The main chassis has served us well, the 4mm 7075-T6 aluminum chassis continues to provide a solid foundation for one of the best E buggies ever produced. Being that the chassis is flat, and gives us the ability to run a block or saddle layout, the chassis is at no shortage of strength and performance. Having weight of this chassis the lowest possible, it really helps to prevent traction rolls, as well as helps give better control while in flight. Aiding in lowering the CG, it also helps the polar moment and helps the car track straight even in the roughest terrain.
The SRX8-E motor mount continues as a carry over. This motor mount could be the best we have designed, as well as the most versatile. Being not only solid, it is flip able which allows users to rotate, and reposition it regardless of a saddle or block layout.
The main motor mount, Diff insert, motor slide, and universal mount are all made from 7075-T6 aluminum, lightweight and built to last. You can mount the motor to the slide using m4 metric socket head screws, for supreme fixing power.
These new differentials were a topic of concern for racers of the SRX-8. The reliability and performance of the original differentials were actually pretty good. The market though has other plans for what a high quality race car must have.
One of those must haves are high volume large internal gear diffs. We manned up here, and went back to the drawing board and completely re-tooled our differential approach.
The internal gears are a staggering Mod 1.25 which puts them at the largest in the market place. With a maximum engagement surface on the tooth for earth shattering oil shearing, coupled with larger volume housing, these differentials reduce any fading or loss of performance. The internal ratio is industry 10/20. Make no excuses now boys, these babies will deliver the performance when you need it most.
When delivering 4S Lipo power to the wheels, the SRX8-E driveline has proven to be extremely durable. As a carryover from every model of SRX8-E we have ever made, the 7075-T6 center driveshaft has served us well.
The driveshaft is not only light weight but is extremely strong. Couple the front aluminum shaft with the spring steel short rear shaft, and you will never be let down. Delivering the power from most any KV motor on the market, this driveline will propel your model to the finish line every single time without question. With years of experience under our belt in E buggy racing, our proven drive train is without question, class leading in durability.
We have tested dozens of designs; this new steering system simply makes the car easier to drive or at least the feeling of it. The Ackerman plates all remain the same as before, as we felt that was really a strong point of the previous cars. The original SRX-8 steering was reliable, and so is this one. The feeling between the two is a bit different. The old system feels quicker and maybe overly responsive for some.
This new system improves the feel, as it seems far more progressive so you can drive more confidently around center. The old steering system will continue to be available, if high response is something you preferred. The goal is to produce a network of options, so that you as a customer can continue to develop your setup and stay at the top of your game.
Drivability, drivability, drivability, that’s what you will find here folks. These new Inclined Caster blocks which will come in 15, 17.5 and 19 degrees, they will mate a New Inclined steering spindles. Creating these two parts together, ensures you lose none of the original Suspension Geometry as well as retains the exact track width, scrub offset and Driveshaft length. Yes, we have seen it done by other makers, but trying to slap some misfit parts together is not our intention at Serpent.
It’s a do it right or not at all scenario. The parts have to be made to fit one another at the correct Inclination angle. Seriously though, these new parts really smooth out the steering. They actually reduce chassis roll into the corners, which makes the car have a more stable and smooth feeling. They also decrease responsiveness around center making the car more neutral feeling. In most cases with inclined spindles, you can run less overall caster, which improves tire wear. You will find that these are the most beneficial in super high grip applications or tracks.
With the tracks reaching higher traction levels and higher speeds, the demands of more grip and stability are in hot commodity. Aerodynamics is nothing short of a way to enhance your models performance. We took our super tough and durable original wing mount design and made it taller. With an additional 15mm of height, this mount puts your wing up into “fresh “air providing even more down force as well as Lateral stability.
With the additional aerodynamic gains your wing is now capable of producing you can pull the throttle harder and approach turns with even more confidence. Don’t be afraid to push it with this bad boy mounted on your new SRX-8 Pro…….
The front and rear suspension arms, both feature arm plates that can be added, removed or swapped out for Carbon fiber. This feature can be used for a host of reasons, which can include looks and or performance.
Depending on your grip level and track surface, you can adjust the stiffness of the SRX8-E Pro's arms. Generally stiffer arms have a more linear feel but can reduce grip.
This happens by forcing the shock to do more work. A softer arm can increase grip by reducing the shocks importance, but can also give the car a less direct feeling. All of these adjustments can have a huge impact on your lap time and results.
The Front steering spindle, made from 7075-T6 is black anodized with silver machined edges. This part is a carryover part from the SRX8. It also includes a rubber CVD boot to keep the driveshaft greased, to minimize wear.
The steering spindle also accepts 5 different Ackermann plates. 0,1,2,3,4. Generally 0 is the easiest steering while 4 is more aggressive. You can fine tune your SRX8 steering to fit your driving needs. All plates can be easily identified by the notch marks in the side of the plate.
On our first S811 we introduced the world of off-road to Ball bearing raced sway bars. Now becoming more fashionable by other brands, we love to innovate and advance the hobby. Both the front and rear suspension of all SRX8 and SRX8-E vehicles have been given this advancement in design.
