CRT.5 Big Bore Shocks done easy & cheap
 

http://www.go-ride.com/72.3.195.221/...m/DSCN5203.jpg

If you've spent any time driving the crt.5 hard you know the front shocks are way over leveraged and even with thick oil and single hole pistons they bottom out much too easy. I've seen a number of guys who have gone to the Ofna DM1 front shocks, but they have some draw backs too. 1. They are expensive $100+ if you have to piece them together. 2. They don't have as much stroke as the stock shocks, so you lose some travel.

So, after taking some careful measurements and doing a bit of research I found the Revo/Jato shocks fit the front of the crt.5 very well if you mount them in the body mount holes. This gives them a very RC8 look. I've only had a chance to test drive them a few minutes, but so far they are very good. With the old shocks when I dropped my car from 6 - 8" the chassis would slap firmly. With the new shocks I can drop it from 15+" and only the back will slap. Yet, I still get perfect sag/ride height.

Here's what I used:
1. $27 - Pair of revo/jato shocks (includes pistons & oil)
2. $5 - Ofna shock stand offs (ofna 36610) (4pc, only need 2)
3. $5 - Jato 1.4 shock springs
4. $2 - (2) 3mm x 35mm button head srews
5. $2 - (2) ofna 6mm ball (ofna 30403) (comes in a pack of 6 for $5)
Misc: a few random washers, (2) 3mm locknuts

Here’s what I did:
The shocks come pre-built, but not filled with oil.
1. Disassemble the shock per included instructions to remove both the installed piston (revo) and the blue bottom out bumper. The installed piston is for the heavy revo and the bottom out bumper is way to stiff to compress with a crt.5. If you don't want to disassemble you can easily cut the blue bumper off and the piston is replaceable through the top of the shock.
2. Reassemble the shocks with the Jato (grey) #14 piston, 30 wt oil, and Jato 1.4 spring. The 30 wt oil seems great for bashing, but I might try 25 wt for a slippery track. If you are running a heavy battery you may want the 1.6 spring.
3. Removed the flanged ball from the lower shock eyelet. Replace it with the ofna 6mm non-flanged ball (or similar item).
4. Drill a hole all the way through each of the plastic front body mounts. I used a drill bit a little smaller than the existing hole and drilled that hole all the way though the plastic.
5. Assemble the upper shock mount as follows: (35mm screw, washer, shock, washer, ofna stand off).
6. Thread the screw all the way through body mount and add a washer and lock nut to the back. After first testing this I added a 2mm shock spacer between the washer and stand off to further get the shock away from the shock tower so the preload adjuster will freely spin.
7. Mount the lower shock eyelet in the outside hole.
8. Set your ride height
9. Admire your work with a cold beverage
10. Get your bash-on

Top view of the mounting setup.
http://www.go-ride.com/72.3.195.221/...m/DSCN5204.jpg

Back view of the mounting setup.
http://www.go-ride.com/72.3.195.221/...m/DSCN5205.jpg

Full droop brings the shock to full length. You have to use internal shock spacers if you don't want full droop.
http://www.go-ride.com/72.3.195.221/...m/DSCN5206.jpg

Even with 2.2 truck tires the wheels will come off the ground about 5mm with the front of the chassis on the ground.
http://www.go-ride.com/72.3.195.221/...m/DSCN5207.jpg

Let me know what you think.

I do plan on getting the Jammin X1 CR front shocks for the back of the CRT.5, but the front shocks are the ones that need the help the most. After dialing in the front Revo shocks I rebuilt my stock rear shocks with white springs, single hole pistons, and 40 wt. oil. They can just about handle as much compression load as the big bore fronts, but they rebound a bit slow for ultimate handling. A set of 13mm rears would be great if I can find a set of long springs that are soft enough for the light crt.5.

Slick setup!!! Nice Job.

Really great idea dude. Will they fit in the rear on the tower or are they too short?

Thanks.

I can't believe no one else has done this. They fit perfectly on the front if you use the body mount holes.

I don't think they will have enough stroke for the rear of the car. The Revo's have about 22mm of shock stroke and the back crt.5 shocks have about 30mm. I still think the front CR/CRT shocks are the best for the back, but I haven't tried them yet. I didn't think they would be worth it without good front shocks.

Ah thanks. I guess it's just best to stick with 1/8th scale front's for the rear then. Thanks.

I was getting there :whistle:. Except I am starting out with Jato shocks filled with the Traxxas oil (~35wt), and have purchased several Jato spring sets so I can find the ideal spring for my CRT.5.

Jammin X1CR front shocks do fit pretty much perfectly on the rear of the .5. Mine are set up with a good oil, but the soft springs I have on them right now seem a bit stiff. Once I mount the Jato shocks like you did I can dial in the suspension.

Nice work!

