledgable group with lots of input on your new ride.

Kevin

Nothing is really overly weak on the car. The plastic is kinda soft, so some people replace the rear ubrace and front top plate with the carbon versions. Otherwise spare A Arms and shock towers are really the only parts that break. But that is like any other buggy.

The parts I most often break are rear ball studs (black and silver), rear ubrace and front arms.

drive your buggy like your f1 car and you'll be fine.
typically, the front towers and arms break the most while learning to jump, sometimes rear towers and caster blocks.

if you have the FT WC you won't need any upgrades to learn, if it's a FT then the +8mm chassis is nice.

hexes are convenient, but not necessary, and might be the way all wheels go in the future; cross compatibility with other brands is a plus

The only parts you would need for spares are: front and rear a-arms, front caster blocks, both shock towers,rear t-plate, and maybe a rack of ball cups incase one gets stretched and starts to pop off. As for upgrades, I run the alloy FT 0degree rear hubs. a 17.5 is mellow but still no joke. The car in stock form is great. Lots of guys at my local track run the hex drive but I still run the pins, partly because they give me their old tires,lol. I have not broken or damaged a pin or wheel using pins running my 17.5. When I tried running a mod 8.5 a while back I did ruin a wheel when a pin broke so I went to solid pins and changed to the 17.5 to race the stock class. Have fun with it.