TUNING & SETUP TIPS
These tips prepare your car for maximum performance
DIFFERENTIAL ADJUSTMENT
1.
Tighten the diff screw down until the T-nut reaches
the bottom of the diff hub slot and you feel the spring
fully compressed.
Do not overtighten.
When you feel
the spring fully compressed, loosen the diff bolt 1/8
to 1/4 of a turn. No more, no less.
2.
Go ahead and run the car for approximately one
minute. Then recheck the diff adjustment by again
following step 1 above. Your diffs should be ready to
go now.
20
DIFFERENTIAL MAINTENANCE
You should rebuild the differentials when the action
gets somewhat “gritty” feeling. Usually cleaning the
diff parts and applying new lube per the instructions
will bring it back to new condition again. The stan-
dard 3/32” carbide balls rarely need replacing. Nor-
mally, as the parts seat, the diff will get smoother.
If the diff still feels gritty after carefully cleaning
and re-lubing the diff parts, the thrust balls, thrust
washers, and drive rings should be checked and pos-
sibly replaced.
The parts will normally wear out in the following
order:
1.
#6575 5/64” diff thrust balls (qty 6).
2.
#6573 diff thrust washers (2).
3.
#6579 diff drive rings (2).
Refer to the differential section to correctly as-
semble the diff.
Your car is one of the most tunable on road cars on
the market. This section will try to explain the parts
and adjustments you can use to tune your car for
different track conditions.
CASTER
describes the angle of the kingpin from
vertical when looked at from the side of the car. Posi-
tive caster means the kingpin leans rearward at the
top. Negative caster should never be used.
Associated makes block carriers for the TC3 with
0° (kit standard), 2°, and 4° of caster. Increasing caster
in the TC3 (with 2° or 4° block carriers) will give your
car more steering entering corners but less steering
exiting corners. It will also be more stable in bumpy
conditions.
Note:
When figuring total caster in your car, add
the amount in the block carrier to the amount of kickup.
Example: 2° of kickup (kit standard) and 0° block
carrier equals total of 2° of caster.
Positive caster means the
kingpin leans rearward at
the top.
0° block carrier, #3868
2° block carrier, #3870
4° block carrier, #3872
FRONT
FRONT TOE-IN AND TOE-OUT
is
adjusted by turning the steering turnbuckles. Toe-in
will make your car easier to drive by improving stabil-
ity during acceleration. Toe-out will increase steering
when entering corners but will be slightly more diffi-
cult to drive. We suggest using 0° to 1° toe-out on the
TC3.
Toe-in:
Easier to drive.
Improves stability during acceleration.
Toe-out:
Harder to drive.
Increases steering entering corners.
KICKUP AND ANTI-DIVE
refers to the angle at which the front
suspension is mounted in relation to horizontal when looked from the side
of the car. Kickup and anti-dive are adjusted by changing the suspension
arm mounts, which have molded codes to help you tell them apart. The
three front arm mount combinations are as follows:
The kit setting of
2° kickup
will work best in most con-
ditions, especially in bumpy
conditions.
0° kickup
will have a more
aggressive steering feeling
but will not absorb bumps
as well as 2°.
2° anti-dive
will have a very
aggressive steering feeling
and will improve front brak-
ing traction entering cor-
ners. However, this setting
will not work well in bumpy
conditions.
F
F+2
F
F-0
F-2
F-0
RECOMMENDED ARM MOUNT/BLOCK CARRIER COMBINATIONS
FOR THIS SETUP:
USE THESE PARTS:
Arm Mounts
Block Carrier
2° kickup, 2° caster
F
F+2
0°
2° kickup, 4° caster
F
F+2
2°
0° kickup, 0° caster
F
F-0
0°
0° kickup, 2° caster
F
F-0
2°
0° kickup, 4° caster
F
F-0
4°
2° anti-dive, 0° caster
F-2
F-0
2°
2° anti-dive, 2° caster
F-2
F-0
4°
EFFECTS OF ARM MOUNT/BLOCK CARRIER
COMBINATIONS
ARM MOUNT INFORMATION
code
effect
part #
F
#3863 (std)
F+2
+2° kickup
#3863 (std)
F-0
0° kickup
#3864 (optional)
F-2
2° of anti-dive
#3864 (optional)
BLOCK CARRIER INFORMATION
effect
part #
0° caster
#3868 (std)
2° caster
#3870 (optional)
4° caster
#3872 (optional)
BLOCK CARRIER/ARM MOUNTS PARTS
C
A
B
A
B
C
A
B
C
1
2
FRONT
3
FRONT
B
A
B
A
B
A
