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TCS Race Ready TB03 By: Andrew Kuntze
TCS Race Ready TB03 By: Andrew Kuntze
In 2008, Tamiya introduced the next generation shaft driven chassis, dubbed the TB03. Like the TB02 which it replaces, the TB03 is built around a shaft that transfers power from the motor to all four wheels; however, that is where the similarities between the TB02 and TB03 end. The TB03 utilizes the most efficient technology from the TA05-IFS, TRF 416 Worlds Edition and the TB Evolution 5 and combines the best attributes of each into one affordable package.
At first glance, the most noticeable feature of the TB03 is the inboard front suspension (IFS) system. This is the same style suspension that is found on the TA05-IFS chassis.
The IFS system provides a lower center of gravity than the traditional style stand up dampers, which allows for better handling characteristics. In addition, this design allows the dampers to sit lower than the top of the tires, allowing for a more realistic, low nosed body to be used. The TB03 also shares the same style reversible suspension arms, steering knuckles and hub carriers as the TRF 416 Worlds Edition, providing for excellent handling right out of the box.
The drivetrain of the TB03 chassis has been taken straight from the race proven TB Evolution 5 chassis to ensure optimum efficiency. Power is delivered through a new 3 piece propeller shaft that is more efficient and has less power loss than the proceeding TB02 chassis. Thanks in part to this new shaft design; torque steer has been virtually eliminated from the chassis, even with more powerful motors.
Hopups
In the Tamiya Championship Series (TCS), the GT2 class highlights chassis that use the IFS suspension system like the TB03. While the TB03 is adept right out of the box, there are a variety of hop up parts available that will further enhance the abilities of the chassis. Each of the hop-ups Tamiya offers help to improve the abilities of the chassis; however, there are a few parts that are considered more important than others:
The standard dampers on the TB03 are more than adequate for bashing with friends, or even impromptu racing; however, by changing the dampers to the TRF dampers, you can fine-tune your suspension for different track surfaces. The TRF dampers are more precise and handle smoother than the stock plastic dampers. By pairing these dampers with a set of springs (a set comes with soft, medium, hard, and super hard springs) and stabilizers, you will be able to add another level of adjustment to the chassis.
To ensure a free spinning drivetrain, change out the stock driveline components to these hop-up parts to reduce power loss. The aluminum propeller shaft hop-up is much lighter than the stock steel shaft it replaces. The lighter the rotating components are, the less stress is put on the motor. Pairing this with the aluminum propeller joint will give you an efficient and stronger drivetrain for the 17.5 motors used in TCS. The aluminum spur gear mount will help keep the spur gear stable in the gearbox, prevent excess wear on the gear, and transfer the power better to the rest of the chassis.
Universal shafts are a great way to reduce the power loss of the wheels. When cornering, the universals allow the power to be put down smoother and transferring more power from the motor to the wheels. The lightweight swing shafts also assist in a more rapid acceleration than when using the stock pieces.
While the stock plastic piece is sufficient for those who never change their pinion gear and gear mesh, anyone who races will find the aluminum replacement part essential. Since it is made of aluminum, the adapter will keep the motor tight, and will not loosed up over time like the plastic piece.
The TB03 has a variety of options for the front gearbox that suit many types of tracks, surfaces and driving styles. For outdoor payment tracks with tight corners, the direct coupling (also known as a spool) will be the most beneficial in providing maximum braking for the chassis, and quick acceleration out of the corners. A Front One Way Unit is better for tracks with fast, flowing corners, or carpet tracks. This allows for higher cornering speed, but at the expense of braking. Since carpet tracks generally have more traction than asphalt, the carpet will help slow the car down allowing a one way unit to be used. In the rear, the aluminum diff joints are more precise than the stock plastic pieces they replace. They resist warping, premature wear, and reduce friction loss much better than the stock pieces.
While the TB03 chassis comes standard with the short suspension arms and gives the chassis the ability to transition very quickly, the hop-up carbon reinforced arms are better suited for racing. These optional arms are stronger, and will last longer than the stock arms, without becoming tweaked. The added rigidity will also give the suspension system a much more precise feel and reduce slop.
Having a set of suspension mounts is a great tuning option to have in your pit box. By changing the blocks on the chassis, you can increase or decrease the amount of inboard toe the chassis has. In addition, you can also use the blocks to adjust the track width of the chassis. When using the optional suspension mounts, the optional fluorine coated 5mm suspension balls should also be used to keep the suspension moving freely.
Replacing the stock plastic steering system will make a big difference in the driving feel of the chassis. Pairing the aluminum steering set and the carbon steering link will provide the chassis with a faster and more direct steering feel over the stock system.
Building Tips
Thanks to the clear and easy instructions found in all Tamiya kits, assembling the TB03 chassis is simple enough for the novice racers to accomplish. However, there are a few areas that should be given extra attention to ensure a smooth running, and reliable chassis for any race weekend:
It is a good idea to take the time to clean out the bearings to get maximum performance out of them. To do this, simply take the bearings, and put them in a cup or other container of some sort. Take motor spray and spray the bearings until they are submerged in the motor spray. Let them sit like this and periodically agitate them to help remove the bearing grease. You should see the motor spray start to have some white in it; this is the bearing grease coming out. Change the motor spray and repeat as necessary until there is no more grease coming from the bearings. Once this is done, set them on a paper towel and let them dry, then apply a light bearing oil to them. While this will reduce the life of the bearings, it will also greatly increase their performance for racing.
To get a smooth working ball differential in step 1, it's recommended to sand both sides of the diff plates using 1000 grit sand paper (Item #87057) to remove any imperfections. This will ensure that the balls roll evenly across the surface of the plate, and will help the differential act more consistently.
The drivetrain is the most important area to pay attention to when building this car. Take the time and pay attention to make sure everything is assembled correctly. In step 4, make sure to shim the ring gear on each end of the propeller shaft to reduce the play in it. To do this right, add one spacer at a time to both front and rear ring gear, then put the gearbox cover on and see how much play is in the gears. Keep doing this until there is virtually no play in the propeller shaft when you move it front to back. Be careful not to add one too many ring gears, as the shaft does need a slight amount of room to move around.
While the instructions point out that it is a good idea to use anti wear grease when assembling the universals, this step should be skipped. The anti wear grease can actually attract dirt, hold it in the universal assembly, and will cause the universals to not work efficiently.
When building the TRF dampers, it is a good idea to add a shim under the piston, between the e-clip. This will reduce the slop in the damper and make the action more precise. Another area to watch is when you attach the bottom shock mount. Use wire cutters to grab the very top thread so you don't damage the shaft of the dampers. Finally, to make it easier to assemble, add a drop or two of damper oil to the shock body thread. This will make it easier to screw the shock collar on .
Other than those areas, the TB03 should be built according to the instructions. Take the time to do it right the first time, and the TB03 will last a long time before having to be rebuilt.
Conclusion
The TB03 chassis builds on the TB02 chassis, and adds all that the things Tamiya engineers have learned from the Evo 5 MS, TRF 416, and TA05 IFS chassis to make a very capable and reliable race platform. While not all of the hop-ups shown here are needed to go racing, it gives you a good idea of the areas of the car that may require extra attention to prepare it for competitions. With a few hop-ups, the TB03 proves it can compete for the gold with anyone .
Other than those areas, the TB03 should be built according to the instructions. Take the time to do it right the first time, and the TB03 will last a long time before having to be rebuilt.
