Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 2 – Front Axle

The Build – Part 2
In Part 2 of the Vaterra Ascender K5 build, we’ll be working on the front axle. This includes the axle, gears and steering system. The K5 uses a standardized front solid axle but has a few features that set it apart; 1) the front axle is a single piece, meaning you won’t be putting two-halves together. Secondly, the steering uses aluminum link instead of plastic. Finally, there is a panhard rod to help manage the front end, however we won’t be attaching that until a later step.

Build Notes:
Threadlocking compound is required for this step as well. Have your ‘puddle’ ready.

The manual has you building some of the axle in a certain order. I found a few easier steps and listed them during the build. You can follow either one.

Our first step is to assemble the front slider shaft. Since you’ve already experienced this build in Part 1 (the Transmission), I won’t go into detail with this.

Apply some black grease to the inner coupler, slide the out coupler over it and press the pin through the holes.

Vaterra doesn’t use a set screw to hold the pin in place; instead it uses a bearing. I like this method alot better!

Press the axle assembly into place as shown, making sure the bearing is fully seated into the axle housing.

Teka the black M2 locknuts and press them into place in the axle housing. The fit is pretty tight don’t worry about them falling out. Yes, this is out of step according to the manual but I found it easier during final assembly to already have these installed.

Flip the axle around and press a second bearing into place. Follow that up with the sun gear. Make sure the gear is seated all the way down on the shaft.

Dab a bit of threadlocker onto the retaining screw and secure the sun gear.

Take your solid, one-piece spool assembly (LOVE that it’s one-piece) and slide a shim and washer on both ends. Your instructions may now show the washer but, again, an online ‘manual fix’ shows this as part of the build.

Set the spool into the axle housing and apply some black grease to the gear. Don’t worry about putting to much grease … this is used to help protect the gears during use.

Slide the chrome pumpkin cover and cover protector onto the axle and secure with the 4 screws. Note that there are two different lengths of screws used here; use the shorter ones up top.

Assemble the short link. This link is used to attach the front axle to the floating battery tray. Note the direction of the two balls.

Attach the link to the link brace…

…and then attach the link brace to the front axle.

Build the axle as shown. Again, we’ve already built one of these so we don’t need to go into detail about it … I hope.

Use the ‘Phalen-fingernail method’ to attach the spiral retainer. Feel free to use the term ‘Phalen-fingernail method’. Build 2 of these.

Assemble the left spindle by pressing a bearing into each side (don’t forget the crush tube between them). Take 2 of the hat washers and slide them into the upper and lower holes in the spindle as shown.

Rest the spindle on it’s side and carefully push an assembled axle through it. Slide the wheel hex into place and, while lining up the hole in the hex and the hole in the axle, secure with the long setscrew. The reason you want to put the hat washers in prior to this assembly is that they can be a bit difficult to insert after if you have sausage fingers. The fit it tight enough to keep them in place; just make sure you assemble with the spindle laying sideways.

This outer bearing was a bugger to work with as well, but I found if you pressed it into the axle carrier first it was much more manageable. Just press it flush with the piece as shown. Note the orientation of the carrier; the ‘stops’ will be at the top.

Slide the assembled axle carrier onto the axle and into place with the steering spindle. Secure with the 2 M3x12mm screws. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN! Snug them down and then rotate the spindle. If it is tight, back the screws off slightly and try again. You want the spindle to move as freely as possible.

Build the right side spindle like we did in Steps 46-47. As you can see here, we press the outer bearing flush into the right side axle carrier (not the panhard rod mounting tab). You can then assemble the steering as we did in Step 49.

Keying the axle assembly to the spool is a little tricky but I found a somewhat easy way to do this. This picture shows the square opening in the spool you’re trying to mate the axle to. Just keep that in mind.

Take your axle assembly and slide it into the axle housing as far as it will go.

Using one hand to apply a small amount of pressure, press the axle assembly against the axle housing. Now slowly twist the slider shaft (with the red arrow) until the axle ‘slips’ into the spool. Do this with both sides, noting the orientation of the steering assemblies with the axle (make sure you get the right on the right and the left on the left).

Build two rod ends as shown. This is for the lower steering link (the link that goes from one steering knuckle to the other).

Assemble, making sure you use a dab of threadlocker on the setscrews.

Build two more rod ends. These are for the upper steering link (the link that goes from the servo to the steering assembly).

Assemble, making sure you use a dab of threadlocker on the setscrews. Also note the orientation of the two ends.

Press a black locknut into the upper steering link and attach to the lower steering link.

Attach the steering link assembly to the right-side steering knuckle…

…and the attach the steering link to the left-side steering knuckle. Rotate the steering back and forth a few times to make sure it moves smoothly.

There you have it. Front axle complete!

Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 1 – Transmission
Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 2 – Front Axle
Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 3 – Rear Axle
Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 4 – Chassis
Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 5 – Electronics
Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 6 – Shocks
Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 7 – Suspension Links
Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 8 – Chassis Assembly
Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build – Part 9 – Bumpers, Side Bars, Wheels/Tires, Body

Back to the Vaterra Ascender K5 Blazer Build List