Homemade 'Shock Socks'

[REDisFASTER]

Hey guys, I wanted to show you this mod I did with my GT2 about a month ago... I believe its been done many times before, but here it goes!

Enjoy:

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/REDisFASTER/PA250336.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/REDisFASTER/PA250340.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/REDisFASTER/PA250339.jpg

Don't mind the shock on the other side... I ran out of the darker shade of orange and ended up having only loose ones. The 'long' balloons are perfect for this. I used the regular oval shaped ones.
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/REDisFASTER/PA250337.jpg

EDIT: Here's an action shot I just made:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/REDisFASTER/shock.gif

Here's the step-by-step how-to:

Make your own shock covers
This is an old, tried and true modification, but for those of you out there who have not tried it, its well worth the time.
Ripping it up in the dirt with an RC monster is a hoot, no doubt about it. Downside is, well, the DIRT. Crud-covered shocks can be a big problem, as the dirt will start wearing out seals and scratching shafts. Before you know it, you got yourselfs some leaks going on there.
There are some excellent shock covers available from RC shops and sites, but if you want to save a penny or two, you might want to try and make your own covers. Its EASY.
First off, buy a bag of balloons. As in party-balloons. The ones you want are those long thin ones. Got em? OK then, lets get to work.


> Step 1: Remove the spring & spring retainers from the shocks.
http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover1.jpg


> Step 2: Inflate the balloon

http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover2.jpg

> Step 3: Cut the "nozzle section" off the balloon (don't cut too much at this point)
http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover3.jpg

> Step 4: While widening the balloon opening with your fingers, drop the shock spring into the balloon (REDisFASTER: A neat trick is you stick the spring inside a 2L soda bottle, place the balloon on the opening, then squeeze the bottle! The air in the bottle helps to inflate the balloon, and while its being inflated, the spring slides in nice and smoothly!)
.http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover4.jpg

> Step 5: Allow the spring to fully extend inside the balloon.
http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover5.jpg

> Step 6: With the spring fully extended inside the balloon, trim end of balloon, leaving about 2-3 cm beyond the end of the spring.
http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover6.jpg

> Step 7: Roll remainder of ballon "lip" inside the sping, then install the upper spring retainer.
http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover8.jpg

> Step 8: Cut small hole in end of balloon, big enough to poke the shock shaft though.
http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover9.jpg

> Step 9: Slide covered spring on to shock, install lower shock retainer.
http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover10.jpg

> Step 10:
Git out there and get em dirty!

http://www.thorbob.com/Photogallery/tech/balloons/cover11.jpg

And a couple of small tips I'd like to add:
For those who can't afford (?) or can't seem to locate Du-Bro's body clip retainers, a good tip would be to just slide it onto a hole on your car's body!
In this case, I slid my body clips onto the tank fill-up/opening hole!
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/REDisFASTER/P1020221.jpg

Another tip, especially for nitro vehicles with bodies that slide over top of your exhaust stinger, is to take a piece of fuel tubing, cut it in half (lengthwise) and roll it into the hole on your body for the exhaust. This way, your body doesn't slowly cut up your stinger from all the vibration (its true, there have been cases where stingers have been damaged by vibration from bodies!).
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/REDisFASTER/P1020222.jpg

[snowboi1289]

Now this is a good mod,im going to try it today.. THANKS ALOT !!!

how did you get a video to be something like a moving picture ??

[xmodificationer]

Now this is a good mod,im going to try it today.. THANKS ALOT !!!

how did you get a video to be something like a moving picture ??

its a .gif file. I might try this with my propulse.

[mustanglover]

looks interesting. i will try this out on my mini-t

[texan_idiot25]

Ha, that is tricky. Going to do it on the Propulse when I get motivated to mess with it.

[WhiteMKIV]

Does it add any performance to it? Or is it more of a spring dress up? it looks good. especially if you have oil filled shocks it would keep them clean or more cleaner i guess?

[texan_idiot25]

Read it ;)

Downside is, well, the DIRT. Crud-covered shocks can be a big problem, as the dirt will start wearing out seals and scratching shafts. Before you know it, you got yourselfs some leaks going on there.

[REDisFASTER]

That's right! The words aren't there just to take up space between the pictures! ;)

[Sweed]

Ha, that is tricky. Going to do it on the Propulse when I get motivated to mess with it.

Motivated? Know that feeling..

[texan_idiot25]

I haven't messed with it in awhile. I lost the dremel cutoff-wheel's screw, so I can't cut the metal disks in the driff to allow a pin to go though, perma locking the SOB.

