How much free-play should a B4 have?

[Hallsy]

I bought my B4 second hand, good condition, but has been used & raced so I looked at it as I would a 1:1 car.

There was significant play in the rear hub carriers (back & forth), and this was obvious that it was due to wear on the rear A-arm, so I shimmed this to take up the slack. Replaced shock bushes & lower eyelet/bushes, and all was good.

Front also had a fair amount of play, hub carrier back & forth, and also up/down. Some signs of minor wear on A-arm & hub carrier, but nothing major at all. Still, I shimmed these as well to take out the free play.

For a car that has adjustable camber, castor & toe, it would make sense to me for there to be as little free play as possible, otherwise any adjustments made would only be as so when the car was static!

Still, I realise that this is a plastic car, and so may have some free play as fresh from the box.

Could anyone who has had them from new comment? I took it out yesterday and imo, drives great, handling is predictable, tracks straight, etc - but then, I am a newb, and I wasn't racing!!

Any advice appreciated :)

[Dudders]

Lots of free play in the wheels.... in all directions. Assume that's the way they are made.

[Hallsy]

Thanks for that - guess mine was normal then, didn't look anywhere near as worn as the rear anyway!

Seems funny to me that people make such subtle changes to suspension setups, when all the adjustments have a fair amount of slack in! Maybe I should unshim it then!!

[super__dan]

Shimmings fine, I do it a little but it must ALWAYS be completely free i.e. a bit of slop is much better than a bit on friction (with no play).