Awesomatix USA: FFG - Floating Front Gearbox

New for December 2013 -

The new Floating Front Gearbox (FFG) upgrade lets the front gearbox float inside the outer frame during acceleration or deceleration. The gearbox can move left and right and rotate on some angle with the main goal of this setups is to prevent the chassis flex from affecting the shaft transmission as it can happen with conventional layouts. The new design eliminates this problem by using a lightweight carbon tube bar that withstands the transmission’s torque keeping the main chassis free from drivetrain influences. With the new design drivers are also able to run the car without any top deck by simply using the carbon rod.

The FFG is the key component within the new A700 Evo kit

MAP Retail Price: $271 USD [December 21 2013 Update]
Buy the FFG Upgrade at Shop.AwesomatixUSA.com

Standard Parts

FFG Floating Front Gearbox Set

AM40 FFG Rear Plate
AM41 FFG Gear Box Support
AM42 FFG Link Holder Front
AM43 FFG Bulkhead
AM44 FFG Gear Box
AM46 FFG Front plate
AM48 FFG Shaft Support
AM49 FFG Tower
AM50 FFG Rear Stopper
AM54 FFG Link Holder Rear
AM56 FFG Clamping Bar
P31 FFG Front Stopper
C31 FFG Carbon Rod
ST24 4.8mm Ball Stud
DT04 FFG Collar
B74RS MR74RS Bearing
SF3X6 M3x6 Flat Head Screw
SB25X8 M2.5x8 Button Head Screw
SC2X6 M2x6 Cap Head Screw

Optional Parts

Available Now

C21 FFG Top Deck Narrow
C18 FFG Top Deck Link
C31S FFG Carbon Rod Soft

Coming Soon

C22 FFG Top Deck Wide
ST34 FFG Steel Rod
AT31 FFG Alloy Rod

Notes From Oleg

Build Tips

I know five possible reasons of the excessive friction at FFG gearbox movement:

Wrong orientation of AM41 (step #14 of FFG/Evo Instruction Manual). I know already several drivers that have tryed to install AM41 in the position that was opposite.
Bad fitting of P10 diff covers. Lower P10 presses on on the chassis to much at this. You have to to remove all burrs and excessive material on both P10 and to check the full good connection of one P10 to other P10.
Wrong orientation of AM56 (step #18 of FFG/Evo Instruction Manual). At this mistake AM56 presses on P10 too much and deflects them downwards. Lower P10 presses on on the chassis to much at this.
Excessive friction between DT04 collars and AM49. Please adjust the gaps. ( step #40 finished ).
Excessive friction between P31 collars and AM54. Please adjust the gap. ( step "#40 finished").

Please pay your attention on step #39 of instruction and align FFG rod axis to chassis axis by means of proper tightening of rear AT21/screws over AM40.

Please remember also that the top surfaces of AM40 and AM46 plates should be parallel ( step 38 finished).

Please check your C31 FFG rod. The length should be 168,5 mm. In case of the rod is longer please shorten it by file or sandpaper. At assembling please insert the rod fully into AM40 and AM46 holes.

After final assembling please adjust P31 front stopper position on the car with the wheels attached and placed on the table.

Setup Tips

In case of C21 carbon top deck using you can even remove P31 stopper as this part doesn't work ( doesn't stop nothing ) with carbon top deck installed.

Please note also that some C21 samples can have 7,0mm hole instead of 6,0 mm hole in the center. This is due to the fact that several trial C21 test parts were mixed with the regular C21 by mistake.
Please use B74RS bearing plus SH0.5mm shim under this bearing plus SF3X6 screw instead of 6mm shims and SB3x5 screw at this case.

Lesson learned at 2014 Snowbirds -

Please don't use any shims under lower ST03 ball studs screwed to AM06S.
I know that some setups use these shims. These shims move AM06S more out and it increases the possibility of dog bones popping out. You can get the same roll center effect by means of addition of the same shims under lower AT21/AT21S balls.

From Freddy

Build Tips

In the video it's hard to see if this movement is enough. The feeling of the FFG depends on two things:

FFG with Topdeck
FFG without Topdeck

To #1: The car should be pressed on a flat surface. Then mount the topdeck and tighten all screws. After that, the FFG should move free to left and right and slightly up and down.

To #2: Please pay attention. We have two situations here! First, the car stands on his 4 wheels. Due to no Top deck, the chassis is a little bit bend (depends on the setting of P31). Front and rear end is "higher" then the middle.

Second. The car stands on the car stand. In this case, the chassis is flat or at least a little bit bend, BUT front and rear and are lower then the middle. This means the FFG will be not that free anymore.

Also the settings of AM50 and AM48 (around the middle post) will have a big influence. To tight will prevent the FFG from free movement. On some high traction tracks we run them with a gap from some millimeter so they have no influence anymore. But on low traction we recommend a setting from 0.2mm gap.

Setup Tips

I run the car with the alloy chassis mostly with a gap from 1mm (P31). I have no reason for this but I like it as the FFG is more smooth and the car can "work" more.