That, and it's kinda cold and windy today, so screw that.

[TwitchyVirus]

i gotta get some ballons for my 3.3 jato... thats a pretty ingenious homemade mod right there...

[xmodificationer]

I goota do this yay in on a iPhone

[Stampedekid]

I gotta get some balloons to put on my Nitro Stampede's shocks now. Thanks RED! Forget about my crappy, messed up Pro-Pulse. Nitro is better by far! My wheelie bar is still yet to come!:cry:

EDIT. My exhaust comes out the rear below the body, I don't have to do that mod which you posted. Dual rear exhaust is great! Lol. Sorry. I am such a show-off.

[REDisFASTER]

I gotta get some balloons to put on my Nitro Stampede's shocks now. Thanks RED! Forget about my crappy, messed up Pro-Pulse. Nitro is better by far! My wheelie bar is still yet to come!:cry:

EDIT. My exhaust comes out the rear below the body, I don't have to do that mod which you posted. Dual rear exhaust is great! Lol. Sorry. I am such a show-off.

Yeah yeah... Still won't have nothing one me... Saving up for a big block... LRP Z.28R... 3.8 horspower fury in that light little machine! Will be one heck of a truck after I'm done!

[Stampedekid]

Yeah yeah... Still won't have nothing one me... Saving up for a big block... LRP Z.28R... 3.8 horspower fury in that light little machine! Will be one heck of a truck after I'm done!

Lol. Will it be able to scare a Jato 3.3 back into its box? I need new shocks as I posted before this place was hacked. Hmm...what can I do with $35? May just go back to stockers. If it breaks again, I'll go more durable.

[REDisFASTER]

It'll do MUCH more than that! You know Team Losi's LST? The one with the Mach 427 engine? I was talking with a guy on RCU who has a Mach 427 in his Jato... The LRP Z.28R will certainly put the Jato back in its box and ship it back to Plano, Texas, right back to Traxxas!!!

But yeah, if I were to get the non-pullstart version (would mean I would have to buy a starterbox sooner, I will be 0.1 HP short of 4 horsepower!!! (4 - 0.1 = 3.9 for those with math deficiency ;))

[Stampedekid]

It'll do MUCH more than that! You know Team Losi's LST? The one with the Mach 427 engine? I was talking with a guy on RCU who has a Mach 427 in his Jato... The LRP Z.28R will certainly put the Jato back in its box and ship it back to Plano, Texas, right back to Traxxas!!!

But yeah, if I were to get the non-pullstart version (would mean I would have to buy a starterbox sooner, I will be 0.1 HP short of 4 horsepower!!! (4 - 0.1 = 3.9 for those with math deficiency ;))

That Jato must be a rocket! How much are they? I may just have to get one for my Nitro Stampede! Lol, it would be a TRUE monster then. Send REVO's (maybe) and T-Maxx's back into thier boxes right back to Texas along with that Jato your RC10GT2 will scare. Its a GT2 right?

[Sweed]

That Jato must be a rocket! How much are they? I may just have to get one for my Nitro Stampede! Lol, it would be a TRUE monster then. Send REVO's (maybe) and T-Maxx's back into thier boxes right back to Texas along with that Jato your RC10GT2 will scare. Its a GT2 right?

A stampede that fast? Why? You're never gonna get anywere, it's just gonna flip or spin tires..

You can't scare the Revo back, maybe the Crap-Maxx. But as soon as you flip, the Revo will pass you... Plus the Revo is bigger and with 40series, I'll just run over you.. That's assuming the 3.3 doesn't overheat by then. :lol:

Seriously, save the money and buy a Cat-Back when you get a car.

[REDisFASTER]

lol, yep, mine's a GT2!

As for the engine, his is a non-pullstart. He used a starter box or a drill-start mechanism.

I found a PS (pullstart) one on Horizon Hobby for $150 USD:
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=DYN0895

Make sure your axles and transmission are up to the task! The guy with the Jato has gone through so many transmission gears that he went for a bronze gear setup. He recently broke an axle a day ago I believe.

Sweed - the T-MAXX is sick! Its be best selling R/C truck in R/C history! Its got so much potential for modification and performance! You can basically chose where you want to go with the T-Maxx and it'll take you there! If I had extra dough, I'd totally buy one!

[Stampedekid]

Still, I'll have a wheelie bar by then, but when I make 1 wrong move, you can come up to NY and run my Stampede over with your REVO. Or in 3 years when I move to Florida, you can come to Port St. Lucy and run over it :p. Lol. The T-Maxx is Traxxas's best selling truck so I don't know what you are talking about. We need Noturday in here to tell us about his T-maxx 3.3 so we can have a good explanation about the Maxx.

