Aluminum shock tower?

[Subaru]

This is a question for you guys that have them. Are they worth it? Does it improve performance? Is it better than the stock peices? Do they bend easy? Would you recomend getting it to other people, such as my self? Thanks for the input.

------------------
My Nitro Sport gets squirly at wot

[SuperMuncher]

From What ive heard the aluminum towers bend easily, and one slight bend and your performance is ruined. So I recommend getting the graphite/carbon one because it flexes a little, and wont bend. And plus it looks good http://www.traxxas.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Subaru]

Its a possibility. Any one else?

------------------
My Nitro Sport gets squirly at wot

[obmd]

get the graphite one. It's also a lot lighter.

[BIGSTEEZ]

You can also try the one from RPM. Its stronger than stock, but looks like stock. However, it may not be as light in weight.

Besides, its a bit difficult to find TRX graphite parts right now; that is, until traxxas ups manufacturing to meet the increasing demand

[Subaru]

isn't graphite as brittle as it is light?

------------------
My Nitro Sport gets squirly at wot

[RC Rick]

OK your wrong about it being junk if you bend it. I bent mine the first time out and a vice fixed it. Plus the graphite one is brital, I broke it when i still had it. The aluminum one is not heavy at all. Its stronger so it doesn't need the same design as the graphite one. Plus good luck trying to get a graphite part for the N 4-TEC right now, they have be on order for months. Go with the aluminum, mine is stronger and maybe about 1/4 oz heavier. Now have you ever lost a race because you were 1/4 oz too heavy??

Plus it looks awesome and is more aerodynamic.

- Rick -

------------------
9 years of R/C racing CAN'T go wrong!

[1st Gear]

when it comes to racing go with the woven graphite,I have used this one for a LONG time and havent had a problem with it yet,I got rid of ALL of my aluminum because it is too heavy,I compared my regular N4-TEC to my N4-TEC PRO with all the aluminum and it was way heavier.But one thing I will say is if you get aluminum you wont be sorry,Look at it this way,if you dont like to rip your catr apart all the time get the alum.you wont have to work on it for awhile.Stock plastic pieces rear hubs in general are good people say they break and they will but they do a good job,I run 0 degree hubs in my 4-tec and love the way it handles.and there are other alternatives bracing and what not.

[RC Rick]

Heres what I say again, get all aluminum parts that are on the outside of the car, like sus. arms, shock towers, and definatley the axle carriers! If you flip in a race and brake the rear shock tower somehow, your out! With aluminum, if it happens to bend, just take it off, which takes a matter of seconds, and put it in a vice, or put a cloth over it and hammer it back straight on a solid surface.

I ran into my foot once practicing a stunt and it was only going about 15mph and the front axle carrier's arm stem broke off. BTW my greatest stunt was pretty daring. I got my car up to 60mph, and I stood right in front of it and let it go through my legs. It was awesome, but don't try this at home!

- Rick -

------------------
9 years of R/C racing CAN'T go wrong!

[MB Nitro]

Aluminum parts expensive but well worth it. What should be the first aluminum part a person wanting to hop-up there buy? I am thinking, about suspension. Yeah maybe. Well I am going to get a CVEC Pipe first and hopefully it will perform better then the stock pipe.

------------------
-MB Nitro
Nitro Forever!!

[zia15]

They both are excellent, but with either you can wreck them, any time you roll end over end and land on the rear shock tower. The difference is you can fix the aluminum one. keep the plastic so you can compare the shape while you are fixing them.

[Subaru]

well i wouldn't through away the plastic pieces. If i were racing and i bent something in the middle of a race, It would take too long to bang it back out, so i would through the stock piece back on to last through the race.

------------------
My Nitro Sport gets squirly at wot

[RC Rick]

Yes, i agree, keep plasic parts handy. Especially the parts that tend to get hit a lot, like shock towers, sus. arms, and axle carriers. Those are almost alway the ones that break the easiest.

- Rick -

------------------
9 years of R/C racing CAN'T go wrong!