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Thursday, November 7, 2024

Team C TM4 Build – Front Suspension

Team C TM4 Build – Front Suspension

The Build – Part 7
The Team C TM4’s front suspension is pretty standard, however it uses inserts in the arm mounts to adjust kickup and roll centers. It also features adjustable droop, however these screws are impossible to get to once the suspension is installed. Keep this in mind during the build.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 54
Shown here are the left and right steering blocks. Pay close attention to these during the build; they are not interchangeable and, even though the manual shows markings denoting the left and right, mine didn’t. So yes, it is possible to assemble them on the wrong side. The one on the left is the left side; the one on the right the right side.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 55
The TM4 comes with pre-assembled front and rear CVDs as well. The top one (62mm) is the rear bone, the bottom one (74mm) is the front bone.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 56
The caster blocks are also different. They are, fortunately, marked with a 10L and 10R, indicating a 10° Left block and a 10° Right block.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 57
Assemble the steering blocks by pressing a 5×10 and 5×13 bearing into each.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 58
Attach the 10L caster block to the left steering block and the 10R caster block to the right steering block.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 59
Slide a 74mm front CVD through the assembly and capture with the wheel pin.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 60
Slide the wheel hex over the pin and pinch it closed by tightening the M2x5 screw.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 61
Your front steering blocks should look like this.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 62
Check out the front suspension arms. The arm on the left is facing the right way (if the front of the car was facing up). The one on the right is incorrect. Using the one on the left as the guide, install a 3×10 setscrew into the droop hole. Yes, the manual states a 3x8mm, however the 3×10’s are used when building the anti-roll bar links and were a bit too long. The 3×10’s work better here for droop adjustment. Screw them in so an equal amount of thread is sticking out both sides of the arm. This is a good initial setting.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 63
This is the outer hinge pin. Notice the groove in it. This is where a setscrew will seat to capture the hinge pin. Keep this in mind in the next step.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 64
Slide the hinge pin through the suspension arm and steering assembly. Note the direction of the hinge pin in the manual.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 65
The arrow shows where the M3x3 setscrew will enter to secure the hinge pin. Do not overtigthen!

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 67
As I mentioned before, the TM4 uses arm mount inserts for adjustment. The manual build has us using 0° inserts for both the FF and FR arm mounts. Grab 4 of these inserts.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 68
Press 2 of the 0° inserts into the FR arm mount.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 69
Slide the long, inner hinge pin through the arm and into the FR insert.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 70
Press 2 more 0° inserts into the FF arm mount and key them to the front of the hinge pins. Secure with the pair of the M3x12 screws.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 71
Attach the front bumper.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 72
The TM4 comes with 6 of the same length turnbuckles. Yay.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 73
Build 6 turnbuckles; 2 steering, 2 front camber and 2 rear camber. Make sure you keep them separated.

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 74
Install a short ballstud into the steering arm and a long ballstud into the steering rack, caster block and front shock tower (using the middle hole in the tower).

Team C TM4 Buggy Build Step 75
Key the front CVDs to the diff outdrives and pop the steering and front caster turnbuckles into place.

Front suspension complete. Make sure the front arm flop up and down easily without any binding.

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