Dominoe-effect upgrades

[Megazone23]

Obviously once one decides to go down the brushless route, there are some additional modifications that need to be made in order for the drivetrain to survive the additional brute force raw power ar ar ar of the brushless motor. What are they?

I know the drive shafts are immediately suspect, since they're telescoping plastic. I've read that replacing these with CVDs is necessary, but I've also read that CVDs seem to have a fairly high failure rate at the connecting pin. What is your experience?

Then there's the tranny and diff -- metal idler gears/pins and aluminum gears.

What other things must be upgraded in order to be able to handle the BL motor? I'm specifically interested in the E-Maxx, but let's open this up for everyone.

Maybe we can turn this into a Going Brushless 101 FAQ. :D

[MaxxFusion]

SuperMaxx E-Maxx Hardened Steel Idler Kit

This is the center CVDs needed for the extended GMAxx chassis:
SuperMaxx Titanium Center Driveshaft Kit, EXT Electric Chassis

Maximizer 7075 Aluminum Diff Cups


Integy Aluminum Diff Case

Integy Gear Box Collar

Maxx 2.5 Cvds by RD Logics

[MaxxFusion]

I am not so sure that you will Have to have metal tranny gears if you go Brushless but you will defenitaly need the idler gears. The CVDs all around will be a must since the Brushless power will just twist the plastic stockers like a pretzel.

There are some people that can stay with the stock Diffs but I think it depends on your driving style. Myself I want all of this upgraded now so I dont have to worry about it later. My goal is to have a bulletproof truck.

i found that once i installed the UE idlers, i started stripping out the big plastic gears.
The idlers strip because the input shaft gears are steel
If you replace the idler to steel, then you will strip the big gears...and thats what happened to me.

[rc4x4nut]

Netman pretty much has it covered for you.

[RC-Monster Mike]

I have only stripped the big gears once (gear, actually) in a few years of brushless running. They are pretty tough and unless you are a real power freak and are particularly tough on your truck, the UE idlers will sufficiently beef up the tranny. Netman laid out the deal pretty accurately, although I would say the aluminum diff cases are a necessity (not really an option as Netman said) with brushless because the plastic diff cases flex and cause the ring gear to jump the pinion. These are the necessities, pretty much, although some might argue that aluminum bulkheads are almost a necessity too (if you have a hard time keeping the truck wheels-down, then you already upgraded these or at least replaced them!)

[Megazone23]

Looks like I got a long way to go before I'm ready to go brushless... :(

So after a quick perusal of the Maxx hop ups on this fine site, I'm curious about the Fastlane hybrid bulkheads. Do these units combine the bulkhead and the diff case into a single unit? Is this better than getting separate diff cases and bulkheads? I also saw they use 1/8 gears. Does that add strain to the drivetrain or reduce it?

Did anyone else hear that?! Oh...never mind...that was just my checkbook whimpering in the corner. ;)

[MaxxFusion]

Ya i thought about the flex of the plastic cases. I am going to edit my post. I think we should make something like a Brushless 101 thread and make it a sticky. I think that is a great idea. A lot of people want to go brushless and think they can just get the motor and controller. Then once they jump in they cant understand why other parts are breaking.

[ryanvm777]

There is a guy at the my local track that just put in the HV-maxx and has not upgraded anything else He runs 12-14 cells. He drives on the track and bashes.

[HotnCold]

Im sure that he is having fun with that HVMAXX - but it only takes one time to land on power and something is gonna let go - prob driveshafts first and then.... its inevitable ( lol @ my spelling - you know what i mean - )

[Megazone23]

Another question -- I noticed that Traxxas offers lightened performance input, idler, and low gear shafts. How would these hold up with brushless? Would it be best to stick with the stockers?

[RC-Monster Mike]

You are better off with the stock stuff. The lightened stuff is not as strong and will likely fail with brushless (even HV mild) power.