Clod shocks A-OK

[F-150]

I'm about to build up my first Clod Buster. I've had a normal blue one and a grey edition for like three years now sitting on the shelf. I was thinking it would be nice to get one built and all ready for spring/summer and do some simple upgrades, nothing huge. And put a killer paint job on it... Thinking some sort of grey and dark green.... 

After looking at the layout It looks like most of the weight is on the axles, motor and everything.... It has big friction shocks and I'm wondering if would make any difference to upgrade the shocks at all, since the parts of the truck on top the shocks seem to be lighter than the axles. Like the shocks don't really support anything, just look cool. 

I could be wrong ...  In videos it doesn't seem all that bouncy, soooo.  I might just save some money in the shocks department 

[MadAtComputer]

The only complaint I have  about my stock clod shocks is that they rattle around. Like you said all the weight is on the axles, I can't see oil shocks doing all that much.

[mtbkym01]

Hard to see them, but I fitted cheap alloy shocks purely for form over function. Friction shocks are not fitted on any of my builds, just can’t do it

[markbt73]

With the stock suspension, it doesn't make a huge difference, except you don't hear the clickety-clack of the pogo sticks topping out anymore. Most of the suspension action, as you may have guessed, comes from the tires. If you've never had one, it's worth running it stock just to see, before you start changing things.

If you change to a four-link setup that actually has some travel, and a twin-plate frame with enough clearance to allow movement, then the shocks make a huge difference. You don't want 8 at that point, you only want 4. Typically, race Clod setups have soft suspension, because so little of the weight is sprung, but add stiff anti-roll bars so you get soft landing off jumps, but it doesn't lean way over in the turns.

I've done both, and right now I have a mostly stock Clod that I'm not happy with as-is, but I can't decide how far down the rabbit hole I want to go with this one. I'm trying to find the sweet spot between cool-looking stock truck that barely turns and rattles all over, and Very Serious Truck that handles great but loses its charm. Haven't found that balancing point yet. But it's all part of the fun.

[F-150]

I'm thinking about putting on cheap oil shocks and adding weight to the chassis to give it some....I dunno.... Gerth?  Enough weight to make the shocks work, plus I think more weight on a clod would be a good thing, make it less bouncy I guess and planted. I can make up for the weight by putting in some better torque motors and some 3s juice possibly. I just wanted to get a clod built and going...so cool looking and I've never had the experience with a clod. Guess I'm not a true Tamiya fan yet, lmao 

Thanks for the input. 

[OldSchoolRC1]

I ran single Axial AX10 shocks on all 4 corners of my otherwise stock clod. Made a huge difference!  Didn't look as cool, but just the right amount of dampening and a little more flex than the stock shocks allow. 

[WhteRbt]

I ordered these CVAs (110 mm) and plan to add all eight, but only four with springs: https://a.aliexpress.com/_EzhYSQy

Will keep you updated if you want. 👍

[F-150]

13 minutes ago, WhteRbt said:

I ordered these CVAs (110 mm) and plan to add all eight, but only four with springs: https://a.aliexpress.com/_EzhYSQy

Will keep you updated if you want. 👍

For sure...Keep us updated. 

Good idea, all 8 shocks with only 4 having springs. That would make it less stiff and able to utilize actual oil dampening with more realistic ride. 

I'm going to make a note of that, thanks 

[Wooders28]

I've a Bullhead , and went with the Traxxas T Maxx plastic shocks, about £20 off ebay for the 8.

Had to do a bit of botchery to get them nailed on (if I remember right, I swapped over the rod ends on the shock shaft, and put a bit of heat shrink on the shoulder on the top eyelet screw to take up the slack), 

 

 

[stockae92]

On 3/30/2025 at 6:10 AM, WhteRbt said:

I ordered these CVAs (110 mm) and plan to add all eight, but only four with springs: https://a.aliexpress.com/_EzhYSQy

Will keep you updated if you want. 👍

 

thats a pretty good idea. I was thinking light weight shock oil. Do let us how that turns out.

[WhteRbt]

I will! I‘ve already prepared a set of four dampers for a test, from two I removed the springs and from the other ones the piston plates – curious to find out how that works.

Now I just have to find some spare time to start the build… 🤔😬

[urban warrior]

When I had my Clod in the late eighties, I mounted CVAs all around because I couldn't stand the look and the idea of the original pogo-stick-shocks. I won't say that it made any real difference due to the chassis concept as it has already been mentioned before. But I liked it more.

As far as it has been said, that most of the "suspension work" is done by the tires:

 

[WhteRbt]

49 minutes ago, urban warrior said:

As far as it has been said, that most of the "suspension work" is done by the tires.

Maybe a stupid idea, but maybe tire foams would transfer the suspension work from the tires to the shocks? 🤔

[urban warrior]

25 minutes ago, WhteRbt said:

Maybe a stupid idea, but maybe tire foams would transfer the suspension work from the tires to the shocks? 🤔

In principle yes. As you can see in my second picture the rear suspension has compressed under enough force due to the landing. Anyway as long the chassis tub and its content are lighter than the complete axles, sophisticated shocks are more an optical thing and less functional. Getting the chassis heavier will lift the center of gravity, which will be sub-optimal for conering at high speeds. And I guess adding foams into the tires may make the suspension more "bumpy". Who knows? 🤷🏼‍♂️