Front universal mods

Below please find some pics on possible mods for the front universal.

By using the new Hilux springs I need more travel= length compensation of the front universal.

1.) First try was to use to Original Tamiya joints with length compensation and fix their axles together. Fixing was done by grinding each axle half way and then glue them together with a brass tube on the outside (special 2 component glue and hardening out at 180°C). It is important to pay attention on the orientation/ positioning of the universal joints in relation to each other. Maximal travel is now about 14 mm.

2.) Second try was to improve my aftermarket universal. Here the length compensation is realized by the upper universal (I) having a hexagonal hole. The axle between both joints is therefore a hexagonal brass axle (II).

This works pretty well but the problem is that the brass axle can easily slip out if the car drives over bumps and the axle is moving. There was no fixture to avoid the brass axle (I) splipping out of the upper universal (II).

So I pressed a 10/12 brass tube over the upper universal. At the end of this tube I mounted a 'slider guide': an old Nylon bearing was equipped with a inner hexagonal hole simply by heating a hexagonal brass axle and pushing it through the bearing hole. Next was grinding/ drilling/ flexing of two slots in the outer brass tube (I do not have a milling machine). And lastly a pin was pressed in the hole of the hexagonal axle.

This pin does not (!) transfer torque. The torque transfer is the job of the hexagonal axle and the upper universal. The pin only avoids the hexagonal axle to slip out. Travel is about 13 mm.

So I am looking forward to the weekend to try this and maybe have some nice pics as the last one. Cheers