[REDisFASTER]

Simple. I'd buy a T-Maxx over an LST or Savage anyday! Between a T-Maxx and AE's MGT, I'm partial to AE, so the MGT might be the one I buy... T-Maxx is for 'basic racing' and all out fun! Revo, I'm scared... The suspension arms and the rocker arm suspension... It looks too fragile to be bashed! It looks more like a full-on track truck!

[Stampedekid]

Simple. I'd buy a T-Maxx over an LST or Savage anyday! Between a T-Maxx and AE's MGT, I'm partial to AE, so the MGT might be the one I buy... T-Maxx is for 'basic racing' and all out fun! Revo, I'm scared... The suspension arms and the rocker arm suspension... It looks too fragile to be bashed! It looks more like a full-on track truck!

From what I know

Savage=Extreme basher
Revo=Racing built truck
T-Maxx=Bestselling truck
Nitro Stampede=Great beginner truck, good bashing.

[REDisFASTER]

Don't be certain about the Stampede being a 'beginner truck' only. They've got lots of potential (well, the electric ones as far as I know).

Check out the 'pede thread at RCU: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2358901/anchors_2358901/mpage_1/key_Stampede/anchor/tm.htm#2358901

[Stampedekid]

Don't be certain about the Stampede being a 'beginner truck' only. They've got lots of potential (well, the electric ones as far as I know).

Check out the 'pede thread at RCU: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2358901/anchors_2358901/mpage_1/key_Stampede/anchor/tm.htm#2358901

I didn't say it's only a beginner truck, I said it does a good, no wait great job as a beginner truck. It has potential yes. Wheelies like no tomorrow. Just no reverse which builds up driving skills. Plus I never would have had to use reverse. Wheelies everytime you gun the throttle and I run in a really big field. Plus it doesn't hit the curb, it goes right up them.

[Sweed]

From what I know

Savage=Extreme basher
Revo=Racing built truck
T-Maxx=Bestselling truck
Nitro Stampede=Great beginner truck, good bashing.

The savage is an extreme basher, and that's about all it can do. If you drop about $250 into it, your at what a stock Tmaxx can do, which isn't that great.

The revo is race-ready (well, pin tires would be good). It's good at bashing becuase it's so versatile (street-dirt-mud-track-dunes) without changing the suspension. You can go through all the first three with consistent handling.

The Tmaxx is outdated now. I don't like the chassis and the supension is alright. They have problems with the bulk heads breaking, but it's expected.

The Stampedes (Don't know about the Nitro's) are good for beginners, but with a BL system (ask Donzii) it can go far and do alot. The biggest thing I miss when going from Revo to Pede is the power. But a diffrent motor and batteries isn't too expensive.

Simple. I'd buy a T-Maxx over an LST or Savage anyday! Between a T-Maxx and AE's MGT, I'm partial to AE, so the MGT might be the one I buy... T-Maxx is for 'basic racing' and all out fun! Revo, I'm scared... The suspension arms and the rocker arm suspension... It looks too fragile to be bashed! It looks more like a full-on track truck!

I think Junk-mod-er at XMW/IRC had the story from hell on his MGT, but that was just him. And we know Junk (and his hot glue gun antics :lol: )...

I would go Tmaxx becuase it has larger aftermarket support and if something goes wrong, Traxxas has your back.

But remember:
Revo>Tmaxx

[Stampedekid]

The savage is an extreme basher, and that's about all it can do. If you drop about $250 into it, your at what a stock Tmaxx can do, which isn't that great.

The revo is race-ready (well, pin tires would be good). It's good at bashing becuase it's so versatile (street-dirt-mud-track-dunes) without changing the suspension. You can go through all the first three with consistent handling.

The Tmaxx is outdated now. I don't like the chassis and the supension is alright. They have problems with the bulk heads breaking, but it's expected.

The Stampedes (Don't know about the Nitro's) are good for beginners, but with a BL system (ask Donzii) it can go far and do alot. The biggest thing I miss when going from Revo to Pede is the power. But a diffrent motor and batteries isn't too expensive.



I think Junk-mod-er at XMW/IRC had the story from hell on his MGT, but that was just him. And we know Junk (and his hot glue gun antics :lol: )...

I would go Tmaxx becuase it has larger aftermarket support and if something goes wrong, Traxxas has your back.

But remember:
Revo>Tmaxx

The Nitro Stampede is a good basher. The shocks could be a little stronger though.