Traxxas Bandit

Funny enough, I'm looking forward to racing a Traxxas Bandit and here is an article by RC Driver about that very thing.

They went the full Pro-Line route, which is pretty awesome.

I plan on taking a different route with a lot of RPM products as well as STRC components.

I want to put the RPM Gearbox Housing onto my Bandit because it has an aluminum motor mount plate.  This helps dissipate heat, but also insures that the gear mesh doesn't change as the motor gets hot.

In addition to the gearbox, I plan on a full RPM treatment of front and rear A-arms, front and rear shock towers, a gear cover, and a front bumper.

The specific part from STRC I'm particularly stoked on is their Machined HD Layshaft.  It allows you to use a Team Associated slipper clutch assembly which is significantly lighter than the stock Traxxas unit. 

STRC has a nice set of parts listed to complete the set-up:
AE Parts Needed:
6629 Slipper Clutch Nut x1
9605 Slipper Clutch Spring x1
9604 Slipper Hubs x2 - the Factory Team V2 version is 7495
9603 Slipper pads x1 - these come as a pair

Spur gear choices from Team Associated:

9649 72T
9650 75T
9652 78T
9651 81T
9653 84T

There are also Kimbrough spur gears that fit perfectly.  They range from 69T to 90T.  I think Kimbrough makes the Team Associated spur gears, but I'm not 100% on that one.

As well, I'm hoping that the Avid Triad Clutch works since it fits the standard Team Associated top shaft and the STRC shaft is designed to fit the standard Team Associated clutch.  For $30 it comes with two spur gears, slipper pads, slipper hubs, and a spring.  The Triad Clutch and spur gears have even less rotating mass than the Team Associated clutch pieces.  Every little bit counts in Stock Buggy class.

To compliment the lighter slipper clutch, I'm going to install a Traxxas SRT ball differential TRA2520, a delrin idler gear TRA1996, and a delrin drive gear TRA3195X.

For shocks, instead of the Pro-Line Power Stroke units RC Driver installed, I am going to install a full set of Traxxas GTR Hard Anodized shocks.  TRA7461X for the fronts and TRA7462X for the rears. These Traxxas shocks use the stock springs that come installed on the RTR Bandit.

That is my full build for the Traxxas Bandit.  I'm going to stick with the stock electronics until I'm ready for an upgrade.  The steering servo is probably the first thing to go, but the TRA2075 servo from Traxxas is very reliable.

Until next time, keep it rubber side down!