Good source for quality oil shocks?

[Mad Ax]

What's a good source to get good-quality oil shocks in various sizes?  I've got a parts bin full of unbranded rubbish that I've bought off ebay, the most recent being some lovely-looking 65mm shockers that came without any upper ball studs and seem to be of no size known to man, so they're next to useless.  And with springs as hard as granite, they won't be much use once fitted either.

I'm always working on various projects and always needing various shocks in various sizes.  I'm starting to wonder if Tamiya's own CVA shocks really are the best option, since they can be built in a variety of sizes and, despite being plastic, are better made than most of the alu options.

[Illogical]

I'm considering buying just two oils - one realitively light and one thicker than you would ever really need - then just blend the two to suit. Any chemists here that can confirm that my idea would work?

[Nitomor]

I quite like the Gmade XD ones...

http://www.gmade.net/products/shock/shock/shock.html 

The range has three different setups, piggyback reservoir, diaphragm and aeration.

 

 

 

[Mad Ax]

1 hour ago, Illogical said:

I'm considering buying just two oils - one realitively light and one thicker than you would ever really need - then just blend the two to suit. Any chemists here that can confirm that my idea would work?

it's actually the shocks themselves that I need rather than the oil that goes in them.  I'm really not that expert that I can tell the difference between oils, if I'm honest  

I use soft oil for squidgy things like crawlers and hard oil for stiff things like drifters and medium for pretty much everything else  

[Terz1]

I've been thinking about shocks too. I bought some oil filled shocks a while back which also have a cuff that you can wind down to adjust the spring rate. Anyway I bought some fasttrax ones later which I hadn't used until I put them on a tl01b project and wow! What a difference. I don't know if they have a much thicker oil in them but they absorb the bumps so much better and it's so less bouncy. My original ones snap the wheel back into the original postion position too fast, these new ones have a more controlled, cushioning motion. I'd love to show the difference if I get the time to do a youtube.

I'm wondering whether to buy another set of 95mm fasttrax shocks or some thicker oil (not a clue about the different thicknesses of oil) for my gold shocks which colour wise fit into my monster beetle colour scheme much better. I'm a million miles from being an expert on shocks and shock oil so I'll watch this thread and see what others think too.

[Effigy3]

After TRF and CVA dampers I also like the Gmade offerings.  The build-up is a bit more complex than need be but they are robust, well built, and smooth.  Here is my daughters Neo Scorcher fitted with a full set of diaphragm XD shocks by Gmade.

[Supercoolnothing]

I quite like the absima shocks, I've got them fitted to my lunchbox and they do the job rather nicely. If you're feeling flush then the best shocks on the market (as far as I'm concerned) are the current big bore associated shocks. 

I wouldn't bother buying just two different types of oil and mixing since you're not likely to be able to recreate the same thickness unless you are either incredibly lucky or have access to a laboratory lol. Personally I'd get a few different weights and try them instead. I'd also recommend sticking to one manufacturer of oil since different manufacturers use a different weighting system. Just look at the difference in the cst (the true measure of viscosity)  between associated 30w which is actually 350cst and Losi 30w which is 381cst and therefore heavier. 

[Terz1]

Are these the same as yours effigy? 93mm too. Would be perfect for my wt01. Twice as dear as the fasttrax I've got but will no doubt be much better. Love nitos piggy back shocks too but I know they'll probably be even more expensive. How much were they nito and were did you get them?

http://www.fusionhobbies.com/product/gm21507-gmade-xd-aeration-shock-93mm-x2?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shop&utm_campaign=google_shopping

[TeamCody]

6 hours ago, Mad Ax said:

What's a good source to get good-quality oil shocks in various sizes?  I've got a parts bin full of unbranded rubbish that I've bought off ebay, the most recent being some lovely-looking 65mm shockers that came without any upper ball studs and seem to be of no size known to man, so they're next to useless.  And with springs as hard as granite, they won't be much use once fitted either.

I'm always working on various projects and always needing various shocks in various sizes.  I'm starting to wonder if Tamiya's own CVA shocks really are the best option, since they can be built in a variety of sizes and, despite being plastic, are better made than most of the alu options.

I am really glad I read this because I found some cheap shocks on ebay recently that I was thinking of buying for my Mad Fighter I am building.  Normally I buy the CVA's from Tamiya for my cars, but this time I was thinking of saving a little cash.  Glad I didn't pull the trigger yet, I'd bet they are the same and would be a waste of money.

I will 2nd the GMA XD series as I have used them before on some vehicles and they have a large range of sizes..  Believe it or not I like the Traxxas Ultra (Black or Gray) plastic shocks also.  Although they only offer the two or three sizes so there are not many Tamiya's I have used them on yet.

[Illogical]

RC oils cost say 5 pounds for 50ml - you can get 500ml pure silicone oil on Ebay for 8. (treadmill oil) I'm sure the manufacturers would know the viscosity so I will ask.

If you could then buy say 80ml of the extremely thick stuff (gear diff oil) you could make up batches of varying viscosity. You wouldn't know the cst number, but does that matter?

I'm just not sure if mixing different silicone oil viscosities will work. I'll ask a manufacturer.

[Terz1]

I've no idea of the capacity of each shock. Is 50ml enough to fill all 4? I definitely need a heavier weight in mine but I'm wondering whether to put that money towards some gmade xd series shocks.

[Rb4276]

Anyone know anything about Kingfly shocks on ebay? A set of 4 is only $30. Seems to cheap bit i want a new set for my dn-01 but cant justify paying $75 for trf aeration ones. Would the dt-02 set fit? I havent tried swapping them on my tt-02 to dn-01

[Illogical]

50ml will probably fill about 20-30 shocks. I think the little Tamiya bottles are 9ml and they easily do 4.

