Our Grasshopper customization project is reaching its ultimate form. This time, we’re undertaking a complete overhaul of the front suspension, aiming for the legendary performance of the Hornet Evo. We gathered the necessary parts based on its instruction manual and got to work. Here is the result of our radical conversion.
An Innovative Damper Setup
Here’s a view from underneath, clearly showing the new suspension geometry.
The heart of this conversion is the unique damper setup. We used Tamiya CVA Mini Dampers (SP.519). For the shock tower, we creatively adapted a Mini 4WD FRP Front Wide Plate (Item No.15472). This unconventional choice is the key to the entire modification.
We devised a clever solution for the upper shock mounts. A stock Grasshopper spring mount is used to securely fasten the damper to the FRP plate.
The lower damper mounting point was also relocated. Instead of the stock position, we moved it to the front of the lower A-arm for better leverage and more effective damping.
Achieving True Double Wishbone Suspension
And here it is: a true double wishbone front suspension on a Grasshopper. This is a massive evolution from the original simple design, promising a significant improvement in cornering performance.
A crucial component for this setup is the front C-hub. We chose the high-precision aluminum “AL Front C-Hub for Hornet Evo” from Eagle Racing for its strength and rigidity.
The Conversion is Complete!
Here is the final look of our fully converted machine. The angled view highlights its aggressive, modern stance. The difference in presence compared to the stock version is night and day.
With the Hornet Evo front-end conversion complete, the handling performance should now be on a completely different level. We can’t wait for the next shakedown run on the track!
Custom Parts Used
The parts used for this customization are listed below.
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