I had a chance to run my crt.5 at the indoor track on Friday. It was awesome with the Revo front shocks. I even liked the stock rear shocks set up with the white springs. It handled just as good as the best setup with the stock shocks, accept now it skims across the whoops straight instead of kicking, and it lands the triple super smooth. It also seems to jump better and more consistently. There were a few times when I was the only car on the track and a number of guys were just watching it run. They were pretty impressed.

My next step is to get Big Bores for the rear so I can run lighter damping, but still have more control. I like the rear white springs, but I have them over damped so they can keep up with the big bore fronts on the big jump landings. With a little lighter damping I'd get more rear traction in the turns.

MetalMan, what rear springs have you tried? Are you able to get the right sag (bones level)?

I had a XTM front 1/8 spring set laying around, and used the blue set:
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/149354.asp
Without any preload the rear sits higher than I would like. The springs might just need to be cut down, but I haven't gotten enough driving time in to determine whether or not they are too stiff.

If you are at zero preload and the bones are higher than level, I'd say those springs are just too stiff. Cuting them down will make them a bit softer from removing the looped end of the spring, but the rate of spring gets stiffer the less coils it has. I checked that link and it looks like those blue 58mm springs are the softest that XTM offers. I guess we'll have to find a different mfg.

I am about to finish building my CRT.5 and I haven't even drove it yet, but I have put 70weight oil in the front shocks, and it feels like they have 20 weight oil in them. :lol:

So I will definitely try this mod. Can you tell me for sure though whether the Revo shocks will fit the back as well or could be made to fit? I know you said it may not have enough stroke, but could you do me a huge favor and check to see if it can fit for sure.

If you can do this, I'd really appreciate it.

I just did this mod to my crt.5ext.( I am running 30wt oil and the green springs with #13 pistons, I feel like it could have used the #14 pistons though for a little bit faster movement) It works really well from just bashing it so far(lots of jumping on grass). I have not had a chance to get to the track yet though. I am running ofna buggy front shocks on the rear of my crt.5 too. The revo shocks are too short for the rear though, not enough stroke.

I really need to get pics of my crt.5 up here! For the last couple of months I've been swamped with homework and band practice though.:no::slap:

Bye:mdr:

Cemetary Gates,

What springs are you running on the ofna front buggy shocks?

On the front with the Jato pink 1.4 springs I'm pretty much have max preload, which really isn't much because the Revo shocks are not threaded very far. I was thinking of going up to the 1.6 springs. How are the green 1.1 springs setting up?

One other thing I noticed is that if you tighten the bottom cap tight on the revo shocks it creates a lot of drag btwn the shock shaft and seal. I'm thinking of puting a small oring or thin nylon washer btwn the cap and shock body so the cap stays tight but doesn't over preload the seal.

This is probably a "I should have guessed" kind of question, and I have tried to google it but I havent found anything usefull.
Here we go: When you guys refer to piston #13 or #14 where do I find the pistons ?
How many different ones are there, I have only found references to #1-3 at buytraxxas.com

5 sets of pistons came with my Revo shock kit. There were 3 for the Revo (black) labeled 1, 2, 3. There were 2 for the Jato (grey) labeled 1.3, 1.4, and refer to the size of the holes in mm. I started with the 1.3mm holes and they felt over damped. I'm now using the 1.4mm holes with 30wt and they are pretty good.

Thanks for the clarification.

I have some updates to the upper mounting system for the Revo shocks. I found that with the Ofna part 36610 the shock cap was hitting this part and not allowing the shock to swing backwards in the event of a broken A-arm. Because of this I bent a shock shaft. Granted the whole front left side of the car was destroyed (a-arm, knuckle, c-hub, ball cap, shock shaft) so bending a shock shaft on that hard of an impact may not be avoidable.

So, I've removed part 36610 and replaced it with the original crt.5 upper shock mount. However, I did not remove the Revo pivot ball. So I'm just using the crt.5 shock mount as a spacer. This moves the shock even farther from the shock tower and allows the shock to pivot rearward in the event of a broken a-arm.

Now to mount the upper shock all you need to add is (2) 35mm screws and (2) washers and lock nuts for behind the body mount. The other parts are stock.

I gather that the softer the better (for the rear). I have a set of mugen soft/short light blue springs on the way as well as the x1 cr front shocks (for the rear), and of course the revo shocks and accesories for the front. I hope the mugen springs are soft enough without cutting them down. I'm stoked to see the improvement. Go-ride well done on the mod.

I just ordered a set of Ofna Ultra LX One front shocks (same part #s as the 13mm X1 CR shocks) off ebay yesterday. They come with the soft "yellow" ofna springs. Hopefully, the yellow springs will be close.

I am actually running jato shocks which have more threads than the revo shocks.With not much preload set, my ride height is dogbones pretty much level, maybe just above. I am also running the bottom caps that come with the shock dust boots, which are a slightly different design to allow use of the dust boot; I have not noticed any drag.

