Thanks for the idea! I did this by counter sink drilling on the bottom of the shock body to glue the o ring in that counter sunk part instead of gluing it to inside of shock body. This way all suspension travel remains the same, none is lost.
I ended up using Loctite 401 and it was able to perfectly seal the silicone o-rings to the plastic shock in roughly one minute. The entire project took about 1 hour including having to make a fifth shock because one of my four was sticking badly after applying the interior o-ring. I highly suggest that anyone attempting this who is a beginner have a second set of shocks on hand. The suspension is so much better now! I wouldn't have had the courage to try this without your video, thank you!
Thanks for sharing. I wasn’t able to find any shocks that fit either. These are long and narrow and the lower mount is special like you mentioned. Might have to give this a try with hot glue and only one o ring on the outside of the shock body. I also ordered 1M Team Associated differential fluid so I’m going to try that without any sealing first. Hope to hear an update on how they’re working for you!
Kyosho made a TH-cam video recently showing the oil shock upgrades they plan on releasing eventually. They also have brass front wheel hubs and weighted tires.
So I started following when I saw you were the only person brave enough to tear one of these down and mod it and mess with it. I’ve learned a lot watching you and love all your mini z 4x4 content. I was wondering, do you have a specific part number for the O-rings you used for the shocks? I’d really love to do this mod to my 4Runner mini z. Thanks man. Keep up the great content!
I bought those orings many years ago at oringsandmore.com. Checked the site - still online. You will have to search for #002 orings. The red ones are #002 silicone 70 orings, the black ones #002 buna 70 orings. Cannot login to the shop anymore (?) - it is 9 or 10 years I bought from them ;-) Do not know it they still do have the same orings, but checked the site - SKU: 002S should be the red ones, and the black ones could be something as SKU: 2 002 is the diameter, and 70 and 90 is the "hardness", 70 is softer than 90. Those orings are crapcheap at oringsandmore. Recommend to buy several different sizes and types, 001, 002, 003, ... also to get free shipping. They are very handy to have - for example I also use orings (different sizes) as shims and dampers for shock mounts, for link mounts, put orings into steering cups ("dogbone steering") to eliminate play... and of course use them in micro-helis for swashplate damping.
BTW: I am still not "brave enough" to change electronics and put a good radio and a real lightcontroller into my 4x4 ;-) . If the Mini-Z would only have cost 100 bucks, I would already have done this - but in a 240 € model I hesitate... I hate the Mini-Z board which cannot be used to get signals for the lightcontroller... Kyosho makes it very hard for people who like to mod and tinker (shock mount style, new wheel mount style, servo integrated to battery case, ...).
donaldsneffe yeah I hear that. Thanks for the info man! Like I said I love watching your mini z 4x4 videos. And I agree about the not being able to hack them in the garage like a normal Rc. I’ve heard they are to be releasing modifications and such here in the near future for them, I know wheels and tires is one of them, hopefully shocks and electronics will be on that list too. Thank you again for the info. Keep up the great videos.
Very cool man. It's funny for racing you want a slower front/stiffer & faster rear.. yours is set up & ready to race lol. I have the grey 4 runner & will be trying this with locktite 401 (as mentioned in comments for US guys) & just on the outside of shocks. Thanks!
I just did 100k team associated diff grease with one red o ring inside only and seems to be holding great and a good 100k seems like thickness for rebound and compression. Might be able to go even thinner since the o ring seems to seal the fluid well.
Thanks. Yes, still working fine. But the Jimny gets flat tires, after standing for some weeks on hard surface! I made a stand... as for big crawlers. I will try to do the same mod for metal upgrade shocks for the RocHobby Katana, too... will make a video, soon.
I fill it needs the thinnest oil as a little bit of bounce is realistic and your shocks are easy to stiff! When one wheel goes up into your phone the suspension didn't have time to articulate and pushed the whole front up instead of flexing
Nice comparison :) I love the Kyosho but the price is already extremely high. Great video! How satisfied are you with the vehicle and would you buy it again ?
