Xray M18 Pro
Build up by Sim Tong
15 May 2009.
A micro track opened up here recently and people started racing these cars there. After resisting for a few months,
I put down the dough for my first ever Xray car kit.
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The box.
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Everything you've ever heard about Xray quality is true. They don't skimp on anything.
Part of your money goes towards printing this classy instruction booklet with coloured diagrams.
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In case there's any doubt...
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The diffs come 'pre-built' but you really ought to take them apart and redo them. The thrust bearing assemblies come with no grease in them, so
the tiny thrust balls are guaranteed to fall out as soon as you loosen the screws. Ten 2.4mm steel balls go in each diff.
I replaced them with JAAD ceramic balls (JDRDB240).
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Front and rear gearboxes and drivetrain parts are identical except the rear bevel gear is attached to a spur.
The parts bag for the rear gearbox comes with a 36T spur, but there's also a 42T spur in another bag so choose which one you need before
assembly. Wherever the manual states to remove flashing from a plastic part, you need to remove ALL of it, or the parts will bind.
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The arms attach to the gearboxes so once the gearboxes attach to the chassis, the car is almost done.
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There's a boo-boo in the instructions. An addendum is included in this separate sheet of paper.
Actually, the tie-rod length really depends on which servo you use. With my Hitec HS-85MG, I needed
it to be about 51.3mm.
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The lower suspension wishbones are sandwiched between the gearboxes and the chassis.
The upper arms are screwed into place. I replaced all screws with stainless steel hex hardware but the
kit Phillips head screws aren't bad.
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The top deck features Xray's famous Multi-Flex Technology. Loosening different combinations of screws gives
different handling characteristics. The kit comes with foam tires but I have rubber tires here to abide local race rules.
Rears are wider than fronts.
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The axle and hex is one piece of composite plastic, and attached to the plastic universals by a small screw.
Each wheel is attached by a large diameter nut. The M18 Pro uses different wheels from the regular M18.
Aluminium knuckles are available from Xray but sold separately (382252 for the left, 382262 for the right).
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The front of the car. A foam bumper keeps your expensive Xray parts healthy.
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The rear of the car. All shocks on the car are undampened but you can choose from two shock angles (straight up or slightly laid down).
I am using Atomic Mods short springs (XR-045) which allow a lower ride height and adjustable shocks (XR-061)
which have screw-on spring collars for easy ride height adjustments.
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The body shell fits the chassis but the wheel wells are in the wrong place (as the older m18 has a shorter wheelbase).
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The rear wing was sagging down towards the back, so I propped it up with some tiny bits of double-sided tape to
hopefully get some downforce.
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Next to a 1/10th tourer.
Recommended upgrades for Xray M18 Pro
1. Atomic Mods Short Spring Set For Lower Ride Height (XR-045)
2. Atomic Mods Adjustable Shock Set (XR-061)
3. JAAD 2.4mm ceramic balls (JDRDB240)
Useful links:
Xray M18 forum
Xray Setup Sheets
Official Team Xray website
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