RC Big Bore Aluminium Shocks Review for Arrma, Traxxas, Team Associated, Losi, HPI. Ebay Shocks 

I spent a few hours over a few days looking for replacement shocks for my Arrma Vorteks. I came across these on eBay and thought they were too pricey, but took a chance on them any ways. While waiting to receive them, I was determined to find them else were for cheaper, and found that they actually sell for only $17 on a 3rd party website. These seem to be a set of cheaply priced (not cheaply made) shocks, that are being sold for a number of RC's for double the price (clearly for a 2x profit), but are only designed in one size 87mm (front) and 102mm (rear) eye to eye. I really wanted to love these shocks. But after receiving them, I found that they do not come with the proper pivot balls / hardware for the upper part of the shock to install properly w/o slack; they do not include a bladder / diaphragm, and if you don't tighten the cap enough, a portion of the rubber o-ring will pop out when you compress the shock, due to their being no bladder / diaphragm. After Installing these shocks, I found that they lower your ride height and it uneven. That can be remedied by tightening down the pre-loads. So unless your RC uses the same exact size or shorter shocks, then you'll have those last two issues and will probably loose your RC's ability to wheelie. After using the shocks, I found that the shock shaft bent very easily on a minor impact. Although the shaft is much thicker than the stock Arrma shock shafts, it must be made from a softer metal. The same Vorteks was involved in a much harder impact which caused the rod end to break off, but the shock shaft stayed straight. After purchasing these shocks and physically being able to evaluate them, I decided just to repair my stock Arrma shocks. I think we don't give the stock Arrma shocks enough credit and just want to upgrade, because that's the natural thing to want to do in this hobby when we break parts. I've also come to realize that it's much cheaper to repair my stock ones, vs buying these; primarily because when the stock Arrma shocks break, you usually only have to replace either the shock shaft or the rod end; but if anything happens to these big bore aluminum shocks, there are no replaceable parts for it and you're out $40+ dollars.

I'm running the same shocks on my Granite and Typhon 3s. They have been working fine. I did notice that the front shocks were week but I just adjusted the tension on the springs and the work well. Great job covering shocks and the shock fluid you used. Perfect setup. 👍

Nice video mate! I broke a front shock on my granite today which was the first day using it, so I immediately started searching for upgrades rather than replacements. The information you provide is super helpful 👌

**** UPDATE **** I have test driven the car today and one of the shock shafts broke where it threads into the rod end. I have not had a problem with the ones on my Granite and that has been driven harder. I think what happened is that I tightened the screw and washer in the bottom rod end quite tight into the lower arm and it did not allow it to pivot freely. If you do up the screw on the bottom of the shock first you can check to see if it pivots ok before attaching the top. I have left off the washer which helps with this. Also you can loosen the screw a little. There is an update in the next video. The seller has sent me a new shaft so hoorah!

Great video Pete, I changed the shocks on my senton and 4s outcast. These alloy shocks are great, no more leaks and oil everywhere. Rebuilt the Arrma shocks and they still leaked . The 3s Arrmas are great fun and very tough. The 4s outcast broke a lot of arms until I used Gpm arms . The senton is just as fast as the 6s senton. Haven't broken anything on the 3s but the 6s had it pinion too tight from the factory and cooked the esc. Otherwise they're great. Thanks for the video mate.

Thank you very much for doing this video as I have been desperately searching for shocks to replace the original arrma shocks. I've been trying to find something that's a medium grade of shocks. Proline shocks are beautiful but way too expensive. I could literally by real car shocks for the same price as the rc proline shocks.

I bought and put on my Typhon, very good. I used the stock springs recommended.

Ordering me a set now. Thanx for the video 👌

I cut weed eater gas line and maid little rubber seals to put in the top of my shock Tower so my socks wouldn't slide back and forth and it worked wonderful

they look like nice shocks im thinking about getting a set for my v3 big rock great vid have a great day

Great review on a cool upgrade for the 3s line 👍

Good looking & economical. Set i got was Blue & had diaphrams , they are firmer in ride , compared to traxxas ultra shocks , which can be a blessing or a curse but , they have yet to leak like the plastic traxxas supplied junk.

