About a month ago I purchased a Nitro Rustler. I have been happy with it so far but I don't have much to compare it to because it is my first RC car. I do, however, have many questions. I have tried to seek help at my local hobby store with little luck. The kids that work there seem to have little interest in answering my questions. When they do try to answer them I quickly find that they don't know any more than I do.

My questions are: How do I even know what to do to make an improvement in performance? Where can I learn which type of spring or weight of oil is best for the conditions in which I operate? Who can explain why this is so? What specifically will each upgrade do to improve performance? Why? What are some things I need to consider before upgrading?

I really would appreciate and value any input.

Thanks


Joe

1st, Wlecome to the board! Are you going to be racing your truck or just bashing? I do not have experience with the N.Rustler, but things that will make a difference shock oil and springs(like you mentioned) also tires. Traxxas has a forum just for the N. Rustler and RDracingproducts.com Make hop-ups and has a forum also.

Thanks for the welcome.

So far I'm just bashing. I would like to race but I don't have the time or money now to be seriously competitive. Also I don't even know how or where to get started racing. I don't even know anyone else that has an RC car. I wish I could find one or two others in my area that would race just for fun. I haven't even found a really good place to drive it yet. Ideally I would like to race in a non competitive environment. My local hobby store has a track. There are all ways people practicing and of course small impromptu races start. This is exactly what I want unfortunately they don't allow nitro cars.

Back to the problem at hand. So far the truck has been a blast in the stock configuration. I understand that shocks and shock oil will make a difference. What I don't know is how do I decide if I want more or less damping? Do I want stiffer springs or softer? Most importantly, Why is this so? As a pilot I really feel the need to understand why things work the way they do. For some reason I feel the need to apply this same logic to my truck.

Did you get the new 2.5 rustler or the old one with the pro .15? In any event I would adjust the suspension first....If you think about it its kind of common sense....If you want to turn sharper or better handline you would have to soften the front and tighten the rear. It all depends on what kind of driving you will be doing...

Penguin R/C has an excellent suspension tuning guide. Here's the link.


http://www.penguinrc.com/information/tuningguide.shtml

Happy tuning

Here's another link on suspension tuning

http://www.teamassociated.com/basics...dbook_susp.htm

I got the new 2.5 rustler. So far its been great. I just wish I had something to compare it to.

Thanks for your help!!! I think those links are exactly what I was looking for.

Here is what I read on another post from hoodiegadoo
about the Rustler and what he has done so far for upgrades to help with the steering/suspension.

rear suspension:

35 wt. shock oil
aluminum shocks
stock traxxas springs
2-hole pistons

front suspension:

20 wt. shock oil
aluminum shocks
2.5 spring rate springs
2-hole pistons

Other mods: aluminum towers, suspension arms, suspension arm mounts.


Good Luck!

Like CMO said is one of my setups....but I race and I care about handling performance on specific tracks. If you tell me what kind of handling you want such as: not bottoming out on jumps...better grip during acceleration...tires staying on the ground in rocky terrain...just for some examples and What kind of terrain you will be driving on.. i can give you a good idea for a setup that is more custom to your needs.

hoodiegadoo.....You Da Man!

this is the input that I was looking for. Thanks. Better than my last 4 trips to the Hobby store. Right now I am just bashing around in construction sites trying to hone my skill. I'll upgrade when I get good enough, find a track thats close or when things break, which ever happens first.

For what you are doing I would suggest getting slightly tighter springs in the rear and keeping the stock springs in front....try 25 wt. shock oil all around. and that should be good, if you go with any lighter springs on that kind of ruff terrain you will probably be bottoming out so instead of making the front softer (which you would on a track) like i said stiffen up the back... once you get into upgrades i would suggest aluminum as opposed to graphite, I've used both and the aluminum adds a little weight wich helps keeping the front on the ground but doesn't take away from acceleration or top speed (i've clocked the car with both)