I think they're just punched out of a sheet of silicone.

I don't claim 100% accuracy, but it's sure better than squeezing springs between my fingers and going, "that stiffer... I think." If every mfr. would just tell us the rates in lbs/in we'd all have a lot less work to do.

@@CrawlerCanyon I know right! That's how I have checked mine till now! 🤣

YOu won't see it here, as I have absolutely no intention of buying one-- I already have more than one. The Zuul is an Ecto with a different body, wheels, and tires. That's it. That is the sum total of changes. I like the body and will be picking one up as soon as they're available a la carte, and I am intrigued by a Class 1 Grabber (the tread is totally different than the 4.65" Grabber) but I don't need any of the rest of it. Don't buy a Zuul. If you really want one, buy a Builder's Kit 2 and a Zuul body. Nicer parts, better shocks, no RTR garbage to throw away-- there is no money to be saved with an RTR-- everything electronic in the Element RTRs needs to be thrown away. The decision to go to Class 1 tires on a fenderless vehicle is still kinda wild to me. I imagine I'll be able to get a set in trade in the not too-distant future.

@@CrawlerCanyon You’re an RC wizard my friend. I never thought much of any of that. Thank you.

I wouldn't have an issue with these for 10 bucks a pair. Probably the best shock you can buy for $20 a set.

Agreed on both counts.

You can also do the Dratech mod: drill the caps out and put rod ends on them. I use a variety of springs, from Mini-T, Enduro SE, and Dravtech. As long as the rate is what I need I don't care who makes them.

As I mentioned in another comment, I don't know if you can get better for $20. But what people are either missing through not watching or not listening is at the Amazon price I thought they were ($25 a pair) and the price they actually are ($21 a pair) these are not competitive. I'm pretty sure I said in the video that if these were sub-$30 a pair they'd be recommended, and that I had never looked them up on AliExpress. So I dunno why most of the comments are yelling AE prices at me.

@@CrawlerCanyon I totally agree. If they would have been more expensive than what I've paid for them I would have probably looked at something else. The price difference between Amazon and AE I think is for the convenience of having them in 3 days over waiting for a month or more if you pay the lesser price.

@@Andrew_Red I was just talking to someone else about this with regards to Amazon vs. AliExpress. You can find some items at both places, and Amazon will usually be 20-25% more-- but the fastest I've EVER gotten anything from AliExpress is 8 days (which was some kind of miracle) where the average for me on the West Coast is about 3 weeks. When I ordered my first Rhino ESC off of AE it was 4 weeks to the day for delivery. I can order a Rhino right now off of Amazon and have it tomorrow morning. So $70 a wait a month, or $90 and have it right now. This is "cost for convenience."

I've mentioned it several times in other comments-- it's like your experience with the Rhino. Typically 3-5 weeks @ $75. I can get it off of Amazon for $95 (oh boy, sales tax!) and have it tomorrow. I just look at Amazon pricing as having expedited shipping built-in. I also have some degree of coverage because I can return it hassle-free should a problem arise. When it comes to shocks like these, they're certainly an option for folks. BUt I look at the Amazon price and go... nope. Then I look at 3-5 weeks from AliExpress and go... I can have Big Bores tomorrow.

@@CrawlerCanyon Yep I'm with you on that, though I may have communicated in a less than clear way

Absolutely no need to replace GTS shocks. Pretty much every other aftermarket shock is just trying to be as good as a GTS.

Oh, he's got a fair number of zip ties holding things together. Been using the trusty "drift stitches" to keep bodies together since way back.

they are okey 😑

I've no need of a re-bodied Ecto on Class 1s. Now I am intrigued by the body-- and should Element do the same that they did with the Ecto and offer a clear body "kit" for around the same money as the Ecto, I'd absolutely buy one. I'd also love to test Class 1 Grabbers (it's different tread!) but I'm not rushing out to buy any. The only thing Element is missing is a Keymaster. JConcepts scooped them with the Gozer.

@@CrawlerCanyon Element said in replies to their facebook post the clear body set should be available in a couple weeks. They even replied to someone asking why the Zuul doesn't have the Stealth XF. Simplified, it was basically battery placement and I can only assume their research shows most average users run a full size lipo instead of a mini one like most of us here

Yes, but "caster flipped." You lean the c-hubs back so that the BTA steering link goes above the knuckle arm instead of below it. This gives massive caster gain and a super tight turning circle, in exchange for a bit of front bite. I'll personally take more steer angle every time, so all of my Element axles are "flipped."

We're still trying to find a decent set of knockoff shocks, but it hasn't happened yet. KYX makes some Dravtech knockoffs that cost the same amount as just buying 2660s, so kind of a no-go there AFAIC. Shocks are an item that needs to be manufactured with a certain level of precision (aka tolerance) and I guess most of the places pumping out clones and knock-offs just aren't up to the task. Whether they're just outright leaky, or use wholly non-standard shaft sizes, piston sizes, spring sizes-- it's pretty much all bad. I'm trying to think of a shock that comes pre-filled with oil that

@@CrawlerCanyon If I should just rebuild my stock ones instead (never done it before), where do I find a decent kit for it? I'm living in Europe and we can't order everything that's on Amazon in the US, but most of the small things on AliExpress is available also here.

Those are even MORE expensive, and will unequivocally never see a Junkview here. EVER. They are literally 1¢ per pair cheaper than Dravtechs, which is MADNESS. The KYX clones should be $38 a set, and then we'll take a look. But if you price yourself above Big Bores, you've got a truly steep hill to climb.

@@CrawlerCanyon BS...they are 22€ on ali with shipping...and they are as good as dlux hands down.😎

@@themountain59 so send some over for testing. Otherwise, you’re just making noise.

@@CrawlerCanyon from Spain ??😆 I dont think so.

That is definitely an AliExpress risk. I mean even these came in two distinctly different colors. I was expecting more along the lines of your experience, but was at least modestly surprised. At 12 bucks a pair I think they could be salvaged.

Oh yeah, I made them work with some different springs

Traxxas Big Bores. Well, I guess Traxxas overall. Between Big Bores and GTS, it's got to be half the fleet.

@@CrawlerCanyon I agree Canyon those Traxxas shocks are really good never leaking Traxxas parts seem to be really good in general that must be why dravtech uses Traxxas guts

I get the same with free shipping. Definitely worth it at that price.

At $21 a pair they're still not competitive. Yes, they don't leak, and the machining is good enough. But you have ALL the caveats: the springs are oddball, good luck replacing ANY of the seals/pistons/spacers. The addition of the 3.5mm shaft is a borderline dealbreaker on it's own. Unless you happen to luck into needing 1.7lb/in springs at both ends, you're going to have to replace springs, and options that aren't going to get hung up on the threads for the height collars are going to be few. That's still $42 a set plus tax, WAY too close to Big Bores, which have nitrided shafts, teflon coated bodies, ubiquitous seals, fit Mini-T or full sized springs, are bladder equipped...and on and on. About $3 more per shock for Big Bores, which comfortably puts the KYX right out of competition as far as I'm concerned. The KYX are functional, and don't leak. For that they at least pass-- but the limitations combined with the price-point make for what I would call a "non starter."

@@CrawlerCanyonI can agree with that. I am just trying to clarify prices and numbers stated. I have lower standards than some and was happy with the set I had and wanted to share with the class. Yes they have short comings, but I would also be honest with the numbers