What do the shock colours represent?

[getsurfers]

Ok, forgive me here, as I'm really only just starting to take this (rc racing) seriously. :-[

Having moved from my club 10 to a Cat, I've noticed that the shocks come in different colours (the club 10 were just black). The cat currently has Silver front and rear, with 35w oil IIRC.

Just wondering what the colours signify, and when to use them.


Can someone help me gain a better idea on shocks and oil, as until now I've not been making the most out of the car.


Thanks,
Simon.

[DA_cookie_monstA]

The actual colours of the shock body is just the material it is made out of, and the alloy ones are the best for racing, although for knocking about, the plastic ones are fine.

The springs are colour coded, and if you visit the Schumacher site www.racing-cars.com (http://www.racing-cars.com) you should be able to find out the colour codes.

[getsurfers]

The actual colours of the shock body is just the material it is made out of, and the alloy ones are the best for racing, although for knocking about, the plastic ones are fine.

The springs are colour coded, and if you visit the Schumacher site www.racing-cars.com (http://www.racing-cars.com) you should be able to find out the colour codes.


Thanks for that, but I can't seem to find what the colours actually mean (shock absorbers and springs) on the site.

[damo]

unless you mean the springs which are sifferent colours = different spring strength..

[getsurfers]

unless you mean the springs which are sifferent colours = different spring strength..


Kind of both really. The shocks themselves are silver on the Cat, with silver springs.

Just need a guide on both really, so that I can set the car up properly for any given surface.

[damo]

silver springs are usually the crappy kit standard ones....not much use for racing...ask around at your local club or look on the website for set ups for your local club but the best option i can say would be to go buy the spring tuning kit..they make them for tc's so i guess there is one for off road too and experiment....im an on road driver so i cant help with set up im afraid...

[MattW]

The silver shocks were last used on the Procat in about 1989. When the bosscat/cougar 2 were released (i'm guessing 1991) they changed the design to essentially the same as today with bottom loading seal cartridges. Bosscat works/Cougar 2 works (1993) had the coatings changed and is basically the same shock used on the Cat 3000 today.

[getsurfers]

Thanks guys.

Once I start going to a club, I'll try and gain as much experience as I can - especially of track set-ups for the club I choose.

When you say silver are you shure they arn't gray? If they are gray the usualy are soft, well on tourers they are any way.

[Trevor]

I am assuming you are looking for the comparable spring rates for the shocks. I live in the US and I use the long rear shocks and the medium front shocks, but just in-case you have the short front shocks and medium rear shock setup on your car, here are all the offroad spring rates.

Short
U1389G Yellow Shock Spring - Short rate 2
U1864O Red Shock Springs-Short rate 2.5
U1390H Grey Shock Springs - Short rate 3
U1391I Blue Shock Springs - Short rate 4
U1392J Black Shock Springs - Short rate 6

Medium
U1380X White Shock Springs-Med rate 1.5
U1385C Yellow Shock Springs - Med rate 2
U1865P Red Shock Springs-Med rate 2.5
U1386D Grey Shock Springs - Med rate 3
U1387E Blue Shock Springs - Med rate 4
U1388F Black Shock Springs - Med rate 6

Long
U1381Y White Shock Springs-Long rate 1.5
U1382Z Yellow Shock Springs-Long rate 2
U1866Q Red Shock Springs-Long rate 2.5
U1383A Grey Shock Springs - Long rate 3
U1384B Blue Shock Springs - Long rate 4

If you buy the Spring Tuning sets be aware that the medium size set does not include the white springs.

Here are the part numbers for the sets:

U1351U Short Spring Tuning Set-Colour (5prs)
U1352V Med Spring Tuning Set-Coulor (5prs)
U1353W Long Spring Tuning Set-Colour (5prs)

Hope this helps,

Trevor