Pillow Ball adjustment??

[old phart]

Hey guys, I just tried to adjust the front camber on my E-Maxx. I didn't quite pay close attention. Now, it has a large "cover" screw that you must remove, I figured out. Then, the pillow ball is loosened. OK, I ran into trouble trying to determine how tight the "cover" screws must be. At first, I got it too tight and the steering was binding. So, I checked the other side that I had not touched, and set the side I just adjusted the same as the untouched side. But that was 1/8 turn from bottomed out on the top pillow and almost 3/4 turn on the bottom pillow. When I set the adjusted side to that same sopec, the steering was still binding. I finally resorted to just "feeling" out the slop, and checking the steering and it seemed to be OK. But, I'm convinced there must be a better, more accurate way to set the tension or whatever on the cover screw.

Any suggestions for me? Thanks! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Distro]

Its pivot ball btw

err needed to add an L to ball heh whoops.

[This message has been edited by Distro (edited 03-09-2001).]

[Distro]

Also, how i set mine, i don't know if this is good or not, but i tighten them till there is no wiggle left in it. Keep in mind this is to the exact point where the wiggle goes away so it is loose but still tight.

[old phart]

Hey Distro, my bad! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/redface.gif

OK, so your method of tightening the pivot ball is basically what I just did. Maybe that is all there is to it. It's a matter of developing the "feel" for getting it right?

[Nairb]

Actually, I'm pretty sure they are called pillow balls.

[Distro]

Not really, considering i have only set mine 2 times on each one to get them right. As they havn't changed. Now adjusting the pivotballs themselves is the hard part, not the tensioner on them. =)

[old phart]

OK, I got the word today from a fellow E-Maxx owner.

You don't have to remove the outer allen screw covers. I wish Traxxas would have made that clear in their directions. Anyway, just compress the suspension slightly, and the pillow/pivot balls line up and can be accessed right through the larger allen screw holes.

[Distro]

Theya re called pivot balls on my impulse.

[J mAn]

Heres how i do it: First i unscrew the turbuckles from the knuckles. I tighten them the i back it off until it is loose but you can't jiggle it(hard to explain it's like realy tight gear mesh). Taking off the turn buckle helps alot.

[ammoace]

First things first, The Traxxas manual refers to them as Pivot Balls. I have also heard them referred to as Pillow Balls else where. So it may be that Traxxas says Pivot and another Manufacture says Pillow.
Here is how I have done it.
1) I turn the Pivot Ball caps in until they stop against the Ball.
2) Then I ever so slowly back them out until there is freedom of movement for the suspension and the steering with the least amount of "slop" between the Cap and Ball.
My method isn't "technical" but it is simple and seems to work real well.
AMMOACE