I've had several people asking why the Sport/Carbon Cub 3x3 gear costs more than the Super Cub gear. It comes down to the shock strut design, and since it can be hard to describe over the phone if you've never seen one, I thought I would give an opportunity for people to see what the differences are.

Super Cub shock struts are multi-piece design, where the lower shock strut (the part that is replaced in in the 3x3 gear mod) bolts onto the hydrasorb unit (the hydrasorb unit is what the bungees mount on). So when bolting on an extended gear system all that is replaced is the lower shock strut-the original hydrasorbs and bungees are re-used.

Sport and Carbon Cub shock struts are a full length assembly from the axle to the cabane vee-the bungees actually assemble onto ears that are part of the shock strut assembly. Thus, when you want to make the shock strut longer, the entire assembly including the bungees needs to be replaced. I'm not sure how much more time there is in fabricating the parts that make up the assembly, but I do know that there is approximately TWICE the time just in welding all the pieces together, as compared to the Super Cub lower shock strut assembly.


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/\ SUPER CUB /\
The lower shock strut is on the left, this is what is changed out in a Super Cub installation. A simple tube with some holes and bushings in it. The black part on the right is the hydrasorb assembly, this is what holds the bungees.


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/\ SUPER CUB /\
Lower shock strut. Bolts to the inboard end of the axle, and bolts onto the hydrasorb. This is what is replaced with a longer one.


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/\ SUPER CUB /\
Hydrasorb assembly, would have bungees wrapped around the ears. Bolts to the lower shock strut and the bottom of the cabane vee. Typically covered with an aluminum fairing.


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/\ SPORT & CARBON CUB /\
Close up of shock strut assembly, extended. The bungees would pull the two sets of ears closer together except when absorbing landing loads. (pardon the rust-this would not go on an airplane looking like this)


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/\ SPORT & CARBON CUB /\
Shock strut assembly, un-extended. Bolts to the inboard end of the axle and goes all the way up to the lower part of the cabane vee. Typically the upper portion with the bungees wrapped around the ears would be covered with a similar (though smaller) fairing as the Super Cub one, making it look very close to the same externally.