A
A Arm -- This generally refers to the lower suspension arm of the car, although it
can refer to the upper arm also.
ABS-- A form of plastic that is easy to form but
is not crash-resistant, however some of our 24mm wheels are made from ABS, which
is slightly lighter than the high-impact nylon used in our other wheels.
Accelerate
To make the car move faster, either from a full stop or while it's already moving.
Acceleration
A measure of how quickly a car can accelerate. Affected by items like the weight
of the car and its rotating mass.
Ackerman-- Rudolf Ackerman is a man who worked out
a steering system for horse-drawn carts, and we use his name today to describe the
angle of the inside tire in relation to the outside tire when the wheels are turned
to full lock--the farthest the wheels go to the left or right. Normally, when the
front wheels are turned all the way left or right, the inside wheel is at a sharper
angle than the outside wheel. If you extend the centre line of each front tire to
a point where the intersect and measure that angle, that is the Ackerman angle. Ideally,
for perfect steering, the Ackerman angle will cross at the center line of the rear
axle. In a wide turn, the front tires are not turned very far to the right or left,
the inside wheel is not steering at a sharper angle than the outside wheel, and the
Ackerman angle is not very wide. In a tight turn, the inside wheel is steering at
a steeper angle than the outside wheel, and this is what is called the Ackerman effect.
A bellcrank steering system approximates a way to copy the Ackerman effect, and is
adequate for R/C cars because of tire slip, tire sidewall folding and other factors.
Adjusting the Ackerman angle can be done by changing the length of the center link,
also called the Ackerman link that connects the bellcrank steering arms, or changing
the mounting location on the steering arms without changing the link length. Most
racers won't need to change the Ackerman angle, and actually it is best left to experienced
racers who wish to try something new. Mounting the Ackerman link to the outer holes
will result in a small Ackerman angle. Using the inner holes will increase the Ackerman
angle. A smaller Ackerman angle (done by lengthening the Ackerman link or using the
outer link holes) will give you more aggressive steering into a corner with a possibility
of oversteer at the middle of turn, when the most weight is on the outside tires.
A larger Ackerman angle (achieved by shortening the Ackerman link or using the inner
link holes) will give you more predictable and smoother steering. Ackerman Link--
The center link of the bellcrank steering system that connects the two steering arms.
Air
Dam -- An extension of the front bumper that blocks, or dams, too much air from getting
under the car and producing lift. Most R/C bodies for Touring Cars have air dams
built in.
Aluminum -- In general terms, aluminum is a metal that is lighter than steel,but
not as strong. It can be machined (cut on a machine) to replace many plastic parts
of an R/C car, but is not recommended for replacing suspension arms.
Angle of Attack--
(AOA) Refers to the angle that a surface contacts the air, usually mentioned when
talking about spoilers and wings. A higher AOA helps solve oversteer but increases
drag and decreases top speed. A lower AOA is used to alleviate understeer and increase
top speed.
AM -- Short for Amplitude Modulation, an AM radio in R/C is considered
a budget radio, what most newcomers to R/C will start out with. Most hobbyists will
be fine with an AM radio, but some racers can benefit from FM or PCM radios. An AM
radio will have more glitching than these other, more expensive radios.
Anti-squat--
Refers to the angle of caster on the rear wheels. However, that angle prevents the
squatting of the rear suspension, so 'anti-squat' it is. Anti-squat is most effective
on acceleration from a stop, when much of the car's weight is forced onto the rear
suspension. Lifting the front of the hingepin of the rear arms gives a caster (anti-squat)
angle, and helps to transfer the power that makes the car want to do a wheelie into
forward motion.
Axle -- What a wheel of a car spins or rotates on. A drive axle is
an axle that is actually powered and turns the wheel (such as the rear axles on a
rear wheel drive car), otherwise the wheel will spin on bushings or bearings on the
axle.
B
Backmarker-- Any racer that is getting lapped.
Ball Cup -- A hollow plastic piece
that snaps onto a ball end that provides a pivot point, usually for suspension movement.
Using a ball cup/ball end assembly instead of a rigid system allows the car to absorb
crash damage, so the ball cup will pop off instead of break. Ball cups are usually
paired with turnbuckles for the ultimate in ease of use and assembly.
