Tuning Adjustments; Suspension Tuning - Traxxas 1/16 Slash VXL 4x4 7009 Owner's Manual

TUNING ADJUSTMENTS

Your model is factory-tuned for optimum performance on
pavement and concrete surfaces. To tailor the performance and
handling of your model to suit your driving style and available
traction, your model has a number of adjustable features. Gearing,
shock preload and damping, ride height, wheel toe and wheel
camber can all be easily adjusted.

SUSPENSION TUNING

Ride Height Adjustment
Your model has threaded
shock bodies that make it
easy to adjust ride height.
Threading the shocks'
preload collars away from
the caps will raise the
vehicle's ride height (the
distance from the chassis
to the ground), and reduce
the suspension's down
travel, also known as 'sag'
or 'droop'. This can be
helpful on rough surfaces
where extra ground clearance is needed. However, the vehicle's
center of gravity (CG) will be raised, making it less stable.
Threading the shocks' preload collars toward the caps will lower
the vehicle's ride height and increase the suspension's droop. This
will lower the vehicle's CG and improve handling, but it will also
reduce ground clearance.
From the factory, your model is set up as shown in the illustration
above. At rest, the suspension sags to about 1/2 of its total travel.
This allows the suspension to extend so the wheel can drop
into depressions over rough surfaces. This leaves 1/2 of the total
suspension travel for compression when absorbing bumps. These
settings are ideal for most flat surfaces, and only small changes in
ride height should be required to fine-tune the vehicle's handling
for your particular surface.
Shock Oil
The 4 oil-filled shocks (dampers) effectively control the suspension
movement by preventing the wheels and tires from continuing
to "bounce" after rebounding from a bump. Changing the oil in
the shocks can vary the suspension damping effect. Changing
the oil to a higher viscosity oil will increase damping. Lowering
the viscosity of the oil will cause the suspension damping to be
reduced. Damping should be increased (with higher viscosity oil)
if the model is bottoming easily over bumps. Damping should
be decreased (with thinner viscosity oil) if the model is hopping
over small bumps and feels unstable. The viscosity of shock oil is
affected by extremes in operating temperature; an oil of certain
viscosity will become less viscous at higher temperatures and more
viscous at lower temperatures. Operating in regions with cold
Compression 2/3
temperatures may require lower viscosity oil. Your model's shocks
Ride Height are filled with SAE 30W oil. Only use 100% silicone oil in the shock.
Sag (Droop) 1/3
Replacing Shock Oil
Axle Centerline at Max Compression
The shocks have to be removed from the vehicle and disassembled
Axle Centerline at Ride Height
Axle Centerline at Max Sag
to change the oil.
1. Remove the lower
spring retainer and
shock spring.
2. Remove the upper
shock cap. If you cannot
unscrew the cap with
your fingers, pass the
2mm 'L' wrench through the cap's eyelet so you can apply more
leverage. Turn the cap counterclockwise to loosen it.
3. Empty the used shock oil from the shock body.
4. Fill the shock with new silicone shock oil up to the
top of the shock body.
5. Slowly move the piston up and down (always keeping it
submerged in oil) to release the air bubbles. Let the shock sit for
a few minutes to allow any remaining air bubbles to surface.
6. Slowly thread the upper cap with the installed shock bladder
onto the shock body. The excess oil will bleed out of the small
hole in the shock cap.
7. Tighten the shock cap until snug.
Important: The shocks are
assembled at the factory with
a center-to-center distance
(between the rod end balls)
of 47.75mm. Any time the
shocks are removed and
disassembled, this distance
should be checked to ensure
proper operation of the
suspension.
47.75mm
1/16th SLASH VXL • 21