Sharing a few small details and maintenance tips on the X4. Some of these are very simple, but they can easily be overlooked.
Steering arm plates
This is an easy one to get wrong. Unfortunately even some of our top dawgs in the team have made this mistake before. Pay attention to the front(more chamfer) and rear steering arm plates. They look very similar, but if you accidentally use the rear ones on the front, you will not have enough steering lock.
Battery stop
I replaced the plastic adjustment piece on the battery stop with a normal M3 screw. After some time, the original plastic piece can wear, and when you are switching between different batteries, you may also need to re-adjust the position. A simple M3 screw makes the adjustment easy and reliable. Credits to Alex Hagberg for this tip.
Short arms + high roll centre
When using the short arms together with a high roll-centre setting, it is difficult to properly secure the arm. The HUDY spanner (181090) fits into the tight space nicely and makes the job much easier.
Piston C-clips
Something that can easily be overlooked when rebuilding the shocks. Every time you remove and reinstall the C-clip while changing pistons, the clip can expand slightly without you noticing. Eventually, it can become loose enough to come off. Before reinstalling it, I like to give the C-clip a small pinch with a plier to close it up slightly and make sure it remains secure.
Drivetrain bearings
These bearings are tiny, and because of their size and the load they are handling, they need to be checked regularly. Don’t take risk! Don't wait until they completely fail. Walking to the end of the straight to pick up your broken car cost a lot more than replacing these bearings! Check that they are still running smoothly and replace them when necessary.
Axle bearings
If you are having difficulty removing the bearings from the axle, check the axle carefully. This can sometimes be a sign of a hairline crack or slight deformation in the axle. In this situation, I prefer to replace the axle rather than continue using it. I also personally use only XRAY bearings here for the best and most consistent tolerances.
Driveshaft bearings
These normally last a long time, but they are also not bulletproof. If the bearing starts coming off the driveshaft by itself, it means the bearing was already broken before.
Like everything else on the drivetrain, regular inspection and maintenance goes a long way.
Small details, but sometimes these are the things that save you from having a problem during a race weekend.
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