I'm running the 14MM shocks. The lighter the buggy, the smaller the shocks you'll need, or that's what works for me. You can lighten it up some by using graphite servo tray, and front support. They also have engine mounts that are lighter, and give a lower COG, universals and CVD's are lighter than dog bones too. If you add the weight of the front and rear dog bones, and the axles that go with them, they will be heavier than the CV or universal counter parts. Using thinner rear shock towers is a big plus, because it's less susceptible to damage so you don't need the extra thickness. If you're using 16MM shocks, then that adds a little weight too, so if you can tweak the 14MM shocks to satisfy you, then by all means do so. The Hyper PBS used to use aluminum center dog bones, and if they are available still, try a set of these to help reduce more weight. The Hyper 8/8.5 uses lightened center diff gears, and thay are pretty cheap on E-bay. Not the 8-gear spider diff, the standard diff. The spider diffs add a ton of weight, and the standard diffs have worked for me for years, so I have never seen a need for a stronger diff, even in a truggy. I hope this helps.