suspension springs are stupid
 

Ok, I got my Tomy springs...they're terrible! I tried them in my bit- too much tension. I cut them to about 1/4 the original length and the car still ramdomly turn. They are the exact same length, I've spent over 2 hours trying to tweak them. Don't bother with them, I can't believe some people say that they help steering. The only thing they do is add more friction and prevent steering. :mad:

Yup, your right. I tried to do that with a pen spring, and I worked for over an hour to try to make them work. They screw up your steering and just don't work! It was a total waste of time.

While my home made pen springs didn't make my steering erratic, it DID open up the turning radius quite a bit.
I ended up removing them.
I've been using MS stabili since then.

I just finished a dual-cell internal mod, and the incredible speed this car has makes me want to try them again, in hopes of keeping the car controllable.
The steering is just too twitchy at really high speeds. The car rolls over!

Maybe you're just unlucky. MY steering springs work beautifully. :)

tyco roadhugger springs work like a charm. i dont have to cut them at all. ive installed them in clones bits and zipzaps.

they are noticably better than the "stabilizer" piece of plastic

ok, i need to find some stronger steering springs for my 56' pickup big wheel. the current spring dosent turn back to center like i want it to.

Hog.. are those road hugger springs steering springs or suspension springs. and where can i find these..

i used mine for a 4x4 mod. they work perfect for that.

Since my last post on the subject I've put a se on my dual cell, and these are perfect!
No more flippy on turns!

I also found a slot car tune-up kit at my local hobby shop that has perfect springs in it.

I bought a set from QFM and it took a while before I installed them/tested them out. I was skeptical, but to my surprise they actually DO work! My dual cell flips over a LOT less, now. I have an internal dual cell (without springs) that flips over a ton more than my conventional dual cell with springs.

On a side note, QFM hasn't sent my order from March 13th, yet. And they haven't responded to my email, either. I'm a little surprised. Anyone else have any problems with them?

Anyone ever tried the springs that come with Modifiers?

They looked to be the right size, but I don't know how stiff they are.

tyco springs are for suspension. the really do help in high speed turns. you can see one side dip lower than the other. also on any slightly bumpy surface you get a much smoother ride.

On a side note, QFM hasn't sent my order from March 13th, yet. And they haven't responded to my email, either. I'm a little surprised. Anyone else have any problems with them? [/b][/quote]

I ordered from them once, REM, Springs, Bat, etc. No problem at all. Order came in a lil over a week. Pop 'em another email. They seem to be pretty good fellas.

DarkTari

Spanky -

RCmod.com sells the exact ones that Hog is talking about. Oh, and they're suspension springs.

yea i can buy the suspension springs at my hobby shop for a buck or two.. they were cheap. i just ordered some steering springs from rc-mod. hopefully they will help..

i originaly posted here thinking everyone was talking about steering springs... i just did a search for springs. anyway this is another mod i plan on doing...

i found the tomy springs from qfm were pretty soft. i cut them to the perfect size and they gave me the tightest turn i've seen but it came at a cost....a bit too much speed and it flips or on a slippery surface the rear end slides out. i alleviated some of the flipping problem with a stabilizer bar to keep the spring from compressing too much and it helped a lot. it'll still flip on fast turns but it performs better on bumpy surfaces like my carpet

In case anyone is confused, PEN SPRINGS are ferrous (magnetic) and are usually way to stiff for bits. The QFM springs are non-magnetic and the correct size. Dunno about the slotcar ones, im gonna have to try them out. Did someone say you did not have to cut them?

i have lots of slot cars... and it depends on the slot cars. many of my old slot cars that i got from my uncle (25+years old) do have magnetic springs. but some of the newer cars i have dont even use springs... anyway i dont really think that they should affect the steering to much even if they are.

that was i. at least the ones i use(tyco roadhugger)

they are also non ferrous.

i think they could be slightly stiffer but they work nicer than the plastic thing that tomy tries to pass off as suspension.

Suspension Spring FACTS:

-Magnetic springs WILL affect your steering adversely. To test this simple concept, stick a staple or other ferrous metal under your steering well beneath the chassis and see if you can steer properly. Tell me you can, and the physics of the Helmholz magnetic assembly will say you are lying.

-The springs if the proper length will not interfere with your steering ability.

-Springs do give added stability to multisurface tracks.

-Springs do give added stability to S-turns (quick hard left then hard right vice versa)

-Springs will NOT give you wider turning radius.

-Springs will increase rolls on cars with very fast motors, esp on drag runs that overcorrect steering at top speeds.

Hope this clears things up.

Sincerely,
Questformadness.com

I have my reservations on that one. The magnet is much closer to the steering coils than the susp. springs, right? Sure, if you put a piece of metal directly under or over the magnet it will cause it to fritz out, but do you really believe that coil springs all the way out on the knuckle posts will do anything.

Hmmm....

Helmholz assembly is based on balance. That the magnet in the middle remains neutral. The springs (esp the ones in a pen) throw off that balance. If a staple located beneath the steering assembly, separated by 1mm of plastic can throw it off, so can the springs. But this isnt just theory. I tried lots of pen springs. I have been modifying stompers prior to modding BitChar-Gs. I use springs to create suspension on my stompers. (Go to www.stomper4x4.com and peep the custom silver 4x4 stomper by JAY, its mine). So naturally, these were the first springs I tested, and not the last either. What will happen is you steering will pull permanently to either side. But this is all talk. Its easy enough to pull a pen spring and cut it to test. Take you no more than 10-15 mins. Plus you get the satisfaction of knowing you tested this for yourself, whether or not it works. And without any sarcasm intended, that truly is one of the better joys of modding RCs.

Sincerely,
QFM

Cool Stomper page QFM.

Seeing all those old cars still on the card gave me major flashbacks of my childhood.

I'm really wishing I hadn't destroyed all mine, but would I have loved them as much if I didn't?