Custom Torsion chassis AX10 rock crawler
by Sim Tong
February 26, 2011.
This project is the continuation of a long process of improving the trusty AX10.
Original goodies - Axial AX10 axle cases, transmission, rims
Aftermarket - Traxxas Stampede half shafts, 3Racing universal driveshafts
Custom - knuckles, chassis, links, beef tubes
Electronics - KO EX-5UR radio system, Tekin FX-R esc, Castle Creations 10A BEC, Integy 55-turn lathe motor, Turnigy 800mAH 3S lipo
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I made some aluminium versions of Gunnar beef toobs.
Mine are 51mm long, 6mm inner diameter, 11mm outer diameter.
The center of the C-hub mounting holes are 2mm from the edge of the tube.
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I got rid of the 3-link mount and made my own mount for the servo/link plate. This gave me enough space to trim
the two front screw posts and lower the whole plate by about 5mm, so it sits right on top of the axle pumpkin.
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A small Tamiya spacer (2.5mm thickness, 5.5mm outer diameter, 3mm inner diameter) fits perfectly into the nut hole.
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I made this Delrin BTA steering rod. Revo rod ends with Stampede balls inside. Without rod ends, it is 119mm long.
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Custom knuckles - Egressor style, but with extra meat for future knuckle weights.
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Decided to make a new chassis. The cut-up Hot Racing one was still a bit too tall and too heavy for my liking.
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I designed it to be as small as possible and wrap around a 540-sized motor.
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Everything sits as low as possible.
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Lower links and torsion beams.
I'm not happy with their overall shape (S-curves are too near the centre, taking up valuable ground clearance)
so I might need to make some changes.
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With the torsion beams on.
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Everything mounted up. The bends in the lower links look like they will get in the way.
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I cut the end off the lower links and extended it back on the other side with some delrin tube
(and used a longer threaded to hold it together). This moves the bends a bit out of the way.
Also shaved a bit of material off the front links.
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Here's how everything sits now. Starting to look good. Might have to take it out for a spin soon.
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Narrowed a pair of kit wheels for the fronts.
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Modded the wheels and beadlock rings slightly to use M2.5 X 12mm countersunk screws.
I filled all the wheel holes with M10 X 28mm set screws to add about 3.6oz of weight to each front wheel.
You can get away with longer set screws on unmodified kit wheels.
Tires are HB Rover whites with kit foams.
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Body posts, driveshafts, electronics and we're back in business. Front driveshafts are standard Traxxas Stampede shafts.
Rear ones are lengthened Stampede shafts (female-male-female). Yokes have been drilled and tapped to run M4 set screws.
Weight fully equipped is now a pinch over 5.25lbs (2.3kg) but this will change after some tuning. A Castle Creations
10-amp BEC is under that lump of wires near the transmission. FX-R switch has been removed to make sure I don't turn it
on accidentally.
See my AX10 build and review
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