I for sure would buy it again, because it is a "Mini-Z", and I love them ;-) Super high price... I know. I love the body. I get along with AAA (NiMH), no downside for me. I hate the receiver board and the servo, which is integrated to the battery holder. It is extremely difficult to upgrade servo, impossible to install a good light controller (I use LaneBoysRC). I am a modder and tinkerer - and Mini-Z makes it extremely difficult for us to upgrade and mod the 4x4. I hate the new way of wheel mounts (no compatibility with any other system, even not with older Mini-Z), I do not like this way of mounting shocks, because it makes it also nearly impossible to use other shocks... But I love my Mini-Z 4x4, even if I paid 250 € for it ;)
@@donaldsneffe That sounds very interesting. I am curious about the standard performance of Jimny. With tuning it will probably not :D I have now ordered a Jimny. I am very curious and do an Unboxing. Thanks for your great answer :)
YEAH, AND kYOSHO CAME OUT WITH OIL FILLED SHOCKS FOR $75!!! i CONSIDER THAT A KICK IN THENUTS TO EVERYONE WHO ANTIED UP AND SWALLOWEDTHE ORIGINAL $200+ PRICE. I'LL MOD EM MYSELF.
Great mod! I can do a similar mod with all my friction shocks. Have you looked into the Carisma msa-e1 oil shocks? They are quite long and good quality but the eyelets may be a different size and like you said you have to get inventive with the bottom mount. So envious that you have the monster and the overland. I was going to suggest using oil shocks from those but you have already tried.
Thanks for the tip with the Carisma shocks, checked them EAN 4892793160872. Do look fantastic. But (from picture) I think, those to also have 2 mm shaft, and not 1.5 mm as the Mini-Z shocks? So again: How to mount them on the Mini-Z? Maybe I will order those Carisma shocks, look really good, beautiful. Good for other projects, maybe? But they are really pricy here in Europe, and cheaper ebay.com sellers want a fortune for shipping... unfortunately.
@@donaldsneffe Perhaps a hybrid? Keep the upper portion and the shaft Carisma and the lower U shape portion Mini Z. Since the shaft is 2mm, may be you can enlarge the hole in the Mini Z portion and screw the shaft into it. I have the carisma oil shock for their buggy GT24B and the shaft is a little less than 2mm, like 1.8 or 1.9. I can't say the ones for the crawler are the same diameter though.
@@Diamondbac Guess this will be difficult - because widening means "destroying" if it does not work. Finding ballends of the same diameter as the Mini-Z shock ballends do have but with M2 thread would be the easiest IMO. But I do not have any ballheads here with "threaded hole", only a ton of ballend-screws as used in heli swashplates, on servoarms etc. If I can find the shocks for a reasonable price somewhere I will buy them. But wont pay 30 bucks for shipping...
@@donaldsneffe I came across these while surfing the net. www.asiatees.com/display?HPI-Minizilla-Parts-Hop-Ups-Upgrades&brand=HPI&model=Minizilla&id=55410&pid=1 Would these work? The base of the shocks are a ball, just like the Kyosho's.
@@Diamondbac Sorry for the late response. TH-cam seems to give no notification if somebody replies to a message, only for "new comments". I do not know the HPI Minizilla, seems to be an old model? But description says shocks weight is 47 g, rather heavy... but description does not say anything about length. So difficult to say if they will work - seem a bit long? If you buy those and test, I would appreciate writing a (new ;-) ) comment to my video, if they fit and how they work. Here I found some pics of the stock shocks in chassis, they seem to be very long? www.rcscrapyard.net/de/hot-bodies-minizilla.htm
What's silly is kyosho not making them oil filled. Damn companies are cheap these days.. take axials crap shocks for example, even on their kits.. Thanks for sharing.
Great video 👍🏻, sir i warna ask about my new mini z wrangler, how to setting height of the shock? My wrangler left side is more high from the right side, i hape check the shock breaker, nothing wrong there, sory for my english.. i hope you understand what i mean.. thanks a lot 🙏🏻
@@donaldsneffe yes they are have a same lenght.. im so confused n sad.. right now i use a shock cliper adjuster from wltoys K989 on the right shock F/R to make the body shell equal
@@dodiiidris I cannot understand this - how can the body be akward, if the shocks are same length, same spring tension, and both work well? Sorry, no glue... Did you check the springs?
