Impact Performance Products has truly created a performance upgrade for the T-Maxx that nobody else is offering (not that we know of anyway). The TTRS (True Track Rear Suspension) kit from IPP includes everything you need to make your T-Maxx lighter, easier to work on and to have a perfect rear toe-in adjustment of 1°. Sound good? We thought so too. IPP offers the kit in high-strength plastic or 6061 aluminum. We opted for the plastic kit for our test. It has been installed on one of our T-Maxx’s for over a month and here’s the skinny…
The kit is for use with the newer style, wide T-Maxx or any T-Maxx that has been converted over to the longer arms (Pro-Line WIDEMAXX kit etc).

The TTRS kit includes:
• (2) Lower rear a-arms
• (2) New axle/hub carriers
• (2) Lower shock mounts (four shock positions)
• All the required hardware (hinge pins, e-clips, screws) to make it work
• Allen wrench

Essentially you are replacing the lower rear suspension arms with the ones supplied in the kit. The new system doesn’t use the lower pillow balls or caps on the rear axle carriers (reducing weight). It utilizes hinge pins for the lower arm mounts. Check this….this allows you to eliminate the rear turnbuckles (further reducing weight) and forever forgetting about setting the toe on the rear of your truck. With the TTRS, it is a perfect 1 degree all the time. Without the rear turnbuckles, you will also have easier access to the lower rear shock screws. Also make note that there are four mounting positions for the lower shock mounts. This is a nice bit of added adjustability.

When we assembled our rear arms prior to installing them on the truck, we did notice that the supplied hub carrier was a bit “sticky” and did not move smoothly on the lower hinge pin. Powered by our fingertips, we twisted a drill bit (the same size as the hole) through the hinge pin hole and found some “slag” / scrap material in there. Ahhhhh….much better! We did this on both sides for good measure. After this cleanup step, movement was smooth and the arms were ready to be installed. The arms are symmetrical so no worries about left or right. We like the fact that minimal amounts of brain power are required to install this kit. Mounting the arms is pretty straightforward and actually easier than the stock system as you are not messing with the rear turnbuckles. We mounted the arms and proceeded to use the upper pillow ball to set the camber on the rears. Everything is in place and ready to go.

Here at BYT, we are strictly bashers, like most of you (nothing against racing – if there was a track nearby we would be on it). We initially thought this kit was more for the Maxx that sees track time and would not be of any benefit to the average backyard basher. We realized that we were wrong after having a chance to run our normal backyard and woodland areas with the kit installed. The truck seemed to “hook-up” more consistently coming out of turns and when landing from air-time. It also felt better with standing starts and seemed to get up and moving a little quicker, this may be in our head but it truly seemed to get a little more traction in a variety of situations. The truck took more than a few tumbles without a whimper from any kit components. The material the arms, shock mounts and axle carriers are constructed from a fairly stiff plastic (see PRODUCT UPDATE below).

Lighter truck = eliminates upper pillow balls & caps on rear suspension / eliminates rear turnbuckles (not a ton of weight removed but everything counts)

Easier to work on = easier access to the lower rear shock screws and rear toe-in adjustments are eliminated

Perfect rear toe-in adjustment of 1 degree = It’s designed into the kit. No rear toe adjustments!

If you are a racer, you really need to check this out. If you are a basher, you should check it out also. It is unique and it works. At $50 retail for the plastic kit, you are getting more than a set of arms, axles carriers etc. You are getting a real performance enhancement kit. While it may not guarantee you a place in the A-Main, it is certainly not going to hurt. It may not offer a HUGE increase in traction or drivability for the average basher but the theory is sound and the kit is solid. Think of it as an important step to improving the overall drivability of the Maxx. We liked it!

Visit the Impact Performance Products web site to learn more about this kit!

Special note: If you are running RPM oversize axle carriers, you will need to get some stock axle bearings to use the TTRS kit.


PRODUCT UPDATE = They busted during a cartwheel roll that MAY have busted even the stock arms. However we have taken worse spills with the stock setup without this kind of damage? Both arms shattered. Anyway, we have gone back to the stock setup......