Are you struggling to improve your performance in 1/8 scale racing? Tuning your car is essential to achieving optimal speed and control on the track. In this article, ProTek RC PRO Team Driver Adam Drake discusses how to use the upper front arm length by moving it up and down on the shock tower to improve your car's performance on the track.
Adam discusses longer versus shorter upper front arm.
- ProTek RC PRO Team Driver
Going longer with the upper front arm will make the car roll a little bit more, but it will also roll a little slower and deeper into the roll. As a result, it will feel calmer and smoother. The opposite will happen if you go shorter. If you go shorter, it will be a bit stiffer initially, but it will roll a little bit faster when it rolls. As a result, it will feel more aggressive and sharper on the track. You should run shorter if you're on a tighter track or looking for more front-end grip or steering. If the front end is too aggressive, go longer.
Adjusting for Length
The MBX8R series suspension mounts use square pills for better tuning. So you can move the upper front arm both up and down and in and out. I recommend keeping your camber the same while testing. When moving the upper front arm in, you'll want to add a 1mm washer to the upper front arm. If you shorten the upper front arm, you'll want to remove that washer. After testing and selecting whether you prefer a longer or shorter arm, you can adjust the amount of camber by the number of washers to play with the height. Combining the theories of length and position lets you fine-tune your car's performance on the track. But before you start making several changes to your vehicle, it's important to understand the theory behind it. So in addition to viewing the video below, I recommend watching my earlier video that talks about upper arm position.
Summary
Tuning with the upper front arm length can help you get faster at 1/8 scale racing. Adjusting the length of the upper front arm can make your car roll faster or slower and feel more or less aggressive on the track. Remember to start with the standard position and make adjustments based on your track conditions and driving preferences. Good luck and happy racing!
Watch Adam's RC Tuning Tips
Tuning with Upper Arm Length
Adam Drake explains how the length of the upper front arm affects the roll of the car and the feeling on the track.