Ball End --
A metal ball that has a hex (6-sided) and screw threads on one end. A ball cup will
attach over the ball end to provide a pivot point.
Batteries A battery holds an electrical
charge for future use by an electrical device. A single cell is a battery, a collection
of cells is a battery pack. Batteries in use in the R/C hobby can contain alkaline
materials (non-rechargeable, used for transmitter batteries), nickel-cadmium or nickel
metal hydride. Each type of battery has its advantages and disadvantages, see the
associated glossary entries for details.
Battery Pack --A collection of batteries
that are joined together to combine the voltage of the batteries to power an electrical
device. This term is used for electric R/C cars (normally a pack to power the motor)
and also for Nitro cars (to power the servos controlling steering and throttle/brake).
Bearing
-- A hollow metal donut that uses balls inside to increase the efficiency of a rotating
shaft (like an axle). Highly recommended as the first option part for any kit equipped
with bushings, bearings have become a standard accessory in most R/C kits today.
Bellcrank
-- The type of steering mechanism most common in R/C cars, trucks and buggies. It
consists of two posts, one of which has a connection to the steering servo. This
connection turns one of the steering arms, which is connected with an Ackerman link
to a second steering arm. The left side steering arm is connected to the left steering
knuckle with a turnbuckle, just as the right steering arm is connected to the right
steering knuckle. Some bellcrank systems allow racers to alter the Ackerman angle,
which can tune the steering effect of the steering system in different ways.
Big Block
--In Rc terms, this refers to a .21cc engine or larger.
Bled--After correctly assembling
a shock absorber with no excess oil and no air bubbles, that shock absorber is considered
properly bled.
Bleeding --The process of removing air and excess oil from shock absorbers.
A properly assembled shock absorber is considered bled
Body -- In Rc terms, the body
is the thin, usually Lexan, clear plastic piece that covers the car and provides
the shape of the car. Most bodies, especially on touring cars and some other vehicles,
are easily interchangeable, so it's possible to run a street truck body, then change
it for a sedan body, then change that for a coupe body.
Brake -- The system used to
slow a car or bring it to a stop. In an electric car, the electronic speed control
performs this function. In a nitro car, braking is normally provided by a disc brake
and brake pads.
Brake Check -- A driving tactic that is used to disturb a racer's
concentration. A car that is being followed closely by another car can abruptly slow
down in a section of the track where braking normally doesn't occur, causing the
following car and other cars to swerve to avoid the car in front. Sometimes this
works, sometimes it doesn't!
Braking -- Usually used in sentences like under braking
or need more or less braking this simply refers to the time when the car is actually
using its brakes.
Brake Fade - A term used when a car's brakes heat up and provide
less stopping power, forcing the driver to learn to brake earlier as a long race
progresses. Upgrading to our Fiber Brake Disk will prevent brake fade for racers.
Drilled brake disks look really cool, but we are not aware of any actual performance
advantages they may have.
Braking Zone -- The area of a track where cars are slowing
down to approach a corner. Easiest to find at the end of a straight section. A track
can have many braking zones.
Break-In -- The process of running a nitro powered engine
at idle speeds to prepare it for general use. The generally accepted method is to
run the engine very rich (the exact needle valve adjustment will vary from engine
to engine) for at least 3-4 tanks while the car is on a car stand. Running a fan
over the engine and varying the idle speed slightly during break-in is also generally
accepted. NOTE: As the engine breaks in, the speeds will pick up and you may have
to richen the air/fuel mixture slightly. An engine isn't fully broken-in until it
has run about 10-15 tanks, at which point you will see its full potential.
Buggy --
Among the more popular types of R/C cars, buggies are durable cars that can run on
most surfaces. The most popular are rear-motor two-wheel drive (2WD) electric buggies
and four-wheel drive (4WD) nitro and electric 4WD buggies are popular also.
Bulkhead
-- A part of the car that is generally connects to the chassis. During assembly,
other parts are connected to the bulkhead, making the bulkhead one of the primary
foundation pieces of the car.
Bushing -- A metal donut that supports a rotating shaft
(like an axle). Most bushings are metal, with most metal bushings made out of something
called Bronze Oilite. This is a metal that is permanently lubricated.
