Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 2 – Front Axle
The Build – Part 2 In Part 2 of the Vaterra Ascender K5 build, we’ll be working on the front axle. This includes the axle, gears and steering system. The K5 uses a standardized front solid axle but has a few features that set it apart; 1) the front axle is a single piece, meaning you won’t be putting two-halves together. Secondly, the steering uses aluminum link instead of plastic. Finally, there is a panhard rod to help manage the front end, however we won’t be attaching that until a later step.
Build Notes: Threadlocking compound is required for this step as well. Have your ‘puddle’ ready.
The manual has you building some of the axle in a certain order. I found a few easier steps and listed them during the build. You can follow either one.
Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 31 Our first step is to assemble the front slider shaft. Since you’ve already experienced this build in Part 1 (the Transmission), I won’t go into detail with this.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 32 Apply some black grease to the inner coupler, slide the out coupler over it and press the pin through the holes.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 33 Vaterra doesn’t use a set screw to hold the pin in place; instead it uses a bearing. I like this method alot better!Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 34 Press the axle assembly into place as shown, making sure the bearing is fully seated into the axle housing.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 39 Teka the black M2 locknuts and press them into place in the axle housing. The fit is pretty tight don’t worry about them falling out. Yes, this is out of step according to the manual but I found it easier during final assembly to already have these installed.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 35 Flip the axle around and press a second bearing into place. Follow that up with the sun gear. Make sure the gear is seated all the way down on the shaft.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 36 Dab a bit of threadlocker onto the retaining screw and secure the sun gear.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 37 Take your solid, one-piece spool assembly (LOVE that it’s one-piece) and slide a shim and washer on both ends. Your instructions may now show the washer but, again, an online ‘manual fix’ shows this as part of the build.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 38 Set the spool into the axle housing and apply some black grease to the gear. Don’t worry about putting to much grease … this is used to help protect the gears during use.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 40 Slide the chrome pumpkin cover and cover protector onto the axle and secure with the 4 screws. Note that there are two different lengths of screws used here; use the shorter ones up top.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 41 Assemble the short link. This link is used to attach the front axle to the floating battery tray. Note the direction of the two balls.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 42 Attach the link to the link brace…Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 43 …and then attach the link brace to the front axle.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 44 Build the axle as shown. Again, we’ve already built one of these so we don’t need to go into detail about it … I hope.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 45 Use the ‘Phalen-fingernail method’ to attach the spiral retainer. Feel free to use the term ‘Phalen-fingernail method’. Build 2 of these.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 46 Assemble the left spindle by pressing a bearing into each side (don’t forget the crush tube between them). Take 2 of the hat washers and slide them into the upper and lower holes in the spindle as shown.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 47 Rest the spindle on it’s side and carefully push an assembled axle through it. Slide the wheel hex into place and, while lining up the hole in the hex and the hole in the axle, secure with the long setscrew. The reason you want to put the hat washers in prior to this assembly is that they can be a bit difficult to insert after if you have sausage fingers. The fit it tight enough to keep them in place; just make sure you assemble with the spindle laying sideways.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 48 This outer bearing was a bugger to work with as well, but I found if you pressed it into the axle carrier first it was much more manageable. Just press it flush with the piece as shown. Note the orientation of the carrier; the ‘stops’ will be at the top.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 49 Slide the assembled axle carrier onto the axle and into place with the steering spindle. Secure with the 2 M3x12mm screws. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN! Snug them down and then rotate the spindle. If it is tight, back the screws off slightly and try again. You want the spindle to move as freely as possible.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 50 Build the right side spindle like we did in Steps 46-47. As you can see here, we press the outer bearing flush into the right side axle carrier (not the panhard rod mounting tab). You can then assemble the steering as we did in Step 49.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 51 Keying the axle assembly to the spool is a little tricky but I found a somewhat easy way to do this. This picture shows the square opening in the spool you’re trying to mate the axle to. Just keep that in mind.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 52 Take your axle assembly and slide it into the axle housing as far as it will go.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 53 Using one hand to apply a small amount of pressure, press the axle assembly against the axle housing. Now slowly twist the slider shaft (with the red arrow) until the axle ‘slips’ into the spool. Do this with both sides, noting the orientation of the steering assemblies with the axle (make sure you get the right on the right and the left on the left).Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 54 Build two rod ends as shown. This is for the lower steering link (the link that goes from one steering knuckle to the other).Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 55 Assemble, making sure you use a dab of threadlocker on the setscrews.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 56 Build two more rod ends. These are for the upper steering link (the link that goes from the servo to the steering assembly).Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 57 Assemble, making sure you use a dab of threadlocker on the setscrews. Also note the orientation of the two ends.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 58 Press a black locknut into the upper steering link and attach to the lower steering link.Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 59 Attach the steering link assembly to the right-side steering knuckle…Vaterra 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Ascender Build Step 60 …and the attach the steering link to the left-side steering knuckle. Rotate the steering back and forth a few times to make sure it moves smoothly.
Tony Phalen - As an avid RC enthusiast, Tony has been building, bashing and racing RC Cars for over 30 years. He has participated in every kind of surface racing events - 1/18 scale trucks, 1/10 scale TC, Rock Racers, Rally - if it had wheels, he's raced it! He's also worked on both sides of the industry fence; collaborating with many major manufacturers (as well as being a sponsored driver) to working for a high-profile industry magazine. During this time he has learned many tricks, tips and techniques and is sharing that knowledge on CompetitionX - the most informative RC website on the internet!