@@donaldsneffe same here, im so confused.. then i switch shock position, but no luck.. anyhow can we adjust the shock lenght or body sheel position? actually no problem with crawling, but look like broken car if it stop.. thnks for replying 🙏🏻
2 mm Innendurchmesser. Deutschland? Keine Ahnung, irgendwo sicher zu Apothekerpreisen. FPV Shops haben inzwischen viele Oringe (als Dämpfer). Conrad 2226682 - ES - ähnliches Set bei Aliexpress unter 3 € incl. Versand Ich hab meine aus den USA, vor ca. 10 Jahren gekauft, inzwischen haben aber Aliexpress und Ebay eine unglaubliche Auswahl... da kriegt man um 5 € dann gleich "für ein Leben"... weiße (sehr weich), rote (weich) und schwarze (härter). So ein Oring-Vorrat in verschiedenen Größen (verschiedene Innendurchmesser ab 1 mm) zahlt sich echt aus daheim, auch für "die Zukunft", braucht man oft, für Helis, Quads, und Stoßdämpfer (seitlich an den Schrauben).
Great video man my kind of stuff! Got to get myself one of those now as ive been thinking of this from there release 😅, What made you go with the jimny and not the 4runner? Ps. Here in england i call the tape P.T.F.E tape short for polytetrafluoroethylene film but yes plumbers tape also 😂
Thanks for the idea! I did this by counter sink drilling on the bottom of the shock body to glue the o ring in that counter sunk part instead of gluing it to inside of shock body. This way all suspension travel remains the same, none is lost.
I ended up using Loctite 401 and it was able to perfectly seal the silicone o-rings to the plastic shock in roughly one minute. The entire project took about 1 hour including having to make a fifth shock because one of my four was sticking badly after applying the interior o-ring. I highly suggest that anyone attempting this who is a beginner have a second set of shocks on hand.
The suspension is so much better now! I wouldn't have had the courage to try this without your video, thank you!
Thanks for letting us US guys know what will work, couldn't find any of the toolcraft stuff online.
That tape is called PTFE tape here in the UK. Great job at modify the stock shocks. I'm going to give this a go.
Thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks for sharing. I wasn’t able to find any shocks that fit either. These are long and narrow and the lower mount is special like you mentioned. Might have to give this a try with hot glue and only one o ring on the outside of the shock body. I also ordered 1M Team Associated differential fluid so I’m going to try that without any sealing first. Hope to hear an update on how they’re working for you!
Kyosho made a TH-cam video recently showing the oil shock upgrades they plan on releasing eventually. They also have brass front wheel hubs and weighted tires.
Thanks for the info. Probably for "Kyosho prices" ;-) - we will see.
@@donaldsneffe Not only Kyosho prices but also Kyosho stock. So they won't be available for the most part and when they are BAM! Kyosho prices!
Wow，i have successfully modfied my mini z rubicon following this videos,Big big big thanks!Very very very helpful!
So I started following when I saw you were the only person brave enough to tear one of these down and mod it and mess with it. I’ve learned a lot watching you and love all your mini z 4x4 content. I was wondering, do you have a specific part number for the O-rings you used for the shocks? I’d really love to do this mod to my 4Runner mini z. Thanks man. Keep up the great content!
I bought those orings many years ago at oringsandmore.com. Checked the site - still online.
You will have to search for #002 orings. The red ones are #002 silicone 70 orings, the black ones #002 buna 70 orings.
Cannot login to the shop anymore (?) - it is 9 or 10 years I bought from them ;-)
Do not know it they still do have the same orings, but checked the site - SKU:
002S should be the red ones, and the black ones could be something as SKU:
2
002 is the diameter, and 70 and 90 is the "hardness", 70 is softer than 90.
Those orings are crapcheap at oringsandmore. Recommend to buy several different sizes and types, 001, 002, 003, ... also to get free shipping. They are very handy to have - for example I also use orings (different sizes) as shims and dampers for shock mounts, for link mounts, put orings into steering cups ("dogbone steering") to eliminate play... and of course use them in micro-helis for swashplate damping.
BTW: I am still not "brave enough" to change electronics and put a good radio and a real lightcontroller into my 4x4 ;-) . If the Mini-Z would only have cost 100 bucks, I would already have done this - but in a 240 € model I hesitate...
