Avoiding Traction Roll - RC Handling Guides

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Traction roll is when your RC car flips over when turning, even when not making contact with any other cars or barriers. It occurs because the car's momentum "pulls" at its center of gravity, towards the outside of the turn (called centripetal force) while the tires pull the car toward the inside of the turn. If the center of gravity is high enough, this force can flip the car over.

Traction roll, per its name, only happens when the car has enough traction, so it's usually only a concern for smooth asphalt tracks, high-grip carpet or clay off-road tracks.

Check out a traction roll in action:

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Reducing traction roll

Generally (if it's happening in various situations)

Most impact

1. Ride height: lower
2. Tires: harder tire compound / less additive / less additive time
3. Anti-roll bar: thinner in front
4. Weight distribution: move lower
5. Roll center: lower
6. Shock springs: softer (Pan car: softer side springs)
7. Shock damping: thicker in rear
8. Caster: less in front (pan car)

Medium impact

1. Sidewall glue (high-grip): add glue (esp on-road)
2. Shock mounting: inward at the tower
3. Droop: less in rear / more in front
4. Steering: reduce EPA or expo sensitivity / less Ackermann
5. Diff height: higher

Less impact

1. Toe: more front toe-out
2. Camber: less in front
3. Bump steer: links more level

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On corner entry

Most impact

• Anti-roll bar: stiffer in front / lighter in rear
• Tires: harder compound
• Ride height: lower
• Caster (F): less
• Roll center: higher in front / lower in rear
• Rear axle: Use solid axle instead of differential (on-road)

Medium impact

• Droop (R): more
• Shock springs: stiffer in front / lighter in rear
• Shock damping: heaver in front / lighter in rear
• Front axle: use solid axle instead of one-way or differential (on-road)
• Track width (F): wider

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Mid-corner

Most impact

• Anti-roll bar: stiffer in front / lighter in rear
• Tires (F/R): harder compound
• Ride height (F/R): lower
• Caster (F): less
• Roll center: higher in front / lower in rear
• Shock springs: stiffer in front / lighter in rear

Medium impact

• Droop (F/R): more
• Shock damping: heaver in front

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On corner exit / On power

Most impact

• Anti-roll bar: stiffer in front / lighter in rear
• Tires: harder front compound / softer rear
• Ride height: lower
• Caster (F): less
• Roll center: higher front / lower rear
• Rear axle: Use differential instead of solid axle(on-road)

Medium impact

• Droop (F): more
• Shock springs: stiffer front / lighter rear
• Shock damping: heaver front / lighter rear
• Front axle: use solid axle instead of one-way or differential (on-road)
• Rebound: less

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