Spring rate poll

[M n M]

Whats the heaviest spring rate you are or have ran on your 8 shock E Maxx and you are or were happy with?

Going too heavy can give you a bouncy ride, so I don't want that but I'm still searching for that sweet combo. I'm using the springs that came with the TBS adjustable shocks. They feel stiffer than the white Traxxas progressive but I still have to crank down on the ring and run it about 1/2 down the body just to get close to the ride I want.

Also, how many of you guys run different rate spring per corner, meaning do you run a weak spring next to a stiff spring? Not on the same shock to mimic PL Power Stroke but one spring per shock of a different rating. Is it worth it? can you tell the difference? It's seems to me the stiffer spring would negate the softer spring from absorbing the small rough terrain.

[trax de max]

in the pro line there is very little compression of the stiffer spring.

[M n M]

in the pro line there is very little compression of the stiffer spring.

Yeah, but my thought is it's because the two springs are stacked on one shock and they are taking up the energy as one unit.

Different rate springs on different shocks would be working independently. This is why I think the heavier rated or stiffer spring would take up most of the energy and mostly cancel out the effects wanted from the softer spring.

On another note... TBS replied to my email, the black springs that come with their big shocks for the MGT are rated at 4.3 lbs/in. Hmm not very impressive, no wonder why I've had to crank down on the adjustment ring.

[NitroTrout]

For something real firm, I recommend the VG springs at 8psi. per spring.

For a good multi purpose mid range,I recommend the RC Raven Dual Rate shock springs.

For something slightly softer, the Integy springs are a good compromise between Dual Rates
and the stock Traxxas red springs.

[Wildman4910]

Stock Maxx springs are rated @2.4lbs/in so @4.3lbs/in you are close to double the rate of your stock spring.

The stiffest I've run is the Team AE MGT copper spring @6.90lbs/in & it was bouncy, but it was on a bone stock 4910 T maxx.
They have the same dimension's as maxx springs.

For single rate the MGT springs are as follows,
#25062 ~Blue~ 4.40lbs/in
#25063 ~Gold~ 5.10lbs/in
#25064 ~Red~ 5.95lbs/in
#25065 ~Copper~ 6.90lbs/in

[trax de max]

If you had your truck with no springs just dampers the truck will start to drop the more resistance of the piston the slower it will drop. The dampers absorb the shocks from the ground but to achieve this you need springs to extend the piston.The heavier the truck the heavier the spring the bumpier the terrain the thicker the fluid, with thicker fluid there is more resistance for the spring to push against so a heavy spring is used for heavier fluid.
If you had stock plastic maxx you wouldn't use the same set up as a full metal maxx.
If you just ran springs with no damper with soft springs it will bottom out and bounce like a crazy kangaroo in a dog kennel.
If you ran heavy springs with no damper the truck will bounce sitting high and jump round like a crazy kangaroo in a bear cave.
The springs do absorb some of the shock but that is to add more resistance to the damper as it compresses.
the idea of the two springs is the softer spring is enough to let the piston compress and heavier spring increases that force to extend the piston.
having two springs on one shock isn't bad, there is a very large damper and a smaller one to push against.

[M n M]

I agree with you 100% Trax…

What I'm having an issue understanding is the effectiveness of different rate spring on different shocks that are next to each other. I get it if your going to run a different rated set of springs on all 4 front shocks than the 4 on the rear. Normally, there are two shocks per A-Arm on the Maxx truck. Those two shocks work together to dampen the force applied to that one A-Arm and then rebound it together. It just seems to me that if I had say a 2.5 lbs spring on one shock and a 6 lbs spring on the other shock next to it… the desired effect of the soft spring would be reduced because the stiffer spring would be… well, stronger and would allow the softer spring to flex as much.

Now when you stack different rated springs on top of each other to mimic progressive springs like the PL Powerstroke, I can see how the softer spring would allow the suspension to work and roll over the choppy terrain and not give the truck a bouncy ride. And I can see in this setup how the stiffer spring would work to power rebound the shaft/piston from jumps.

But now I did just have a thought…

If you ran a tall soft spring next to a shorter stiffer spring I can see that acting as a dual rate set up… maybe.

[trax de max]

the lighter spring compresses to a point when the heavier spring takes over.
going over smooth surface the heavy spring won't move leaving all the work to the lighter spring. managing to compress the heavy spring the lighter spring would be compressed, which leaves the heavy spring to push down far enough for the lighter spring to do the rest of the work.
Think of you jumping forward, using your own legs, then imagine someone pushing you from behind and you using legs.they have shorter arms you have longer legs but get more power to start off.

[M n M]

Trax, I think we're on the same sheet of music, just playing different instruments.

But back to the question at hand…

Whats the heaviest rate spring you've used and liked the results?

[trax de max]

I've only had the prolines and no need to change to different shocks. They are adjustable and i've played about with that for a while. I've changed the fluid a few times, i think the max weight is 30 what your supposed to use (I read that somewhere), but i'm happy with 32.5 going heavier was to solid and lighter i couldn't get it right for both bumpy off road and on dirt track.

[dmanou99]

Sorry to jump into the discussion...

... but I am SO satisfied with the Traxxas progressive springs, that I just wanted to say it. I am amazed of the way they absorb the anomalies of the terrain. I also have two videos to share with you. Both of them are in slow motion. You can watch how the tires bounce all over the place but the body of the car remains almost dead steady.

Hope you enjoy...



The second video contains more footage of the specific bashing session and it brings a disco mood as well ...



Regards...

[jwstiles65]

GROOVY!

[M n M]

Sorry to jump into the discussion...

... but I am SO satisfied with the Traxxas progressive springs, that I just wanted to say it. I am amazed of the way they absorb the anomalies of the terrain. I also have two videos to share with you. Both of them are in slow motion. You can watch how the tires bounce all over the place but the body of the car remains almost dead steady.

Hope you enjoy...



The second video contains more footage of the specific bashing session and it brings a disco mood as well ...



Regards...

No, your not jumping in. I started this thread for posts like yours. I'm trying to see if there is a common type/rate that folks are using. But it seems that this early in the thread it's owners choice.

Nice vids BTW, they show a good example of how things should be. How does your truck handle average jumps?

[Little Smokey]

I'm running dual rate MGT springs all around - 3lbs up to 7lbs

Pretty happy so far, still using stock ultras, about to fill them with 45wt. He bottoms out too easy, hoping to see a difference with the oil, already wishing I got a heavier weight... not a good sign...

[dmanou99]

No, your not jumping in. I started this thread for posts like yours. I'm trying to see if there is a common type/rate that folks are using. But it seems that this early in the thread it's owners choice.

Nice vids BTW, they show a good example of how things should be. How does your truck handle average jumps?

I am not making much jumping with my truck as a matter of fact. With this setup I think you would need more spring preload to prevent it from bottoming out. If I remember correctly, in these videos I have lowered the suspension a bit because I am using the Traxxas CVD's and I didn't want them to pop out. I was not aware of the existence of the Traxxas Extended CVD Rear Inner Drive Cups (part 5153R).

[PowerToTheMaxx]

I run 4 heavy rate (not sure but at least twice the stock) springs and 4 stocks, one of each on each corner, with 35wt losi oil, runs great, get some sag in the rear when I floor it, but verry little bounce in the front when I slam on the breaks.

Jumpin of a 4 foot multch pile I didnt even hit the skids but the truck landed very evenely on all 4 tires, and my tires are sealed so they bounce a little more than stockers would.