I hate the Mini-Z board which cannot be used to get signals for the lightcontroller... Kyosho makes it very hard for people who like to mod and tinker (shock mount style, new wheel mount style, servo integrated to battery case, ...).
donaldsneffe yeah I hear that. Thanks for the info man! Like I said I love watching your mini z 4x4 videos. And I agree about the not being able to hack them in the garage like a normal Rc. I’ve heard they are to be releasing modifications and such here in the near future for them, I know wheels and tires is one of them, hopefully shocks and electronics will be on that list too. Thank you again for the info. Keep up the great videos.
donaldsneffe what is the cross section measurement in MM of those O-Rings? And you said ID of them was 1.5mm right?
Very cool man. It's funny for racing you want a slower front/stiffer & faster rear.. yours is set up & ready to race lol. I have the grey 4 runner & will be trying this with locktite 401 (as mentioned in comments for US guys) & just on the outside of shocks. Thanks!
Thank you for the tip, i had the idea but no reference on TH-cam, excellent, i will order O rings #2 and do this on the HR shocks for scx24 Jeep👍
I just did 100k team associated diff grease with one red o ring inside only and seems to be holding great and a good 100k seems like thickness for rebound and compression. Might be able to go even thinner since the o ring seems to seal the fluid well.
Cool!
How are the shocks doing? I’m about to get my mini-z in the mail and plan to do the mod if it’s still working for you. Thanks and great videos!
Thanks.
Yes, still working fine.
But the Jimny gets flat tires, after standing for some weeks on hard surface!
I made a stand... as for big crawlers.
I will try to do the same mod for metal upgrade shocks for the RocHobby Katana, too... will make a video, soon.
Wanna see that shocks live working!!😎😎 Follow you since now 👍🏼
I fill it needs the thinnest oil as a little bit of bounce is realistic and your shocks are easy to stiff! When one wheel goes up into your phone the suspension didn't have time to articulate and pushed the whole front up instead of flexing
Nice comparison :) I love the Kyosho but the price is already extremely high. Great video! How satisfied are you with the vehicle and would you buy it again ?
I for sure would buy it again, because it is a "Mini-Z", and I love them ;-)
Super high price... I know.
I love the body.
I get along with AAA (NiMH), no downside for me.
I hate the receiver board and the servo, which is integrated to the battery holder. It is extremely difficult to upgrade servo, impossible to install a good light controller (I use LaneBoysRC). I am a modder and tinkerer - and Mini-Z makes it extremely difficult for us to upgrade and mod the 4x4.
I hate the new way of wheel mounts (no compatibility with any other system, even not with older Mini-Z), I do not like this way of mounting shocks, because it makes it also nearly impossible to use other shocks...
But I love my Mini-Z 4x4, even if I paid 250 € for it ;)
@@donaldsneffe That sounds very interesting. I am curious about the standard performance of Jimny. With tuning it will probably not :D I have now ordered a Jimny. I am very curious and do an Unboxing. Thanks for your great answer :)
YEAH, AND kYOSHO CAME OUT WITH OIL FILLED SHOCKS FOR $75!!! i CONSIDER THAT A KICK IN THENUTS TO EVERYONE WHO ANTIED UP AND SWALLOWEDTHE ORIGINAL $200+ PRICE. I'LL MOD EM MYSELF.
Hi there, I have tried your oil mods but I could not find the correct size O ring for it. The o ring #002 is it 1.07 x 1.27 in metric size?
Great mod! I can do a similar mod with all my friction shocks. Have you looked into the Carisma msa-e1 oil shocks? They are quite long and good quality but the eyelets may be a different size and like you said you have to get inventive with the bottom mount. So envious that you have the monster and the overland. I was going to suggest using oil shocks from those but you have already tried.
Thanks for the tip with the Carisma shocks, checked them EAN 4892793160872. Do look fantastic.
But (from picture) I think, those to also have 2 mm shaft, and not 1.5 mm as the Mini-Z shocks?
So again: How to mount them on the Mini-Z?
Maybe I will order those Carisma shocks, look really good, beautiful. Good for other projects, maybe?
But they are really pricy here in Europe, and cheaper ebay.com sellers want a fortune for shipping... unfortunately.
@@donaldsneffe Perhaps a hybrid? Keep the upper portion and the shaft Carisma and the lower U shape portion Mini Z. Since the shaft is 2mm, may be you can enlarge the hole in the Mini Z portion and screw the shaft into it.
