What is it about 4WD buggies that makes you want to push them harder, jump them farther and dive them deeper into corners? It isn't hard to figure out; with all of its wheels hooked up, your 4-wheeler can stay on the gas longer and plow into corners farther than any 2-wheeler. Unfortunately, this means you're gonna hit stuff that much harder, and that means more damage. With this in mind, and knowing there's a 99-percent chance that anyone who runs a 4-wheeler has a Losi Triple-X4, we figured out a few beef-up tips for Losi's one-belt wonder. If you never hit anything, there are better ways to spend your time (such as filling out sponsorship resumes). For the rest of us, these tips will make our Losi 4WD machines just about crash-proof.
STRONGER SUSPENSION ARMS
Dennis Mong at DPM Racing manufactures machined-Delrin suspension arms that are much more crashworthy than the stock parts. The Delrin arms are CADdesigned and CNC-machined with extra material at all of the stress points. Two additional lower shockmounting locations let you further dial in your buggy. They weigh a bit more than the stock arms, but they're much stronger, and that makes up for the small weight increase.
TITANIUM TURNBUCKLES, HINGE PINS AND SCREWS
The first upgrade you should make to any off-road buggy or truck is a complete set of titanium turnbuckles and hinge pins. Titanium is stronger and lighter than steel, and that makes it a welcome material on any racecar. Lunsford Racing offers a complete titanium turnbuckle and hinge-pin set (item no. 4056). While we were at it, we also installed Lunsford's new 6056 titanium screw set and a set of Quick Tune shock mounts.
TOUGHER TOWERS
A disadvantage of buggies is their exposed shock towers. If your car endos, the shock towers usually take the brunt of the abuse. Fortunately, Team PRP manufactures 2mm graphite braces that markedly strengthen the stock front and rear molded shock towers. The rear brace includes aluminum spacers that are mounted solidly against the molded rear tower. They are perfect for Triple-X4 owners who don't have Losi's upgraded chassis with molded-in bulkhead bracing. Stainless-steel mounting hardware is also included.
DIRT-PROOF DRIVE TRAIN
Losi's single-belt drive train is pretty well sealed, but dirt can still work its way in through the seams where the front and rear bumper covers meet the lower chassis. To counter that, just place a piece of electrical tape over the diff opening before you install the bumpers. Also, use few pieces of tape around the edges of the Lexan spur-gear cover. This makes it even more difficult for unwanted dirt to get into the system.
BEEFIER BALL STUDS
Camber-link ball studs are some of the most stressed parts on an off-road car. If one fails because of breakage, not only will it cost you the race, but you might also have to replace the molded piece the ball stud is mounted on. Most pro drivers replace steel ball studs with stronger titanium units. If you don't have the cash to buy titanium ball studs, you can strengthen the steel ones (and your shock towers) by using a longer ball stud and then placing a 4-40 locknut on the other end. This spreads the load area placed on the stud across the front and rear of the tower. Your shock towers will thank you.
STRONGER INNER PIVOT MOUNTS
There's little doubt that graphite parts are lighter and generally stronger than their standard, molded counterparts, but you can drastically increase the durability of the suspension system by using Losi's aluminum inner pivot mounts. These hardanodized, machined-aluminum blocks are available in different angles to suit your track. Combine them with titanium hinge pins and graphite or Delrin arms, and you may never break a suspension piece again.
We put our Triple-X4 buggies through lots of abuse to test these tricks and hop-ups, and they came away with only scratched bumpers and bashed-up wings. Add beefier titanium hardware and stronger aftermarket components, and you'll be able to take your Triple-X4 to the A-main with confidence. Remember: the little things can make the difference between a car that finishes a race and one that gets a "DNF." We know which one you want to have.
