Tamiya 51364 Damper Stay Replacement Options
Table of Contents
- Tamiya 51364 Damper Stay: What It Is and Why It's Hard to Find
- Tamiya 51364 Compatibility: Which Chassis and Models It Fits
- Tamiya RC Parts Cross-Reference: Finding Matching Damper Stays
- Genuine Tamiya Replacement Parts vs Aftermarket Options
- Material Choices: Plastic, Carbon Fiber, and Aluminum Damper Stays
- How to Find Discontinued Tamiya RC Parts
- Installation, Fitment, and Setup Tips for Your Replacement Damper Stay
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 14, 2026
Tamiya 51364 Damper Stay: What It Is and Why It's Hard to Find
The Tamiya 51364 damper stay is a hop-up part for Tamiya's TRF-series buggies, and finding one today means navigating a discontinued-parts market. This guide from Track Star R/C explains what the tamiya 51364 damper stay does, which chassis it fits, and how to source a compatible replacement.
Damper stays sit at the top of the shock tower, absorb crash energy, and flex under every landing. The 51364 was a stiffer, more precise alternative to the stock plastic part, which is why racers still hunt for it years after Tamiya stopped routine production.
The problem: Tamiya's part numbering system does not tell you what fits what. A five-digit number does not map to a chassis code, and no live cross-reference table exists.
Tamiya 51364 Compatibility: Which Chassis and Models It Fits
The Tamiya 51364 damper stay fits TRF-series off-road buggies sharing the same shock tower mounting pattern, most commonly the TRF501X and TRF511 family. It belongs to that 4WD buggy lineage, not the touring car or truck platforms.
Before you order anything, confirm three things:
- Mounting hole spacing on your existing stay, measured centre to centre
- Shock mounting positions (how many holes, and their vertical offset)
- Body clearance at full compression, especially on modified ride heights
If your buggy uses a different tower geometry, the 51364 will not be a direct replacement even if a listing says it is.
The same logic applies across the TRF range: front and rear stays are different parts with different geometry, numbered separately. Never assume a front stay fits the rear.
Tamiya's official parts and product catalog
Tamiya RC Parts Cross-Reference: Finding Matching Damper Stays
Most guides say "check the parts tree" and stop there. That advice is incomplete: the parts tree only tells you what came in your kit, not what will bolt onto your chassis today. This section explains the cross-reference method and the fitment caveats you need.
Step 1: Identify what 51364 actually is
Tamiya hop-up part numbers in the 51xxx range are upgrade parts, not kit parts. Part 51364 is a damper stay (shock tower) hop-up for Tamiya's 4WD off-road buggy platform, the lineage that produced the TRF501X and TRF511. It is not a touring-car or truck part, and front and rear stays are separate part numbers with different geometry.
Because Tamiya rotates hop-up parts out of production, 51364 is best treated as discontinued or intermittently available. Search for compatible stays rather than the 51364 number itself.
Step 2: Trace the parts tree, not the part number
Every Tamiya kit manual includes a parts tree diagram. The damper stay is drawn with a callout number, and that callout number, not the hop-up number, links the part to a specific kit and chassis generation.
- Open your kit's manual to the shock tower / damper stay assembly page.
- Note the callout number next to the stay.
- Search that callout number together with your kit number (for example, the TRF501X or TRF511 kit number), not with 51364 alone.
- Confirm the mounting hole count and spacing match your chassis before ordering.
A common mistake is searching only the hop-up number. Hop-up stays appear on multiple trees across different kits, and the callout number is the only reliable link.
Step 3: Verify a replacement before you buy
Confirm any candidate stay, genuine or aftermarket, with this checklist:
- Mounting hole spacing: measure centre-to-centre on your existing stay and compare.
- Shock mounting positions: count the holes and note their vertical offset; a stay with the same footprint but different hole heights changes shock angle.
- Body clearance: check the stay against the body at full compression, especially if you run a modified ride height.
- Front vs rear: never assume a front stay fits the rear. Tamiya numbers them separately and the geometry differs.
- Hardware: confirm the replacement uses the same screw size and count. Some aftermarket stays need longer screws or spacers.
Step 4: Where to look when 51364 is unavailable
When the original hop-up number is out of stock, widen your search:
- Parts trees from complete kits, broken up and sold individually by hobby shops and online sellers.
- Hobby shop back stock, especially shops that have carried Tamiya for years.
- Racing club classifieds and swap meets, where old racers clear out spares.
- Online marketplaces, where you must verify the seller's photos carefully.
When buying used, inspect mounting holes for elongation and shock mounting points for cracks; a stay through a season of racing may already be compromised.
Tamiya's official parts and product catalog
guidance on identifying discontinued hobby parts
Genuine Tamiya Replacement Parts vs Aftermarket Options
Genuine Tamiya parts guarantee original geometry, material spec, and finish. Aftermarket options trade that certainty for availability, and sometimes for a stiffer or lighter part.
Where each one wins:
| Option | Availability | Fitment certainty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine Tamiya | Low, often discontinued | Exact | Restorations, stock-class racing |
| Carbon fiber aftermarket | Moderate | Requires verification | Modified buggies, weight reduction |
| Aluminum aftermarket | Moderate | Requires verification | High-impact bashers, durability builds |
| Used genuine | Varies | Exact if undamaged | Budget builds, spares box |
Genuine parts are the safe choice when rules require a stock component. Aftermarket stays make sense when you have modified the chassis and need a part matching your new geometry.
One limitation: aftermarket stays vary in hole placement between makers. Two carbon stays for the same chassis can differ by a millimetre, enough to change shock angle.
