I just recently got a new batch of layshafts , and I haven't been running my optima mid since last year, when I sold my layshaft to Daniel Rowlands. My car has been running for some time now with the optima mid suspension, with the back arms flipped so that I can place the shocks behind the wheel in order to clear the layshafts.
Last night while I was looking my car over I noticed that the rear CVDs were exiting the diffs at an angle, it was swept forward. That means the wheelbase was also reduced about 5mm. There was also noticeably a huge amount of rear toe in, which isn't really a bad thing.
However, the forward swept CVDs could pose a problem.
Forward swept CVDs will pull the rear suspension down under acceleration, and rearward swept will push the rear up, both conditions are not good for optimum handling. I did find my rear end washing out every now then. I then tried placing back the Lazer rear arms, and sure enough, they exited straight as an arrow. If you remember , I had problems with snapping my Lazer front C hubs, so in order for me to use back the Lazer arms, I had to find stronger alloy c hubs. An idea just came to me, why not find drift car alloy c hubs, since touring and drift cars uses smaller components similar to the lazer and optima, I am bound to be able to find one that fits, then I would have to use the knuckles that fits that c hub.
The MPP arms seem to be tougher than Kyosho arms, simply because MPP arms are more flexible. I don't know how that will affect handling, but for sure my car will be more trouble free. I have been hearing from other people in the know, like terry sc who swears the Lazers suspension is much better than the Optimas on rough tracks, so that's one of the reasons I want to switch back.
However, I did find a peculiar thing comparing lazer and optima arms. The shock mounting holes on the lazer arms are much further outwards. I believe they did this to get back the same wheel rate as the optima since Lazer arms are much longer and will give more leverage. Still I wonder if the wheel rate on the lazer arms is enough for rough tracks, as I believe the optimas shock positioning should give a softer suspension which will handle bouncing better. well, time for testing then.
Another thing I found out about kyosho big bores is the kyosho rod ends seem to be rather weak. I used X ray T2 touring car rod ends with their balls and they are much tougher, but they cannot go into the lazers capped arm because they are 5.5mm wide, compared to the kyoshos which are just 5mm. Anyway, I will try using back the kyosho pieces but this time I wont be removing them so often, and will put threadlock on them.
I will keep you guys updated on my front c hub findings.
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