Brushless Radio Controlled Cars
News, reviews, tuning and hop-ups
RC Glossary - The A to Z of Radio Control
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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.