Material Choices: Plastic, Carbon Fiber, and Aluminum Damper Stays
Material choice is not just about stiffness. On a damper stay, it determines how the part fails, how much it weighs high on the chassis, and whether it bolts on or needs modification. Here is how the three common options compare for a 51364 replacement.
Stock plastic
Stock plastic is the baseline. It flexes under load, absorbing crash energy and protecting the chassis and shocks. It is cheap, widely available as a kit part, and legal for stock-class racing. The trade-off: it flexes under hard landings, changing shock angle and making the buggy feel vague on high-grip tracks. For a restoration or stock-class build, plastic is correct.
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber is the default racing upgrade: rigid, light, and precise on shock mounting positions, which makes setup repeatable. The trade-off is brittleness, a hard hit can crack or delaminate a carbon stay where plastic would bend. Carbon stays also vary between makers, so verify the hole pattern against your chassis before installing.
Aluminum
Aluminum suits bashers and high-impact tracks. It will not shatter, and a bent stay can often be straightened. The weight penalty sits high on the chassis, affecting rotation, some drivers notice slower direction changes, others prefer the stability. Aluminum tolerates minor fitment differences because it can be drilled or filed, but it is rarely a true bolt-on if the hole pattern is off.
Side-by-side comparison
| Option | Availability | Fitment certainty | Weight | Failure mode | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine Tamiya plastic | Low, often discontinued | Exact | Baseline | Bends | Restorations, stock-class racing |
| Carbon fiber aftermarket | Moderate | Requires verification | Lightest | Cracks | Modified buggies, weight reduction |
| Aluminum aftermarket | Moderate | Requires verification | Heaviest | Bends, can be straightened | High-impact bashers, durability builds |
| Used genuine | Varies | Exact if undamaged | Baseline | Bends | Budget builds, spares box |
Fitment caveats by material
- Plastic: direct bolt-on if you have the correct kit part number. No modification needed.
- Carbon fiber: usually direct bolt-on, but verify hole spacing and body clearance. Some makers require different screws or small spacers.
- Aluminum: often requires drilling or filing to match your chassis. Check screw length, since thicker stays may need longer hardware.
How material affects setup
A stiffer stay changes how the tower flexes, which changes how the shocks work. A stiffer stay often lets you go slightly softer on shock oil or springs, since the tower no longer absorbs energy. Fine-tune in small steps and test before changing anything else. If you switch from plastic to carbon or aluminum, re-check ride height and droop, because the new stay may change the tower's effective height.
How to Find Discontinued Tamiya RC Parts
Finding discontinued Tamiya RC parts means widening your search beyond the part number. Tamiya rotates hop-up parts out of production, but the parts stay in circulation through several channels.
- Parts trees from complete kits, which are often broken up and sold individually
- Hobby shop back stock, especially shops that have carried Tamiya for years
- Racing club classifieds and swap meets, where old racers clear out spares
- Online marketplaces, where you must verify the seller's photos carefully
When you buy used, inspect the mounting holes for elongation and the shock mounting points for cracks. A stay that has been through a season of racing may already be compromised.
For a broader look at sourcing hard-to-find components, see guidance on identifying discontinued hobby parts.
Installation, Fitment, and Setup Tips for Your Replacement Damper Stay
Installation is straightforward, but the setup changes after fitting a stiffer stay are what affect lap times.
Start by checking the stay against the chassis with the screws loose. Confirm the shock mounting holes line up and that the body still clears at full compression.
Then work through these checks:
- Tighten evenly, alternating screws so the stay does not distort
- Re-check shock length, since a stiffer stay changes how much the tower flexes
- Adjust ride height if the new stay changes the tower's effective height
- Re-set droop, because a stiffer tower transmits more load to the shocks
A stiffer stay usually means you can go slightly softer on shock oil or springs, because the tower itself is no longer absorbing energy. Fine-tune in small steps and test before changing anything else.
Conclusion
The hard part of replacing a Tamiya 51364 damper stay is not the install. It is confirming fitment before you spend money on a part that may not clear your body or match your shock geometry.
Track Star R/C carries a curated catalog of specialized R/C components and accessories, backed by Certified True CST batch consistency so the part you receive performs the same as the one you ordered last month.
Subscribe to Track Star R/C for new product alerts and special offers, and get your buggy back on the track with the right stay the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tamiya 51364 still available?
Tamiya 51364 is discontinued, so you won't find it on hobby shop shelves as a new item. Availability now depends on remaining stock held by retailers or private sellers. Some shops still list it, but inventory is not guaranteed. If you need one for an upcoming race, check specialist RC retailers first, then look at cross-referenced alternatives that fit the same mounting pattern.
Can a carbon-fiber damper stay replace a Tamiya 51364 part?
Yes, if the aftermarket stay is designed for the same chassis and uses matching mounting holes. Carbon fiber is lighter and more rigid than the stock plastic part, which can sharpen suspension response. The trade-off is cost and slightly less flex, which may change handling on rough tracks. Check the mounting position and hole spacing against your original before buying.
How do I check whether a replacement damper stay will fit my Tamiya chassis?
Start with the part number and chassis code from your kit manual. Compare the mounting hole positions, overall height, and thickness against the replacement. A direct replacement shares the same bolt pattern and damper mounting points. If the holes don't line up, you may need to modify the chassis or use different hardware, so measure carefully before committing.
Where can I find discontinued Tamiya RC parts?
Specialist RC retailers, online marketplaces, and racing club classifieds are your best bets for discontinued parts. Some shops hold old stock for years. You can also check Tamiya parts trees from other kits that share the same chassis. When buying used, inspect photos for stress marks or cracks around the mounting holes, since a damaged stay can fail under race conditions.