TUNING & SETUP TIPS
These tips prepare your car for maximum performance
DIFFERENTIAL MAINTENANCE
You should rebuild the differentials when the ac-
tion gets somewhat “gritty” feeling. Usually cleaning
the diff parts and applying new lube per the instruc-
tions will bring it back to new condition again. The
standard 3/32” carbide balls rarely need replacing.
Normally, as the parts seat, the diff will get smoother.
If the diff still feels gritty after carefully cleaning
and re-lubing the diff parts, the thrust balls, thrust
washers, and drive rings should be checked and pos-
sibly replaced.
The parts will normally wear out in the following
order:
1. #6575 5/64” diff thrust balls (qty 6).
2. #6573 diff thrust washers (2).
3. #3906 D-drive rings (2).
Refer to the differential section to correctly as-
semble the diff.
Your car is one of the most tunable on road cars on
the market. This section will try to explain the parts
and adjustments you can use to tune your car for
different track conditions.
CASTER describes the angle of the kingpin from
vertical when looked at from the side of the car. Posi-
tive caster means the kingpin leans rearward at the
top. Negative caster should never be used.
Associated makes block carriers for the TC3 with
0° (kit standard), 2°, and 4° of caster. Increasing caster
in the TC3 (with 2° or 4° block carriers) will give your
car more steering entering corners but less steering
exiting corners. It will also be more stable in bumpy
conditions.
Note: When figuring total caster in your car, add
the amount in the block carrier to the amount of kickup.
Example: 2° of kickup (kit standard) and 0° block
carrier equals total of 2° of caster.
Positive caster means the
kingpin leans rearward at
the top.
0° block carrier, #3868
2° block carrier, #3870
4° block carrier, #3872
FRONT
FRONT TOE-IN AND TOE-OUT is
adjusted by turning the steering turnbuckles. Toe-in
will make your car easier to drive by improving stabil-
ity during acceleration. Toe-out will increase steering
when entering corners but will be slightly more diffi-
cult to drive. We suggest using 0° to 1° toe-out on the
TC3.
Toe-in:
Easier to drive.
Improves stability during acceleration.
Toe-out:
Harder to drive.
Increases steering entering corners.
KICKUP refers to the angle at which the front suspension is mounted in
relation to horizontal when looked from the side of the car. Kickup is ad-
justed by changing the suspension arm mounts, which have molded codes
to help you tell them apart. The two front arm mount combinations are as
follows:
The kit setting of 2° kickup
will work best in most con-
ditions, especially in bumpy
conditions.
0° kickup will have a more
aggressive steering feeling
but will not absorb bumps
as well as 2°.
F
F+2
F F-0
RECOMMENDED ARM MOUNT/BLOCK CARRIER COMBINATIONS
FOR THIS SETUP: USE THESE PARTS:
Arm Mounts Block Carrier
2° kickup, 2° caster F F+2 0°
2° kickup, 4° caster F F+2 2°
0° kickup, 0° caster F F-0 0°
0° kickup, 2° caster F F-0 2°
0° kickup, 4° caster F F-0 4°
EFFECTS OF ARM MOUNT/BLOCK CARRIER
COMBINATIONS
ARM MOUNT PART NUMBERS
code effect part #
F #3863 (std)
F+2 +2° kickup #3863 (std)
F-0 0° kickup #3864 (optional)
CA
B
A B C
A
B
C
1
2
FRONT
B
A
BA
23
BLOCK CARRIER PART NUMBERS
effect part #
0° caster #3868 (std)
2° caster #3870 (optional)
4° caster #3872 (optional)
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