I am running THESE as rear shocks. I think I using the springs that come with them, but the springs I am using I just found in my box of shock parts. It makes the ride height arms just above level.

Bye:mdr:

Ahh...that explains a couple of things.
1. I bet the shock caps I have are the same as the ones for the boots, but without the boots (I don't have) they over preload the seals and create drag. The only way to notice the drag is to back off the cap a bit an see if the shock moves more freely. I have now installed an o-ring under each cap to reduce the preload on the seal.
2. It's too bad the aluminum shock bodies don't come threaded as far down the body as the plastic Jato bodies. I might just flip my preload caps over to get more preload.

hey fellas,
just wanted to say that this has been a great read. Thanks for the info. I haven't tried this yet, but I like the concept. Keep it coming.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHFZ9&P=Z

Much better cost then the full ofna set up! I wish I still had my .5 =( I never thought of using the body mount holes!

How ever, does anyone need some revo shocks for cheap? I have 4 of them, 2 of them have ti-ni shafts, and the other 2 are normal, I cant find the other package of ti ni shafts lol.... PM if any one is interested

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXKMH2&P=7

Even cheaper then revo shocks! With more threads too! Also a bit lighter because of the plastic body....

Bye:mdr:

If any of you guys need the revo stock shock just PM me. I have sets of 4 that I dont really need. I'll let them go for very cheap price. They are in excellent condition.

That's exactly what I'm running :mdr:

Bought those Jato shocks last night with the 1.4 rate springs. Hopefully it turns out well. :yes: I'll post pictures once they're installed.

Just got done setting up my shocks for how I like them - although I have yet to run the truck with this setup. The front Jato shocks have 1.4mm pistons, 40wt. Losi oil, and the Traxxas 1.4 rate pink springs. In the rear are Jammin X1CR front buggy shocks with 35-40wt. oil (I forget which) and XTM blue (soft) front buggy springs. Pics of the whole setup:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/IMG_7076.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/IMG_7078.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/IMG_7072.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/IMG_7081.jpg

The way it sits is just slightly above level, but it should work fine, I think. The rear shocks bottom out just as the back end of the chassis touches the ground, and the front shocks still have about 2mm of travel left when the front end bottoms out.

Looks great. I should have my ofna big bore shocks for the rear this week. They are coming with ofna soft (yellow) buggy springs. I'll let you know if I can get the rear bones level with these springs.

Here are some pictures with the new Jato shocks. Does nayoen knwo where I can get stiffer springs for the back of the CRT.5? I have the stock silver ones, and I just need something stiffer...
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/DSC02174.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/DSC02176.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/DSC02177.jpg

And don't yell at me for not using Mike's mount. :lol: I got this one for free so I will run it until it breaks or something happens to it. And then I'll buy Mike's mount. :yes:

Amain.com usually has all the crt.5 springs in stock. I used the white (hardest) for bashing and racing with the Revo front shocks and Jato 1.4 springs. However, rather than spending $13 on a set of stiffer springs, I'd buy a pair of Ofna LX One front shocks ($20 or less) on ebay that include the softest 1/8 (yellow) springs and mount hardware. That's a much better investment in a crt.5.

I guess I'll do that instead. So this will fit for sure?
http://cgi.ebay.com/OFNA-Ultra-LX-On...QQcmdZViewItem
Plus the yellow springs match the rims and wing. :mdr: lol

A little off topic, but the Traxxas Anaconda front Bandit tires will fit the stock CRT.5 rims correct?

Yep, those are them. To get the amount of droop I wanted I mounted them with the supplied mounts, but in the body mount holes on the rear tower. Much like with the Revo shocks on the front tower. They also come with heavy oil (manual says 80 wt) so you will want to go lower. I'm going to start with 30 or 40 wt.

Sounds good to me. :yes: Time to order up.

Couple pictures with all four new shocks installed: :mdr:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/P1010660.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/P1010662.jpg

Yep, looks just like mine. I had to cut 2 coils off each of the yellow springs to get the dogbones level in the back. I tried 25wt oil and it was too light, and I'm now running 30wt in the back and 25wt in the front. I've been thinking about getting the ofna blue springs for the front and cutting them down.

I'm running 40wt in front on the pink springs, and the stock oil and springs in the back. They seem to be perfect, but I still have yet to try the truck out to really know...

Hi guys. I'm about to start this mod, but was wondering if any of you guys had some extra Jato shocks to sell. I sent some pm's to the guys that posted about it, but thought it would be a good idea to post here too. Don't want to buy all four if I don't need too, so if anyone wants to sell me an extra pair, send me a pm.

The Jato's are the plastic shocks. The stock Revo's (silver aluminum) come in a pair, but the nice hard anno Revo's come in a 4 pack.

Nevermind....my blind a$$ didn't see this...:no:. Thanks anyways.
http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/show...9&postcount=24