Carisma GT14 Differential Change Blog || Radio Controlled Gamer column on Game People

As well as getting better at driving our Carisma GT14 1/14th scale radio controlled cars, we are also learning a lot about how to fix them.

And as we put them through a pretty gruelling test each week, so it's no surprise that parts get worn or bent out of shape and need replacing. And when they do, there is usually one of us who has faced that problem before.

One particular facet of the Carisma GT14's (in the first edition at least) is that the rear differential gets looser over time. This means that after a year or so of heavy use the car makes a noticeable grinding noise and is loosing traction.

I'd lived with this on my R/C GT14 for a few weeks, but this weekend I decided to tackle a replacement. Someone else at the club had a spare differential striped from another GT14 that had been in a catastrophic crash - which is a whole other story.

As you can see from the images, it was no mean feat removing the existing differential as it is a fundamental part of the car. This takes about 45 minutes, here are my tips:

Choose whether to replace the diff with a like for like part, or the improved wear of the pro GT14 R/C diff.Work in a clean space with plenty of room for storing the parts and screws you remove.Un-pop the rear shocks and swing-arm.Unscrew and remove the two screws at the back of the upper chassis stiffener plate.Loosen the two screws on the upper chassis stiffener plate that sit over the large cog.Unscrew and remove the six screws underneath the rear chassis that hold the differential in place.Loosen the two smaller screws under the chassis stiffener plate located in front of the large cog.Carefully lift and slide the read differential out. Ensure you do not force this as you may shear the plastic positioning rivets on the underside of the differential housing.Carefully remove the two plastic wishbone supports. Note which is the front and back. These each have a plastic riser that sits between them and the differential housing.Slide the new differential into place.Position the wishbone supports (including plastic riser) and screw in place from underneath.Before this is fully tightened, relocate the wishbone pins (the spacers should be towards the front of the car) and rear wishbone support (including the plastic riser) and screw in place from underneath.Replace and tighten the remaining screws.

Once re-assembled you may want to adjust the GT14 differential slipper to ensure good traction.

Written by Rupert Stelling

Rupert Stelling writes the Radio Controlled Gamer column.

"Having grown up racing Tamiya radio and remote controlled cars and trucks I was keen to get my kids started on the same hobby. Here, I share my R/C reviews and guides to getting started in this electric and petrol powered world."

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