Attaching ball mounts to DT03 damper stays

[OzFrog84]

One more question from the 'newbie' who's only owned a Frog for the past 30 years. I can't figure out how attach ball mounts for my shocks on the DT03 when the step screws are self tapping into the plastic of the damper stay. Do they need to be drilled out or something?

[BigSteve]

There are ball joints with a screw type attachment. Alternatively the frp damper stays are very reasonable from HK and come with all the attachments needed.

Steve.

[mr crispy]

The ball mounts should have a hexagonal base that will fit into one end of the Tamiya box wrench tool.

Easiest way I found is to drop the ball mount into the corresponding end of the wrench ball end first. Then offer up the threaded section to the hole and screw it in gently until its nice and snug. Don't over tighten it or you'll strip the treads. I've never needed to drill out the holes first especially if you've already had the self tapper step screw in there.

[waterbok]

If you have an M3 tapper, cut thread into the plastic, then screw in the ballmount, this remove tension and prevents the plastic splitting.

This also works great on a GF01 and WR chassis.

[OzFrog84]

Ok, so you just screw the metal thread in where the self tapper has been and it tightens up by itself? Surely that not what Mr.Tamiya intended, to have it held in more or less by luck. Hey, that last post came through while I was typing. M3 tap would be worth trying I guess. Thanks everyone for your replies.

[GregM]

Pretapping plastic holes for M3 screws is recommended, but if you've got no such device at hand grease will help. Be careful not to overtighten the screw.

For camber link ball mounts and damper ball mounts, I either like to use ball collars (Tamiya 50591) along with selftapping screws into plastic, or ball nuts (Tamiya 9804206) with M3 screws and threadlock gel.

The ball collars prevent the ball cups from popping off the mounts on impact. (e.g. useful for dampers).

The ball nuts are applicable where you mount the screw from the other side of the hole. (e.g. camber link mounts).

Both methods make disassembling and reassembling the ball mount more easy than plain screw-in ball ends.

[alfagta]

i screw an m3 x 14 machine screw right through the damper stay and then attach the ball nut ,

as mentioned the hop up stays come with all hardware , considering how cheap they can be found i have opted to order some along with some other hop ups for the dt03 , i may even order some big bore trf dampers for it , even though they cost more than the kit did!!

[waterbok]

i screw an m3 x 14 machine screw right through the damper stay and then attach the ball nut ,

Thats the more solid solution, but in this case too, its better to make the hole slightly bigger (2.8 0r 3mm) to prevent tension cracks in the mount.

[alfagta]

Thats the more solid solution, but in this case too, its better to make the hole slightly bigger (2.8 0r 3mm) to prevent tension cracks in the mount.

agree totally , although i prefer to use the 2.9mm ( usually the second in a 3 tap set) tap rather than a 3mm tap as i find the 3mm can make the thread too loose in plastic which means the thread strips very easily

[OzFrog84]

If I buy the ball collars, can I mount them with the 3x14 step screws or must I use longer self tappers. If so, how much length do I need to add to allow for the thickness of the collars? Basically, I am asking, what is the internal hole size in the collar and how thick, front to back is the collar?

[waterbok]

Ball Collar, L=7.5mm and ID=3mm.

Stepscrews wont work, you would need something like a 15x3mm selftapper

[XV Pilot]

I use 15x3mm self tappers to mount mine - haven't had a failure yet.

[GregM]

Same here as far as I can remember.