I realize this is a 4 month old video, but there is a new truck in the 3s lineup called the Vorteks. It is a stadium type, with about 20 mm shorter shocks and the towers are also different. To make these shocks work properly, you need to either use a spacer under the piston or get the Typhon/senton/big rock/granite tower/ diff cover to allow proper function

Great stuff again Pete. Jamaica NY, not too far from me, LOL. Good tip about about taking them apart and lubing things up before adding oil, spot on mate!!!

Good review, I always wondered about the dampers that weren’t branded but looked pretty nice.

Looks like a good set of shocks.

Great video Pete! They look fantastic for the price 👍👊🙂

Hi Pete they look quite well built. Looking good on the Arrma. Should prove to be reliable and easy to maintain. Nice 👌 until next time keep well 😉

I've got quite a few different Chinese shock types, never had much trouble with them. The ones that are often titled "HSP" are pretty nice and they 1/16 scale ones work well for light stuff like Tamiya Grasshopper etc. Also had nice results with the "RCAWD" internal spring ones. The only truly bad ones I've had I got from blacksmith products in the UK, they had something like Vaseline inside and it still leaked out because the o rings weren't even a snug fit. Awful things. Got a refund for them.

Nice video mate thanks

Nice set of big-bores, matey! Strange how the standard mounts on your truck mean that there is different leverage on the shocks - you'd think there was a reason for that - is there more weight on the rear? Anyway, it looked to settle evenly when you dropped the truck, after your fettling with the shocks! Top job, Pete - thumbs up and all that jazz! :O)

nice shocks,smashed the red button

Yes sir those are great looking shocks Pete bud. Nice work figuring out which might work better as far as shock oil. I always seem to pick the wrong setup when that is changed . lol Having to drain and redo. lol But seemed to run pretty solid at the end there. Jumps are where it will really show. Thanks for sharing

nice work bro

I enjoyed a great video let's be friends. 우리 친구 해요! 😁😁😁😁😁

Hi mr...very good video... My rear shock shaft bent 😏 do you know maybe for some replacement parts that will fit or just need to buy original ??? I'm in Europe

Got some for my Stampede. Mine came with diaphragms on the top caps. They work great. Only complaint is the springs are too soft (even when turned down almost all the way down the body). The spring body is so large I don't know where to get springs that fit?

Great review and details. I see you have aluminum or metal brace or cover on front/rear upper gearbox, is this your own creation? Any video or link to this part? Thank you and keep up the great videos!

Are those debris guards that go around the front and sides of the chassis from the Granite or Big Rock? My Senton does have those high walled pieces, I’m trying to keep as much crud out as possible. Thanks!

Are the dr10 ones good fit rb10 please. Whats best oil use off rd on buggy

Oh, I also wanted to ask regarding these shocks as I have seen them on eBay and would love to have the gold ones. Do you think you could fit a rubber bladder in there from a Traxxas shock? Or maybe Proline or other 1/10 or 1/9 scale? I don't run shock oil nearly as thick as you do in the video and I'm afraid it will leak.

When u say you found those little grommets to have a snugged fit, where did you find them? Thanks

Did you custom make those shock Tower reinforcements?

Crappy part I couldn’t bleed them. So that was odd!

How much stiffer would you say these springs are over stock? Nice vids for these 3s blx rigs btw, useful.

So I tried another set of these just thought it was the first set on my TLR Truggy! So after the put a really lite oil 30/35 front rear I installed and usually after I drop my truck down on wheels it would drop but with these they kept my arms up like they barley wanted to go up or down unless I pressed down hard? Is there a trick to these things?

All of these cheap eBay and Amazon shocks have so much play between the shock shaft and body of the shock, I would say in most cases they are worse than stock.

What it mean when its very bouncey on truck

You lost me at $50