Need Some Help - First Hopups

[Spoon]

I know this question has been asked a thousand times, but the point of this thread is to try to make sure it's not answered ever again. Hopefully...

All new Mini-Z drivers like to know what their first hopups should be. Here are my thoughts, any additional input is welcome. Conflicting opinions openly welcomed.

Phase I - Bare Essentials (Best bang for buck, probably required to make a competitive racer)

• Tires
• Bearings
• Carbon H-plate (MR01/MR02)
• Damper System

Phase II - Good to have. Helps fine tune handling. Higher Performance.

• Ball Diff
• Toe In-Out Rods
• Camber Knuckles
• Springs
• Upgraded motor

Phase III - Durability for Mod Racing and/or Bling

• alloy motor mount(s)
• Ti Damper Kits
• Alloy Knuckles
• Alloy or Ti Dogbones (MA-010)

For the record, I did do a search but it's actually not that easy to find all of the threads that answer this question. If you know of a good one, please post it here. Once this is all worked out, I'll clean it up and post it to the FAQ section. Make your voice heard to all future Mini-Z racers!

[soyverde]

Hmm, my phase I suggestions would only include tires and rechargeable (NiMH) batteries. Carbon H plates would be a distant third (possibly phase II), as depending on your preferences they may be more for reliability than performance (look at how well chucky does with stock plastic plates). They are typically one of my first upgrades, though. I would put bearings and (non-stock) damper systems in phase two, as I don't consider either particularly necessary to someone starting off.

I would also suggest that a decent digital controller might be useful before any of the stage III items, but then I don't care much for alloy, and that's pretty debatable.

[Spoon]

That's good input. I forgot about the rechargable batteries.

[FasterTHANu]

Which Damper system should I use, the one that goes on top or the one that goes down either side? I've seen pics of cars that have both, is that over kill? Also what H plate should I use? Thanks

[Spoon]

Originally Posted by FasterTHANu

Which Damper system should I use, the one that goes on top or the one that goes down either side? I've seen pics of cars that have both, is that over kill? Also what H plate should I use? Thanks

I would do a search or start a new thread asking about dampers. If you do start a new thread be sure to post which type of chassis it's on because the dampers are chassis specific. As SoyVerde mentioned though, a damper may be a later upgrade, definitely after tires and batteries.

[bermbuster]

your logic is spot on as far as upgrades...im new to mini z s but not RC cars/trucks. What is confusing is the wide range of hop ups and mfgs of them.(partial to kyosho) Now when i buy tires im getting 4 rears or 4 fronts per pack. The cool thing for me is that the 2 cars come with different tires(slicks &treads) and im getting an education from them. So now i need to make sure i get the right combo for the surface I want to run on. What tires work best on RCP track? My plans for now are bearings, tires, and maybe ball diffs. What spare parts do you reccomend we keep in our pit box??? Thanks again for all suggestions.

[Fish]

A lot of people also recommend replacing the stock lugs with nylon threaded ones right away. It'll decrease the chances that your wheels will come off during a race.

[Spoon]

just bumping this thread to try and get more input. I am going to clean it up and post the FAQ version soon so speak now or forever hold your peace.

[HammerZ]

Originally Posted by Spoon

Conflicting opinions openly welcomed.

Phase I - Bare Essentials (Best bang for buck, probably required to make a competitive racer)

• Tires
• Bearings
• Carbon H-plate (MR01/MR02)
• Damper System

Phase II - Good to have. Helps fine tune handling. Higher Performance.

• Ball Diff
• Toe In-Out Rods
• Camber Knuckles
• Springs
• Upgraded motor

Phase III - Durability for Mod Racing and/or Bling

• alloy motor mount(s)
• Ti Damper Kits
• Alloy Knuckles
• Alloy or Ti Dogbones (MA-010)

If anything I would bump the damper system to a phase II. I know some swear up and down on these, I just think you can get by without it for a bare bones car. Metal wheel nuts would fit there nice though, I like to upgrade those with the bearings. They also save headaches later when you are cleaning the car. When you have one car it would work to trick it out with everything, just when you have a few more cars those hopups add up quick. I figure I am doing good to have ball diffs on all my racer chassis.

[hobbycar]

Originally Posted by HammerZ

If anything I would bump the damper system to a phase II. I know some swear up and down on these, I just think you can get by without it for a bare bones car. Metal wheel nuts would fit there nice though, I like to upgrade those with the bearings. They also save headaches later when you are cleaning the car. When you have one car it would work to trick it out with everything, just when you have a few more cars those hopups add up quick. I figure I am doing good to have ball diffs on all my racer chassis.

I agree that the damper system is not needed in phase I. In fact I'm currently not using mine in HFAY OLPS and my car runs fine (I do use a piece of foam between the motor mount and the main chassis though).

I've actually seen issues with metal wheel nuts coming loose/off during races . I personally like the stock kyosho plastic wheel nuts. If you do get metal ones make sure to get quality ones.

For me personally, I'm interested in HFAY OLPS which means stock racing. So for me this would be my breakdown:

Phase I:

• Tires
• Bearings
• Steel Kingpins
• Good NiMH AAAs & Charger

Phase II:

• Ball Diff

Phase III:

• alloy Motor Mount
• alloy Camber Sterring Knuckles

Phase IV (or sooner):

• pro-type transmitter like Airtronics M8 or M11 with Mini-Z Module, or the Ko-Propo EX-10 with Mini-Z Module

For tuning (only if you feel you need/want it):

• springs
• H-Plates
• tie rods (toe-in/toe-out)
• damper plate system
• spacers to lower chassis

I think that's everything. If you are running Mod motors then you have the mod motor of course and then I can see maybe needing the damper plate system.

-hobbycar

[saiyan]

Most of the break downs look good to me, however, i would go in this order....

Tyres
Bearings
H-plates
good NIMH AAAs and a good charger
Alloy/Nylon wheel nuts

Then the rest as i grew into the car and figuered out what i might need to get the chassis hooked up at that point. Driving style and techniques will change and as your skill level increases and you start to push the chassis more then you'll have an idea as to what you'll need to get that extra tuning out of the chassis in order to keep it on the track.

I also tend to wait on replacing stuff with upgrades until i've either worn or broken it.

[HammerZ]

I strongly beleve that you can buy a readyset and a few good extras for around $200 or less. I look at that as a starting price point when someone asks me "how much is it to get into these things?". The phase I, I look at as that starting point. The other more expensive parts can come later, if you want to spend that kind of money on these.

[arch2b]

personally, i think you can do quite well with a stock car. some of the hfay drivers have proven that. once you get past the 1 and maybe 2nd round of upgrades, the rest is up to personal preference and taste or desire to tweak handling. some of us need more tweaking than others

[HammerZ]

My list of upgrades. My "short" list.

Phase I
Bearings, I know first of the list. I put it here as the bushings wear out quickly and these make for a solid car.
Tires, the readyset or ASC tires leave some to be desired. Get a few different compounds to play with as this is the start of your "extras".
Metal locknuts, I like them and think that they work well with the bearings to make a solid car.
Fibre plates, these may be extras, but when you break the stock one you be glad you have them on hand.
Most of these are cheap and go a long way.

I have had the metal nuts fall off as well, come to find out the cheap bearings I had where too thick and didn't allow them to go all the way on.

Phase II

Ball diff, helps out the turning ability enough that it is top of this list.
DPS, this helps hook the car to the track.
Better Motor, now the fun begains.

Phase III
Alloy, to replace the busted parts with.

All the rest are extras, and can be added however or whenever you feel like it. I didn't include batteries and chargers in this list as I see that as support equipment.