AS81638

Overview

The Team Associated RC8B4.1/e Rear Suspension Arms in soft specification represent genuine factory-original components designed to keep your 1/8 scale RC buggy performing at its peak. Whether you're a competitive racer pushing your machine to the limit on the track or an enthusiast enjoying weekend bashings, having quality replacement suspension arms is essential for maintaining consistent handling and performance. These soft-spec arms are part of the acclaimed RC8 platform, which has accumulated numerous accolades since 2009 and continues to set the standard for 1/8 scale off-road racing performance.

As an authorised Team Associated retailer, RC Model Shop stocks genuine OEM parts that ensure perfect compatibility and fitment with your RC8B4.1 or RC8B4.1e platform. The soft specification offers a more compliant suspension setup compared to harder alternatives, making these arms ideal for tracks with varying grip levels, bumpy terrain, or drivers who prefer a more forgiving ride characteristic. Suspension arms are high-wear components that benefit from regular replacement as they endure tremendous stress during aggressive driving, jumps, and impacts, making these soft-spec rear arms an essential spare for any serious RC buggy owner in the UK.

Designed and manufactured by Team Associated's renowned Area 51 engineering facility, these rear suspension arms reflect decades of racing expertise and continuous development. The soft-spec option provides optimal flex and stiffness characteristics straight from the box, though Team Associated also offers optional inserts for fine-tuning flex properties if you wish to experiment with different handling characteristics. Whether you're refreshing worn components or building a backup setup, these genuine rear suspension arms deliver the reliability and performance you expect from the RC8B4 platform.

Key Features

• Soft-specification design — These rear suspension arms feature a softer flex and stiffness profile compared to harder options, making them ideal for drivers seeking more compliant handling across variable terrain and grip levels, ultimately providing better traction consistency and easier steering response.
• Genuine Team Associated OEM part — Part number AS81638 is the authentic factory component, ensuring perfect engineering tolerances and material consistency that matches the exact specifications intended by Team Associated's design team.
• Compatible with RC8B4.1 and RC8B4.1e platforms — These arms are specifically engineered to fit seamlessly with both nitro and electric variants of the RC8B4.1 generation, allowing straightforward installation without modification.
• Optional insert compatibility — While the soft spec performs excellently straight from the box, Team Associated manufactures optional inserts that mount to the top or bottom of the arm, enabling you to fine-tune flex and stiffness properties should you wish to dial in different handling characteristics for different track conditions.
• Premium material construction — Built using the same high-quality materials and manufacturing processes employed throughout the RC8B4 platform, these suspension arms deliver durability and consistent performance even under extreme racing conditions.
• Essential replacement component — Suspension arms are stress-bearing parts that wear with use and impact; having genuine replacements on hand ensures you can quickly restore your buggy to peak performance and maintain a consistent setup for competition.

Technical Performance

The RC8B4.1/e rear suspension arms represent Team Associated's latest generation of suspension engineering for 1/8 scale off-road racing. Designed specifically for the RC8B4.1 platform, these components are integrated into a complete suspension system that includes the new rear suspension arm design philosophy introduced with the RC8B4e generation. The soft-spec variant offers a balance of flex and stiffness that works exceptionally well across a broad range of driving styles and track conditions without requiring additional tuning. The arms are designed to work in concert with the RC8B4's wider upper suspension arm pivot mounts and integrated geometry, which contributes to the overall stability and handling responsiveness of the rear end. The 7075 aluminium hard-anodised chassis used on the RC8B4 platform features updated designs with strengthened front and rear droop tab areas, providing optimised mounting geometry for these suspension arms. The new rear suspension arm design integrates with the RC8B4's advanced features including the V3 differentials with 42T ring and 12T pinion gears, the new 16mm shocks with blue front (8.75 coil) and green rear (11.25 coil) springs, and the innovative rear wing mount system with adjustable wing angle shims. The suspension geometry ensures superior drivetrain efficiency through the use of 93.5mm front and 104mm rear centre dog bones with 14mm pins, while the rear arms support the new +1mm offset rear hub with symmetrical left and right common design, providing adjustable roll centre tuning for competitive drivers. Whether you're running two 2S shorty batteries in saddle-pack configuration or a single 4S shorty, the suspension geometry remains optimised for either setup, making these soft-spec rear arms a versatile choice for any RC8B4.1/e driver.

What's in the Box

• Team Associated RC8B4.1/e rear suspension arms, soft specification (Part AS81638)
• Genuine OEM packaging and documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are these soft-spec rear suspension arms suitable for my RC8B4.1? — Yes, these arms are specifically designed for both the RC8B4.1 nitro and RC8B4.1e electric variants. The soft specification provides optimal flex and stiffness characteristics straight from the box, making them an excellent choice for drivers seeking more compliant handling across varying track conditions without requiring optional inserts for tuning.
• What is the difference between soft, medium, and hard suspension arm options? — While this product is the soft-spec variant, Team Associated offers different flex and stiffness options to suit various driving styles. Soft-spec arms flex more readily, providing better traction consistency on bumpy or inconsistent terrain and delivering a more forgiving ride feel. Harder options provide increased precision and sharper steering response on smooth, high-grip tracks. Optional inserts are available separately to fine-tune flex properties on soft-spec arms if you wish to experiment.
• Can I use optional inserts with these soft-spec arms? — Yes, Team Associated manufactures optional inserts specifically designed to mount on the top or bottom of the RC8B4 rear suspension arms, allowing you to fine-tune flex and stiffness characteristics. The soft-spec design performs excellently without inserts, but optional inserts offer additional tuning capability if you wish to dial in different handling for specific track conditions or driving preferences.
• How often should I replace my suspension arms? — Suspension arms are high-stress components that wear with regular use and endure significant impact during jumping and aggressive cornering. As a general guideline, competitive racers often replace arms every season or after high-mileage events, whilst weekend bashers may extend intervals by checking for visible cracking or bending. Keeping spare soft-spec arms on hand ensures you can quickly restore your buggy to peak performance and maintain consistent setup reliability.
• Are these genuine Team Associated parts? — Absolutely. Part number AS81638 is the authentic factory OEM component manufactured by Team Associated. Purchasing genuine parts ensures perfect engineering tolerances, exact material specifications, and guaranteed compatibility with your RC8B4.1/e platform, making them the only choice for serious competitors and dedicated enthusiasts.
• What suspension geometry features work with these rear arms? — These rear suspension arms integrate with the RC8B4's complete rear-end engineering, including the V3 differentials with 42T ring and 12T pinion gears, the new 16mm rear shocks with green (11.25 coil) springs, the innovative rear wing mount system with adjustable angle shims, the +1mm offset rear hub with symmetrical design, and the 104mm rear centre dog bones with 14mm pins, ensuring optimal drivetrain efficiency and roll centre tuning.

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 TEAM ASSOCIATED RC8B4.1/e REAR SUSPENSION ARMS, SOFT AS81638 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.