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Just finished building my second Nitro TC3,nothing outrageous,just a nice,simplle,fast,reliable go kart.
I sold my first one to help pay for my WRX RA and I missed it!
Bought a roller off eBay,a new Associated .15 engine,added a K Factory carbon radio tray,a good,strong Hitec steering servo and an $8 HSP pipe that fits,works and looks great.
To pay homage to my WRX,I bought an HPI WRX body for it,pity they don't do a 4 door version,but I can't complain.

A few odd things,the engine came with the low speed mixture set so lean,it would have killed the engine.
And when I serviced the diffs,I found only one bearing supporting the input shaft,and there's a space a second one!
I've seen countless photos of other Nitro TC3s with one bearing,too.
I went ahead and added it,does anyone know why Associated would sell these with,in my mind,missing a bearing?

The photo of the diff explains what I'm talkin' about,in regards to the bearing...And shot of what the car looked like when it arrived.
Need to find my bag of zip ties,too dangnabit.

Someone seriously needs to do a Version 5 Type RA WRX body!
One of the few cars that look better as a 4 door sedan,IMHO.
Oh,if anyone has a carbon lower NTC3 chassis,I'd love to buy it off ya

The rear pinion is supported on the front of the two speed assembly, So no real need for a second bearing in the diff case. But you use two bearings in the front to support the pinion gear. Diff cases are the same casting for front and rear

Well you guys had me curious

FasterLouder is correct about there being a second empty bearing space in the rear.

But DHood makes sense about the front and the rear cases being the same.

My take? i wish i would have read Dhood post before opening my NTC3 to find out

Ive had mine since 2004 and have never opened cases till today, 10 years later...i've run mine since i got it, gone through 3 bodies, countless tires and only had to replace a servo horn.

I cant believe its still runs nice. i hope a clean up doesnt change my luck, lol

Nice work on the overhaul. FWIW, I've had five ntc3's (down to two now), and I've always added the extra bearing. Might not be necessary, but it definitely isn't going to hurt anything.

This is my TC5 drifter, but I thought you might like the body...

Thanks so much for that info!
No harm in adding a second bearing,that's what I thought.
The TC3 is such a resilient car,no wonder you can still buy them new.
Loving the WRX body,mate!
Makes me want to put one on my TC5!