Overview
The Associated RC8B3 Shock O-Rings (AS81186) are genuine factory replacement seals designed specifically for maintaining and rebuilding the suspension systems on Team Associated RC8 series competition buggies and trucks. Whether you're a serious racer competing at UK RC events or an enthusiast maintaining your RC car collection, these precision-engineered O-rings are essential consumables that help restore your shocks to peak performance. Over time, the seals inside your shock bodies wear and degrade, leading to reduced damping consistency and leaking fluid, which compromises handling and stability. These official Associated parts refresh the seal interface inside the shock bodies, ensuring that your suspension performs at its best and your RC car UK remains competitive on the track or trail.
If you own an RC8B3, RC8B3.1, RC8B3.2, RC8B4, or any variant in the RC8 family, having spare shock O-rings in your spares box is a mark of professionalism. Routine maintenance is what separates serious RC competitors from casual bashers, and these O-rings are a fundamental part of keeping your dampers functioning correctly. They are quick and easy to install during regular shock servicing, making them ideal for both experienced modellers and those new to RC car maintenance in the UK.
RC Model Shop stocks genuine Associated spares and upgrades, and we're proud to offer these authentic shock O-rings at competitive pricing with fast UK delivery. Whether you're preparing for a race season, conducting preventative maintenance, or rebuilding a used RC car you've just acquired, these O-rings represent excellent value and assurance that you're using factory-correct components.
Key Features
- Genuine Associated Factory Part — This is the official OEM (original equipment manufacturer) replacement component, not a generic aftermarket alternative, ensuring perfect fitment and reliability every time you service your shocks.
- Precision Seal Dimensions — Each O-ring measures 3.4x1.9mm, engineered to precise tolerances to create a perfect seal that eliminates fluid leakage and maintains consistent damping performance throughout your races or practice sessions.
- Pack of Eight O-Rings — The set contains eight shock O-rings, providing enough spares to service multiple shock bodies or have extras available for future maintenance, offering excellent value and convenience.
- Restores Damper Action — By refreshing the seal interface inside the shock bodies, these O-rings help restore smooth, consistent damper action, which directly translates to improved handling, stability and predictability on the track.
- Routine Maintenance Essential — Ideal for both regular scheduled maintenance and full shock rebuilds, these O-rings are a critical part of keeping your RC suspension system in peak condition and preventing catastrophic shock failures during competition.
- Universal Compatibility Across RC8 Range — Compatible with an extensive range of Team Associated 8-series vehicles including RC8B3, RC8B3e, RC8T3, RC8T3e, RC8B3.1, RC8B3.1e, RC8T3.1e, RC8T3.1, RC8B3.2, RC8B3.2e, RC8T3.2, RC8T3.2e, RC8B4, RC8B4e, RC8T4, RC8T4e, RC8B4.1, and RC8B4.1e variants.
Technical Performance
These shock O-rings are manufactured by Team Associated to the exact specifications required for their RC8 buggy and truck platforms, representing decades of racing engineering expertise. The 3.4x1.9mm dimensions are carefully calculated to compress under the shock piston rod with just the right amount of force to create a perfect seal whilst allowing smooth piston movement without friction or binding. The material composition provides excellent resistance to the synthetic shock oils commonly used in RC competition, ensuring longevity and consistent performance across multiple servicing cycles. When properly installed, these O-rings eliminate the common problem of oil weeping from the shock bodies, which can lead to uneven damping characteristics that make your RC car unpredictable and difficult to tune. The red colour aids visual identification and inspection during maintenance. Quality control at the factory ensures that each O-ring meets strict dimensional tolerances, so you can be confident that every ring in your pack will perform identically. For competitive racers running 1/10-scale 2WD and 4WD buggies or 1/10-scale trucks, maintaining perfect shock performance through regular seal replacement is a fundamental requirement for competitive success at UK RC racing venues.
