Ultimate RC Setup Troubleshooting Guide

Looking for help with dirt oval? Try our Dirt Oval Setup Troubleshooting Guide.

Tips for using this guide:

• Start at the top: Recommendations are grouped by impact, so pick things to try from the top of the list first. Every car is different, so some cars will react differently to some changes.
• Test everything: This guide is directionally correct, but racing physics are complicated, and factors like weather and track surface  can combine to do surprising things. Remember to do your own testing to see what works for your situation.
• You have options! Our goal is to give you options to address any handling problem. Some approaches won't be possible due to your setup or parts on hand, so we offer several options.
• One change at a time! To truly learn how your car reacts in a given situation, make one change, test, and record the results. The So Dialed RC Setup App & Race Log is ideal for this!
• Check your baseline: Before trying these solutions, Make sure you don't have any settings wildly different from the kit setup. If you do, set those to the default first before trying anything new.
• Ask around: Folks at your track may already have solved the problem, and racers are (generally) happy to share knowledge, so feel free to ask!
• See a mistake?  Let us know!

Sections

Corner Entry / Off-Power

Fix handling issues faces when slowing down coming into a turn - understeer, oversteer, or traction rolls.

Corner Middle / Neutral Power 

Fix issues when holding your speed through corners - understeer, oversteer, or traction rolls

Corner Exit / On-Power

Fix handling issues when accelerating out of a turn - understeer, oversteer, or traction rolls

Straights 

Increase your stability or traction in the straights

Jumps 

Make sure your car is jumping well and not bottoming out

Bumps‍

Make sure your car stays under control through the bumps

Common Handling Conditions

Not sure how to describe what's wrong with your car?  Check out these articles to see what's going on:

Understeer

When your car just doesn't seem to turn the way you want it to.

Oversteer

When your car's rear end seems to want to slide all over the track.

Traction roll

When your car flips in corners even when you didn't hit anything!

Forward traction

When your car doesn't get enough grip accelerating in a straight line

Chassis roll

Is it good when your chassis rolls? The answer, of course: it depends.

Weight transfer

How weight transfer affects your car's handling, and what to do about it.

Jacking

What jacking forces are and how they affect your car's handling.

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References & Further Reading

• Dave B. Stevens: Essential Off-road RC Racer's Guide, Essential Touring Car RC Racer's Guide, Essential 1/12th & F1 RC Racer's Guide
• Invisible Speed, Joseph Quagraine
• ‍Hudy Setup Book (Touring, Off-road)
• Tony Newland, Klinik RC‍
• On Road Setup Guide, Anthony Atack, 2011‍
• R/C Handbook, Scott Guyatt, 2005‍
• THE Guide, JQ Racing
• Various manuals: Schumacher, Tekno, Associated, TLR, Mugen, XRAY