Help! Any good method to changing suspension/sway-bars??

[mechanist]

Hi:
I'm really new to this hobby. I collect a lot of toys from Japan and I've seen the Bits and Digi-Qs at online sellers from Japan for a while but haven't ever really bothered to order them. But when Radio Shack brought out the ZipZaps I thought this was a good cheap way to give these little micro R/C cars a try.

Well I've got my ZZ and the Fast&Furious kit I'm monkeying with the engine and suspension etc.

My question is: Is there any method to getting that darn sway bar out and in without damaging the chassis?
I pulled out the original one and put the 2 hole one in instead. But when I pulled the stock one I damaged one of the little clips that holds it in.
I superglued that and let it set over night and then put the 2 hole one in this morning.

But I seriously thought I was going to destroy those clips on the chassis trying to get the new sway bar in. They don't bend easy and that clear plastic seems pretty darn fragile. Plus the swaybars are so tiny and slippery I kept dropping it.
Sigh

I ended up shaving down one of the bumps on the sway bar that holds it to the car just so I could slid it in the chassis easier. Didn't seem to effect how well it stays in so I think I"m ok.

Anyone got a better method?

Thanks.

[go_zz_go]

you got me i did it once and didnt see a noticable difference so i left to scared off breaking it id love to know the trick i used a small flathead screwdriver and pryed it out not to bad but scarry

[ax0n]

I did the same thing. I didn't break the tabs but I damaged them. They still work. I don't like that setup anyways. I used the QuestForMadness.com "suspension springs" mod, except I just bought pick-up springs for a slotcar. They were the right diameter, and with 2 coils removed, they had a perfect spring rate for my style. They seem to work great under any situation.

[mechanist]

So when you do the spring suspension mod do you guys remove the swaybar entirely?
I'm thinking of trying that myself.

[payaso]

That's what I did on my bit.....:)

silla

[MTL]

there was the first time i popped off the stock sway bars off with a skrewdriver, and that sucker hit me in the forehead....luckily not in my eye....

im not sure if there is an easy way, but for now i use Bit Racer sway bars cuz they are softer

[ax0n]

Originally posted by mechanist
So when you do the spring suspension mod do you guys remove the swaybar entirely?
I'm thinking of trying that myself.

Yep. there's not much point in the stock swaybars once you have a fully independent suspension :)

[Namuna]

...i popped off the stock sway bars off with a skrewdriver, and that sucker hit me in the forehead....luckily not in my eye....


LOL! Don't forget to wear Safety Goggles before workin on your Car! :eek:

[MTL]

haha i only wear goggles and those "hospital mouth covers" when i use my Dremel

[GryphicRacing]

I too had worried about breaking the plastic when trying to remove the sway bars.

Prying it gently out of the clips with the mini-screwdriver seemed to work for me, but its not something I want to do very often.

I haven't tried the spring suspension mod, but that's only a matter of time. Instead, in the meantime, I simply bent the arms of the suspension down to take out most / all the play. The car runs fine (at least on nice smooth surfaces) and it seems to have helped with steering control.

The only good site I have seen with details on pulling the whole front end apart can be found at:

http://www.ausmicro.com/technical/bitcharg/front-end-disassembly-how-to/index.htm