What's in the Box
- 8 x Shock O-Rings, 3.4x1.9mm (red)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often should I replace my shock O-rings on my RC buggy? — There is no fixed schedule; replacement depends on usage frequency and driving conditions. Many serious competitors replace O-rings every 4-6 months of regular racing or after 20-30 hours of track time. If you notice oil seeping from your shocks or inconsistent damping during a race weekend, that's a clear sign replacement is overdue. As routine preventative maintenance, replacing them annually is a sensible approach for weekend racers.
- Are these O-rings compatible with other RC brands? — No, these are specifically engineered for Team Associated RC8 series vehicles. Whilst they may physically fit other RC cars with similar shock designs, using OEM parts from the vehicle manufacturer ensures optimal performance and reliability. We would never recommend using non-authentic or non-OEM seals in your suspension system.
- What tools do I need to replace shock O-rings? — Shock servicing requires the shock body to be disassembled, which typically involves removing the shock cap and spring, then carefully removing the piston rod assembly. You'll need a shock reamer or small hex wrench to remove the piston head retaining screw, and a dedicated shock servicing set or small dental picks to carefully remove the old O-rings without damaging the piston rod. Most RC car shops in the UK sell dedicated shock servicing tools and kits if you don't already own one.
- Do I need to drain the shock fluid before replacing the O-rings? — Yes, absolutely. You must drain the shock oil from the shock body before disassembling the piston rod and removing the old O-rings. Once you've cleaned the piston rod and replaced the O-rings with fresh seals from this pack, you'll refill with new synthetic shock oil matched to your driving style and track conditions before reassembling the shock. This is a complete servicing process, not just a seal replacement.
- Why is my shock weeping oil even though I've serviced it recently? — If your shocks are still leaking after you've installed new O-rings and refilled with fresh oil, the most likely causes are: the piston rod is scored or damaged (requiring a new piston rod), the shock cap threads are damaged and not sealing properly, or you've over-filled the shock with too much oil. Inspect the piston rod carefully for scratches or scoring under a bright light, and ensure you're using the correct oil fill level for your shock model and driving conditions.
- Are these O-rings the same as those used in the RC8B4 series? — According to the manufacturer specifications, these O-rings are compatible with RC8B4 and RC8B4 variants, so yes, they will work correctly in RC8B4 shocks. However, if you own the newer RC8B4, we recommend checking your manual or contacting Associated customer support to confirm which O-ring specifications are recommended, as newer models may use updated shock designs.
- How many shock bodies will one pack of eight O-rings service? — One complete shock assembly typically uses two O-rings (one above and one below the piston head). Therefore, one pack of eight O-rings will service four complete shocks. Since most competition RC buggies and trucks use four shocks (front and rear pairs), this pack provides enough O-rings for a complete one-time service of your entire vehicle.
Why Buy from RC Model Shop?
RC Model Shop is a trusted UK RC retailer and authorised dealer for all the brands we stock, including Traxxas, ARRMA, Losi, FTX, Hobbywing, Spektrum and more. Based in Walsall, we have a physical store where customers are welcome to come in, view products and purchase in store. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, a weekend basher, or just discovering the world of RC for the first time, our team of experienced RC enthusiasts is here to help you find the perfect setup and provide ongoing support. Order the ASSOCIATED RC8B3/RC8B3.1/RC8B3.2 SHOCK O-RINGS AS81186 today with confidence, knowing you are buying from an authorised retailer with genuine products, expert knowledge and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Shop online or visit us in Walsall — we look forward to helping you get the most out of your RC experience.
- Brand: Team Associated
- Part Number: AS81186
- UPC: 784695811867
- Product Type: Shock O-rings (seals)
- Colour: Red
- O-ring Size: 3.4x1.9mm
- Quantity in Pack: 8 O-rings
- Compatible Vehicle Models: RC8B3, RC8B3e, RC8T3, RC8T3e, RC8B3.1, RC8B3.1e, RC8T3.1e, RC8T3.1, RC8B3.2, RC8B3.2e, RC8T3.2, RC8T3.2e, RC8B4, RC8B4e, RC8T4, RC8T4e, RC8B4.1, RC8B4.1e
- Application: Shock damper maintenance and rebuild
- Function: Shock body seal refresh and fluid containment
- Product Status: Active (currently manufactured)
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