The Build – Part 4 The rear suspension of the Factory Team T4.2 is extremely adjustable, allowing changes from camber, anti-squat, toe and roll centers. I will be building the kit with the stock setup, however some of the steps will be different for ease of the build.
Build Notes: You will be using black grease to build the CVA’s so it is suggested that you have some paper towels handy for clean up.
Pay attention to the rear hub build. While not easy to easy to build backwards, you’ll want to make sure you do assemble them on the right side of the car.
Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 54 To begin the rear suspension, start by screwing in the 2-56 screws into the rear chassis plate as shown.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 55 Next, slide the long hinge pins through the arms and then into the rear mounts in the chassis plate. The screws you attached in step 54 will help keep the hinge pins from sliding through the chassis plate.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 56 Install the rear arm mount onto the hinge pins. Have the anti-squat shim ready for the next step.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 57 The arm/arm mount assembly should stay together pretty well, so slide the anti-squat plate into position and attach with the 5-40×1/2 screws. A Team trick is to cut a notch in the anti-squat shim where the holes are so that, after you insert the screws into the rear arm mount, you can slide the anti-squat shim into position (and remove it). This makes it easy to change anti-squat plates without having to remove the screws.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 58 Attach the rear chassis plate assembly to the chassis.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 59 Slide a blue FT washer on and carefully install the silver ballstuds into the rear chassis brace. These hole locations have a tendency to strip under heavy use so do not overtighten…just snug down.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 60 Attach your rear chassis brace assembly to the chassis. The instructions show to install the rear ballast weight but don’t do that yet. You’ll just piss yourself off since there is nothing there (yet) to keep it in place.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 61 Assemble the rear shock tower as shown. Pay attention to the orientation of the tower to the shock screws.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 62 Attach the rear tower assembly to the rear chassis plate. Note there are 2 different lengths of screws uses here; 5-40×9/16 and 5-40×7/16. Use the longer, 9/16 screws in the front-most holes.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 63 NOW you can set the ballast weight in place and slide the transmission into position.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 64 Rotate the wing mounts/body mounts up and out of the way and attach the transmission screws first. Having the wing mounts/body mounts out of the way gives us better access to these screws.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 65 Rotate the wing mounts/body mounts into position and attach to the shock tower.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 66 Flex the lower part of the rear bumper/motor guard to slide UNDER the chassis (as shown) and attach. Do not overtighten these screws.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 67 Build a left and right rear hub. The right rear is shown here. A dab of thread locking material would be a good idea as well.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 68 Attach the upper ball link to both hubs. Note the orientation of the ballstud to the hub.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 69 Moving on to the CVAs. Goop a good bit of black grease onto the CVA and insert the CVA barrel.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 70 Goop some more black grease and slide the CVA into the axle as shown. Align the pin holes and slide the cross pin into place.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 71 Snap the CVA pin retainer into place. The instructions state to put a drop of CA on the pin retainer’s ‘opening’, but I’m not sure that necessary. I’ll leave that step up to you. All I can say is that it obviously can’t hurt.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 72 Take both CVA assemblies and install them into both rear hubs. Start by placing the 3/16 axle shim onto the CVA axle followed by the 3/16×3/8 bearing. Slide that into the rear hub, making sure to seat the bearing ‘square’ with the hub. Slide the crush tube onto the axle followed by the larger .187x.196 bearing, pressing the bearing all the way into place.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 73 Insert the 2-56 screw into the 12mm clamping wheel hex.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 74 Press the 1/16 roll pin into the axle. Slide the wheel hex assembly onto the axle, aligning the roll pin and the groove in the hex. Once pressed into place, tighten the 2-56 screw in the hex to keep it in place.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 75 Take your assembled hubs and attach them to the rear suspension arms. Insert the hinge pin into the arm, through the blue washer, the hub and then the silver washer. Make sure the hinge pin fits flush with the outside of the arm. Also note the orientation of the rear hub.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 76 Insert the 2-56 screw in place to secure the hinge pin.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 77 Build a pair of rear turnbuckles. The lengths are good per the instructions.Team Associated Factory Team T4.2 Build – Step 78 Slide the CVA into the rear diff outdrive and pop the ballcups onto into place. Be sure to ‘align’ the notches on the turnbuckles so that they coincide with the front turnbuckles.