[Nitomor]

Hi Terz,

I have both, piggyback on rear and diaphragm front on the WR as the piggies rub on the front on my other WT.

93mm will be the ones you want for yours. I tend to buy directly or I have also bought from Fusion and Tamico depending who is cheapest and rate exchanges at any given time, think modelsport now has them too so best to shop about and consider postage costs.

 

 

[Illogical]

I already have a response about mixing fluids:

the bit i'm not sure about is what happens if the viscosities are mixed - there is no chemical risk but do they mix and stay mixed? - and i would be very cautious about how end-users might interpret the suitability of mixed viscosity fluids

if we knew precisely the viscosities required then a kit might be provided - eg large bottle/s as reservoir, smaller bottle/s for application, funnel for transfer

is that a possible runner?

is there a problem in the final application stage?  i remember years ago getting from the states a filler pen with a very narrow filling aperture - very good for light viscosities - no use for heavy ones - but the problem lay in the components - they didn't fit tightly enough and the fluid leaked easily

as long as the fluid can be both transferred and applied efficiently the product is possible

do you have specific viscosities in mind?

I'll email them back with more details and keep everyone posted.

[Terz1]

43 minutes ago, Nitomor said:

Hi Terz,

I have both, piggyback on rear and diaphragm front on the WR as the piggies rub on the front on my other WT.

93mm will be the ones you want for yours. I tend to buy directly or I have also bought from Fusion and Tamico depending who is cheapest and rate exchanges at any given time, think modelsport now has them too so best to shop about and consider postage costs.

 

 

Thanks nito. I'll go 93mm diaphragm all round I think. Those piggy backs look stunning though. I know you've done lots of research and combos shock wise particularly with the wt01 and it's really worth the effort. After experiencing some average shocks to some which in the scheme of things are just above average the performance difference is amazing so the gmade items will be money well spent I think.

Great thread with lots of good info.

[Nitomor]

The advantage with the piggy backs is that you can tune the damping pressure with an allen key at the base of the reservoir which makes a noticeable difference. On the brushless WT it helps me tune the rear squat. On the Diaphragm your only tuning is how much oil you put in really so no adjustment on the fly in that respect. Both however have the threaded collars so you can alter the sag/preload.

[MadInventor]

9 hours ago, Mad Ax said:

What's a good source to get good-quality oil shocks in various sizes?  I've got a parts bin full of unbranded rubbish that I've bought off ebay, the most recent being some lovely-looking 65mm shockers that came without any upper ball studs and seem to be of no size known to man, so they're next to useless.  And with springs as hard as granite, they won't be much use once fitted either.

I'm always working on various projects and always needing various shocks in various sizes.  I'm starting to wonder if Tamiya's own CVA shocks really are the best option, since they can be built in a variety of sizes and, despite being plastic, are better made than most of the alu options.

I need some shocks with 'hard as granite' springs to hold up the weight of the war rig tractor unit with the trailer sat on it, I'm going to put Tamiya CVAs on the front with a pair of monoshock springs, but might be interested in some for the back end, got any details you could send me ?

 

[Nitomor]

Fusion are £23.49 for Gmade diaphragm and aeration dampers and £31.49 for piggybacks, don't forget 10% discount for TC members.

http://www.fusionhobbies.com/results/7/1/21?sCriteria=Gmade

 

[Effigy3]

7 hours ago, Terz1 said:

Are these the same as yours effigy? 93mm too. Would be perfect for my wt01. Twice as dear as the fasttrax I've got but will no doubt be much better. Love nitos piggy back shocks too but I know they'll probably be even more expensive. How much were they nito and were did you get them?

http://www.fusionhobbies.com/product/gm21507-gmade-xd-aeration-shock-93mm-x2?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shop&utm_campaign=google_shopping

Terz, they're close.  The ones you've linked are the aeration style which are great for the track.  The one's I used on the TT-02B are the diaphragm style which is the same style as Tamiya CVAs.  The ones you want IMHO are these:  http://www.fusionhobbies.com/product/gm22107-gmade-xd-diaphragm-shock-93mm-x2

[Terz1]

Thanks effigy. I noticed the two different types. I haven't ordered any yet so thanks for the update. They're for a wt01 and just general bashing about so I think you're right in not needing the track focused ones.

[Nitomor]

They are the same price at Fusion for aeration and diaphragm, you get some red bling with the aeration and apparently they work better with bumps and jumps, whereas diaphragm is better for consistency in race use. Full low down below...

Diaphragm;

http://www.gmade.net/products/shock/shock/xd/diaphragm/gm22507.html

Aeration

http://www.gmade.net/products/shock/shock/xd/aeration/gm21707.html

Piggies

http://www.gmade.net/products/shock/shock/xd/piggyback/gm21107.html

[Terz1]

Just had a look. It rates the diaphragm 4 out of 5 for off road. Aeration and piggy back get 5 out of 5. You mentioned you had clearance issues with the piggy back either at the front or the back. Is it something a spacer and a longer screw would solve because I love those piggy backs.

[Nitomor]

The clearance was only with my Subaru bodyshell which had rubbed some of the decal off the reservoir, there's no proper clearance issues and I probably could have installed them with the reservoir pointing inwards. I think I probably went with the Dia on the front of the 4x4x4 to save money and give them a try as all the other Gmade's I have are piggies. I haven't tried the Aeration ones yet myself, although the piggies are aeration they have the adjustable pressure on them. Personally I'd say piggies all round is the way forward.

With 93mm and GPM towers. 

[Terz1]

That's great so it was the shell that caused the clearance issue not the shock tower. Fantastic. Piggies it is then, They are the most adjustable but I'm kidding myself here, they just look fantastic! Lol