I have the carisma oil shock for their buggy GT24B and the shaft is a little less than 2mm, like 1.8 or 1.9. I can't say the ones for the crawler are the same diameter though.
@@Diamondbac Guess this will be difficult - because widening means "destroying" if it does not work.
Finding ballends of the same diameter as the Mini-Z shock ballends do have but with M2 thread would be the easiest IMO. But I do not have any ballheads here with "threaded hole", only a ton of ballend-screws as used in heli swashplates, on servoarms etc.
If I can find the shocks for a reasonable price somewhere I will buy them. But wont pay 30 bucks for shipping...
@@donaldsneffe I came across these while surfing the net. www.asiatees.com/display?HPI-Minizilla-Parts-Hop-Ups-Upgrades&brand=HPI&model=Minizilla&id=55410&pid=1 Would these work? The base of the shocks are a ball, just like the Kyosho's.
@@Diamondbac Sorry for the late response. TH-cam seems to give no notification if somebody replies to a message, only for "new comments".
I do not know the HPI Minizilla, seems to be an old model?
But description says shocks weight is 47 g, rather heavy... but description does not say anything about length.
So difficult to say if they will work - seem a bit long?
If you buy those and test, I would appreciate writing a (new ;-) ) comment to my video, if they fit and how they work.
Here I found some pics of the stock shocks in chassis, they seem to be very long?
www.rcscrapyard.net/de/hot-bodies-minizilla.htm
Inner diameter about 1.5 mm, outer diameter about 3.5 mm
What's silly is kyosho not making them oil filled. Damn companies are cheap these days.. take axials crap shocks for example, even on their kits.. Thanks for sharing.
Great video 👍🏻, sir i warna ask about my new mini z wrangler, how to setting height of the shock? My wrangler left side is more high from the right side, i hape check the shock breaker, nothing wrong there, sory for my english.. i hope you understand what i mean.. thanks a lot 🙏🏻
Thank you!
Do the shocks have the same lenght if you take them out?
@@donaldsneffe yes they are have a same lenght.. im so confused n sad.. right now i use a shock cliper adjuster from wltoys K989 on the right shock F/R to make the body shell equal
@@dodiiidris I cannot understand this - how can the body be akward, if the shocks are same length, same spring tension, and both work well? Sorry, no glue...
Did you check the springs?
@@donaldsneffe same here, im so confused.. then i switch shock position, but no luck.. anyhow can we adjust the shock lenght or body sheel position? actually no problem with crawling, but look like broken car if it stop..
thnks for replying 🙏🏻
@@dodiiidris Are you talking about stock shocks or about the shocks after making the "oil mod"?
Looks interesting but quite complicated 😅 Might wait and see if Kyosho or other company comes out with oil shocks...
Hi, super Video! Welche ist genaue Abmessung der O Ringe? Kann man diese in Deutschland kaufen?
2 mm Innendurchmesser.
Deutschland? Keine Ahnung, irgendwo sicher zu Apothekerpreisen. FPV Shops haben inzwischen viele Oringe (als Dämpfer). Conrad 2226682 - ES - ähnliches Set bei Aliexpress unter 3 € incl. Versand
Ich hab meine aus den USA, vor ca. 10 Jahren gekauft, inzwischen haben aber Aliexpress und Ebay eine unglaubliche Auswahl... da kriegt man um 5 € dann gleich "für ein Leben"... weiße (sehr weich), rote (weich) und schwarze (härter).
So ein Oring-Vorrat in verschiedenen Größen (verschiedene Innendurchmesser ab 1 mm) zahlt sich echt aus daheim, auch für "die Zukunft", braucht man oft, für Helis, Quads, und Stoßdämpfer (seitlich an den Schrauben).
Great video man my kind of stuff! Got to get myself one of those now as ive been thinking of this from there release 😅,
What made you go with the jimny and not the 4runner?
Ps. Here in england i call the tape P.T.F.E tape short for polytetrafluoroethylene film but yes plumbers tape also 😂
Like the Suzuki more... more scale.
@@donaldsneffe How is it more scale?
@@ZTK-RC Tires... they are much too large in the Toyota for real scale.
Have you changed out the servo? If so what did you choose? Thanks
No. Servo is part of the battery compartment, very difficult to change. I run stock servo.
👏👏👏👏
Genius bro
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Magnifico buen tutorial