Hepl me out here...

[3pointX]

I've got my ZX-1 pretty much dialed in engine-wise but the suspension seems to want to fight me just a little. I've got the toe-in and camber and such where I want it. The driveshafts are level both front and rear, and it corners like nobody's business, even with the massive amounts of lean it seems to have. I was having some issues with the front end just lifting off the ground on full-throttle launches, which I solved by putting some heavier diff oil in the center diff. But my problem now is that the nose drops when I go over a jump and often ends in the buggy sliding several feet on its top. What's the biggest reason this might happen? Springs? Shock oil? I'm a bit confused. It doesn't flip every time but it tries, and if there's enough air time it does.

[razzor]

Do you have the brakes set with a bit of drag ??
When you jump you need to use the throttle to keep the nose up.
If you back of the throttle after the jump is taken then the nose will dive.
Also might be an idea to adjust the wing for more down force.
Sometimes too soft a suspension setup can also aggrevate the cars attitude in flight.

[vnmsgt]

Are your brakes dragging? Even a little can make it go nose down off a jump. Also depends on how you are going off of the jump. If you are letting off too soon on the jump then it will go nose down. There are alot of ways to jump. Try keeping on the throttle more before you go off of the jump and see what happens. experiment with the jumping and you will probably find what you are doing wrong. Mine jumps straight as an arrow but I can make it do what yours is doing if I let off too soon.

[vnmsgt]

oops razzor beat me too it LOL!

[hakmazter]

You can also control forward/backward in the air to an extent by giving it gas or brake using centrifical force. I always keep the throttle the same all the way to the end of the ramp and in the air, I let off.

[3pointX]

No drag on the brakes from what I can tell. The brakes were set way too tight out of the box, I mean, even the slightest input from the controller and I got full lock - not cool. So I dialed them out so that they don't lock so easily, and that should have eliminated any drag. I do try to not let off the throttle or hit the brakes in mid jump, though I also try not to be on the throttle at top of teh jump face too. I try to let off just before so that the attitude stays constant. But I've noticed that occasionally the nose just drops. But you're right, I could be doing something to cause it and I just don't realize it. I'll try adding a bit of wing angle and see if that helps. Right now it's sitting level, and though it handles fine at speed it might be causing the issue.

As far as suspension, what changes should I look into? I don't want to get too stiff, I saw how edgy it made the Ravager after we put some stiff springs on it, and frankly I like how the ZX handles right now. It may not be the best for racing but for my driving style it just works.

[vnmsgt]

If the supension suits your driving style then leave it alone. I am still running stock springs and shocks on my ZX1-R and it handles awesome. I am not sure if I even want to try big bores on it I like it so much the way is. Why mess up a good thing.

[3pointX]

So a little more drive time and I think I figured it out. The front brakes were sticking, causing the whole centrifugal force thing to come into play. I also changed the wing angle and that seems to help keep the front end up without getting me out of shape on the landing. Made it much more stable at speed too. I also am trying to stay in the throttle a bit more to keep the wheels spinning like some said. That also seems to help more than backing out of it before the jump. Still gotta do something about the lean.

[hakmazter]

You have the RTR. It does not come with the front stabilizer bar that the pro kits have. That is the issue with the lean. Hope it helps everyone who replies.

Mike

[vnmsgt]

Yes get the front sway bar and it should help alot. If they do not have them where you are, I have some in stock.

[3pointX]

Yeah I figured the lack of a front sway had a lot to do with it. I'll be ordering one soon, and I also want to do some more diff tuning to get rid of the on-throttle push. It's getting better but I think I still need to go with a heavier fluid in the rear. Not sure if the addition of a front sway will change that or not. I also read on here about drilling the shocks so I tried it, and it does wonders. Smooths things out nicely.

Ironic, though. I get my buggy set up pretty much how I want it with just a few minor tweaks needed, and now the only track in the area has been reduced to a swamp lol. It really needs to stop raining.

[hakmazter]

That is because I threatened to come back and race this year. Maybe if I move to Georgia, the south's drought problem will be solved......

[BigC123]

I run 5000 front 7000 center and 2000 rear and it is awsome give it a try and see what you think.

[3pointX]

That is because I threatened to come back and race this year. Maybe if I move to Georgia, the south's drought problem will be solved......


Just tell the guys you won't come over anymore. Maybe then they'll go dry it out lol. It sucks, they only got to run like one race on that Wednesday after they redesigned the track and it's been a mud hole ever since.

Now, about the diff fluid. I'm confused as to what BigC said. If I read all the setup stuff correctly, wouldn't I want a heavier fluid in the rear to help on-throttle steering? I'm willing to try that setup, no doubt, but I guess it seems kind of counterintuitive to my understanding. Right now I've got 3K in the center and rear, and the front still has teh stock grease or whatever. I initially did the center diff just because the front end was lifting more than I'd like and it almost seemed like the rear diff was getting all the power. The 3K helped even out the power distribution and the lift went away. I addded 3K to the rear to see what it would do with the push and it seems to help a little, which I suppose is where the idea to go heavier in the rear came from. I was thinking about a 3-3-5 setup just to see where it takes me.

[BigC123]

you never want to go heavy in the rear if you want it to handle well , the set up I gave you is a race set up and handles awsome turns on a dime and blow's out of the corners, if that's the way you want it to handle try it out.

[3pointX]

Cool, thanks. I'm still pretty new to this if you hadn't noticed lol. We all start somewhere I guess.

[BigC123]

yep good luck man stick with it and you will be FAST!!!?&^

[razzor]

3pointx this should help you understand diff tuning.

http://www.casterracingusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141

[3pointX]

Yeah that all helps a lot. I guess it will take me some time to really get the setup that works for me but like in that article, I myself am experiencing the massive understeer on throttle and entirely too much off throttle oversteer. I've gotten it a litle better by putting the 3K in the center and rear diffs, but it's still not right. I've tried compensating by dialing out some steering trim but that just makes for other headaches lol.