On-Going Shock Issues.

[SlashBacks]

I was running stock slash socks, started having issues with the caps comming off. So i bought some bigbores (45wt all the way around and 2 whole pistons). problem solved, right? Wrong! they worked well for a couple weeks. noticed they were leaking oil from the caps so i put a little bit of thread tape on 'em. Stoped leaking however today i noticed the cap looked crooked. I thought i might have cross-threaded them, but when i put them back on straight and tested them i felt the threads on the cap "pop" and they were crooked again.

Im thinking the threads are gone beyond repair. Which brings me to my question(s).
1. Is there some magical way that just replacing the cap might fix it?
2. If it doesnt, are there any tube replacements that might be a little stronger?
3. ...Or replacing the 2 whole pistons w/ 3 whole (and replacing the tubes and caps of course)to lower the pressure load on the caps?

Thanks guys, Im new here and really like whats going on.

[ducati777]

Its a delicate thread for sure. Plus you only need them snug, a common mistake is making them too tight, that can push or even cut the edge of the rubber bladder, giving the oil a way to leak.

To find out if only a cap would fix it, just try swapping the caps around the different bodies.

You might be able to get just the shock body... ebay is a good source for traxxas parts as well.

As far as the 2 vs 3 hole... that gets into shock pressure, or pack. Its an obscure topic I don't know a whole lot about... however if you go with 3 hole pistons, then you need heavier oil to get the same damping. Its up to you... I think I run the 2 hole shocks... but I'm not sure, I rarely open up the shocks.

Which brings us back to the first point... just snug! Not tight! The thread tape isn't a bad idea, but shouldn't be required. Get it right and you shouldn't have to open the shocks for months on end.

[SlashBacks]

Narrowed the problem to messed up threads in shock cap. I think between the heavy shock oil, over-tightening, and the down right abuse i put my tuck through, those caps were bound to give.
Thanks ducatti. Learn as you go.

[rag6]

Just a suggestion, if you are very hard on the shocks and keep having the same issues repeating, look into 1/8 buggy shocks.

[toyota2]

The threads on the caps are delicate for sure. I would call Traxxas and see if you can get just the BB caps. Its worth a shot. You said that you are using 45wt all around and that is really not that heavy. I have been using 45wt. in mine for about a year and a half with no problems at all and I am pretty hard on my truck, but I do take care of it. I am bumping up the rears to 50wt. as we speak, just to try it out.

It sounds to me like you may have cross threaded them and hopefully just messed up the caps and that is what is causing you problems.

I just did a search for the caps and you can get just the caps!

[SteveC2375]

I have been using Traxxas Big Bores for years and have never stripped any cap threads. If the shock body threads are ok, just replace the caps (Traxxas part# 2667).
The caps could have been overtightened to damage the threads. Also check the upper shock mounting screw is not too tight. The top of the shock should be able to move around the shoulder screw. I have seen overtightening of that screw cause bent shock shafts. Could have possibly caused damage to the cap on a hard landing.
Going to a 3 hole piston will only lighten your dampening and make your suspension softer.

[hurley747]

simply put, in my opinion i would just get STRC aluminum shock bodies and caps- and then you wont have to worry about pressure on the threads
for reference i run one hole pistons in the rear with 50wt. shock oil, and to help prevent cross threading i set the cap on lightly turning it to the left a little then i will tighten it down(not too much though, as with any threaded srew or cap)