Need Hotshot help!

[Stinger7]

Hello everyone! I am having trouble with the front shock unit on my Hotshot. Every time the front of the car is compressed-it remains compressed (very mushy ). I assembled the shock as per instructions; and made sure that there where no air bubbles present. Is this inherent to the Hotshot? I am aware of the Hop Up suspension set, but I prefer to run the Hotshot in it's traditional form. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks!

[FKhanro(2)]

Do you have the collar set so that it compresses the spring? The shock has atleast 3 settings I believe. The shock itself without the spring should be filled with oil and the shock rod should move back out on it's own when you compress it. The is referred to as rebound. The oil in the shock only keeps the shock from rebounding like a basketball. It doesn't make the suspension 'stiff'. That is the spring's job. If the spring is compressed, it will keep the ride height up. When I ran this car, as soon as the Supershot upgrade shock set was available, I took it as it kept the car's clearance at a decent height. The mono-shock of the hotshot looks cool but even now that I have both cars as shelf queens side by side, I need to prop up my hotshot to keep it from sagging. Hope this helps,

Fazal.

[WillyChang]

quote:Originally posted by FKhanro

...The shock has atleast 3 settings I believe.

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Adjusted by rotating the collar.

Ya, you need the highest setting to keep from sagging.

With the lesser two the car is dragging the ground.

Check too how you've put the little mylar shockpiston valve on (manual pg9, step20). If you've put this on the bottom of the piston as shown it will reduce rebound. I don't think there's much harm in removing this entirely...

[jhellman(2)]

Hi,

mine behaves exactly the same (or atleast is very lazy returning up when standing still. It seems to return well when driving around). It must be a "feature". I bought my hotshot as used one, I do not know if it was the same as a new one or have the springs just got too loose being compressed in shocks for years and years. Probably just replacing old springs with stiffer ones would do the trick.

However, the car is good to drive as it is - it keeps the tyres well on the ground in various situations. Thus, does it get even better to drive with stiffer springs?[8)]

best regards,

Juha

[Supershot]

The Hotshot was my first car back in 85(11 at the time)!I had the exact same problem.The thing that you shoudn't do is stretch the springs so the car will have better absorbtion(Kind of sinks if you don't do this),this will just make the components of the front shock wear and wear and soon afterwards thread!Maybe you should try putting some Tamiya liquid threadlock in all the screws and leave it at your prefered setting!

I also bought the Hotshot/Supershot hop-up suspension system-what a relief!!!!Just a fantastic improvement overall!There selling these kits at e-bay for about $50.00 US!A definate improvement if you consider buying it!

[urban warrior]

Hi,

this behaviour is totally normal. If you press down a vehicle with independent suspension, you not only force it down, but you also change the wheel geometry, e.g. you push the wheels far from each other. If you release the vehicle, the spring tries to get the suspension into the old status, but friction of wheels on ground does not allow a full retraction. And if you have a somekind "weak" damper setup, this effect increases.

Just my experience

Regards, Martin

[WillyChang]

As an offside, I'm thinking its probably a lousy idea to keep a Hotshot standing about with its weight on the wheels/suspension. The little lever that the shocks work off will eventually take a tweak.

Prop it on a car stand, I'd say. [8D]

[Stinger7]

Thanks guys! I now have a better idea on what needs to be done. I might reconsider purchasing the Hop Up suspension set. i am not to crazy about those yellow shocks though.