The sway bar will be securely fastened with collars and the left and right play can be adjusted. You can be rest assured there is no un-necessary friction and your roll bar is operating properly when driving your race car.
In addition to the ball raced roll bars. The arms have a captured pivot-ball for the sway bar. This design allows you to adjust the play of the ball as well as make sure you have no binding in any direction when your suspension operates. The plastic nut, keeps the ball retained into position. You can replace the plastic cap with an aluminum optional version if you like a more secure nut.
Building a reliable and long lasting race car starts at some of the most fundamental levels. The outer driveshaft’s joints are exposed to some of the harshest conditions, you can imagine. With those being dirt, heat, rocks, and friction, the only way to keep them well lubricated and maintenance free is a securely fastened boot, where you can safely place grease.
The SRX8 has a simple to assemble and high tech rubber boot to complete the task, with ease. The life of the driveshaft is increased over 50% by being sealed, and keeps your models performance consistent no matter the conditions all the while reducing the need for replacement parts.
16mm threaded shocks with x ring seals. These shocks have been refined and perfected. The shock action is almost friction free, seal pack is 2nd to no other and the seals are like that everlasting candy people dream of.
They have extremely tough 3.5mm shock shafts and the piston is fixed by a nut for maximum reliability. The threaded bodies and collars make it super easy to get the ride height regardless of spring rate.
The shock can be set up in a variety of ways depending on your configuration. The kit includes our “Pro “cap which gives you maximum versatility and value so you can use them as emulsion or bladder shocks all in one cap. The cap and shock bodies are both Hard anodized to extend the life of the shock as well as improve the shock action.
Included in the kit are machined Delrin 6 hole pistons for ultra smooth shock action.
We understand the importance of how fast people want to be able to clean/maintenance and re-assemble their cars. To minimize parts as well as reduce the screw count, this electronics/servo mounts not only saves you time working on your car, but also reduces maintenance times.
This mount is also extremely durable as well as securely mounts the servo, with minimal flex.
The speedo mount also doubles as the front brace, again, reducing the parts count and the need to carry more spares than necessary.
The receiver box can be mounted in multiple locations depending on the layout you wish to use. The receiver box can be mounted directly to the speedo mount for a saddle layout, or to the chassis when using the block layout.
When it comes to the Lipo Battery, you have many options, 2s, 4s. The SRX8-E Pro kit, comes standard with the Block Layout. This layout has been selected by our team drivers to be the best performing, so it was opted for in the kit. The lower plastic mount is securely fixed to the chassis and mounted directly to the surface to ensure lowest possible CG. This design has a large variety of advantages, but for sure one of them, is the ability to run just about any battery you can find. Whether you want to double up a couple of 2s lipos as a 4s battery, or run any size of 4s battery, this car will have you completely covered. The Velcro is the lightest weight, while being some of the strongest ways to fix the battery. The Velcro is supplied in the kit and the Serpent logo is embossed on them.
With Every “Evo” and “Pro” level kit, all Serpent SRX8 and SRX8-E models have been given upgrades in durability at the shock tower locations. With a more reliable mind set and the fact we want each and every racer to finish ever race they start, aluminum shock towers are up to that task. We use the highest grade 7075-T6 aluminum money can buy, to ensure they are a no compromise when it comes to strength and reliability. The towers are a staggering 5mm thick and then anodized to give them an even more durable finish.
When it comes to racing in the mud and/or wet conditions, keeping the mud from building up on the rear arms can be a problem. Included in the kit is a pair of light weight polycarbonate mud guards. With the intent of keeping the mud and dirt from caking up on your car, which can weigh it down and reduce performance, these babies will answer that call. You can keep them clear, or paint them to match your stylish paint scheme. If they are not for you, of course you can run your car without them too, it’s up to you to decide when and how you will use them.
As a recent upgrade in all of Serpent’s Racing kits, the SRX8-E Pro kit is loaded with NSK Ball Bearings. The Japanese bearings are super high quality and prolong the life of your model race car. Lower friction, increased efficiency, reduced time between replacements, these NSK bearings are no joke, and we hope you enjoy the added value in your kit. You can find the NSK bearings, at the wheels hubs, steering spindles, throughout the drive train and steering.
Since our entry into the E buggy class dating back to our S811e, Serpent has been dedicated to pushing the boundaries and quality standards required by the market. The SRX8-E Pro, to date is no exception to that mind set. It arguably is our most versatile, highest performing E-Buggy, while at the same time, be extremely durable, reliable and the easiest to work on. As an Engineer, I take great pride in creating stylish high performance cars, which anyone could be proud to own. From the chassis, fit and finish of every component, all the way to the looks of the body shell, you can be assured someone put their best foot forward to provide you a great product. I understand you spend your hard earned money on these products, and want you to get the absolute best value possible, not only through quality of the materials, hardware ,bearings, but the performance on the race track. I am very proud of the SRX8-E Pro, and feel you will enjoy every aspect of it too. Serpent as a brand spares no expense when it comes to producing these model race cars. Quality and performance is a requirement we stand firmly behind. Congratulations for purchasing, one of Serpent’s finest model racing products.
Sincerely,
Billy Easton
Serpent Designer
