"Must have" upgrades for SCX10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon RTR

[Elsior]

Hello folks,

I am completely new to this hobby and just bought an Axial SCX10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon RTR.

I have done some research before buying it and discovered the need to upgrade the links and perhaps shocks to aluminium?

I am wondering what other "must-have" upgrades you'd recommend for it?

Are there certain brands you would recommend?

Many thanks!

 

[D654]

Good question, I was just about to post the same thing, but I guess i will just tag along on this one.

My biggest question was, should I replace drive shafts or are the aluminum collars worth installing?

 

[diesel kawboy]

I don't think any upgrades are "must have" the rtr setup is designed to be reliable. The suspension and steering links are flexible for a reason. Is it the most performance oriented? No. Anytime you upgrade parts of the system, you need to look down the line for the next weak point. It's never ending. As far as driveshafts, just make sure the pins are locktite secured. If you are new, I'd just drive it and upgrade parts as they break.

 

[o0wiz0o]

I moved the battery up front to get some weight over the front wheels, removed the bump stops on the shocks for better articulation and removed the front bumper as it caught on everything (Spare tyre too). Crawls much better and it cost nothing but a few Zip ties to hold the battery tray.

 

[k7zpj]

Start driving your Jeep stock and learn how it handles. Once you find start finding problems or break parts make one upgrade at a time. This way you will start leaning what the various upgrades do and how they effect the handling of your rig.

It is important to only make one change at a time so you see what the effects of the change are. If you do lots of upgrades at once, you might make you rig handle worst than stock and not know why.

Probably the most important upgrade is driving skills. You need to learn how to find the lines and how to crawl up the rocks. It takes time. I have out crawled really decked out SCX-10's with my nearly stock Honcho.

 

[808DA6]

Yes, don't underestimate the capability of the stock SCX10. My Axial based 1.9 has TONS of bells and whistles. A buddy of mine just got a RTR Honcho for x-mas. He keeps up and sometimes even concurs routes that I can't. Pisses me off. Lol!

 

[nightster]

Well I have to agree with what most have said, although I have noticed the steering needs some work. A lil bendy for my taste, after a battery relocate that's probably the first thing I'd think about doing. Mainly bc that is the next thing I'm thinking about doing "thumbsup". Definitely drive it for a bit to get a feel for it, then once you do the upgrades you'll be able to tell the difference.

 

[johnnyh66]

Robinson Racing trans gears and quality lockers will keep you running a long time.

Then, when you have the cash, work on the front axle: CHubs, Knuckles and Universals.

 

[Kitty]

i can ad MIP shafts and aluminum links"thumbsup"

 

[Demodude]

I'll say one of the most inexpensive upgrades is overdriving the front axle. It really helps the most when on the rocks

 

[toyota2]

Demodude can you explain why. I have read a little about this but I am still not sure why people do this.

Thanks and sorry for the hijack.

 

[Lentsnh2012]

Demodude can you explain why. I have read a little about this but I am still not sure why people do this.

Thanks and sorry for the hijack.

When you install Overdrive gears into the front axle only, you make the front spin a little faster than the rear. The end result is the front end pulling the truck up the obstacle and the rear pushing the truck.

 

[diesel kawboy]

Overdriving the front axle means the tires in the front are turning faster than the front, decreasing your turning radius. Some o/d the front and underdrive the rear for am even greater effect.

 

[ROLANDROCKSHOP]

my 1st upgrade would be the steering links...
ditch the plastic and get an alum/steel steering linkage setup.

then would be moving the battery upfront..

then knuckles/c-hubs/cvds

then tranny gears..alum or steel

then some solid links for upper/lower links 98mm front/106mm rear


"thumbsup"

box stock scx is a pretty capable rig...

 

[Elsior]

Thanks for the advice, all. Much appreciated.

I have bought the SCX10 with the following Aluminium Link Upgrade Set:

Axial Racing - SCX10 TR Links Set - 12.3" (313mm) WB

However, I will drive it stock first as has been suggested.

 

[SCX10 JK]

I'm definitely still a Newbie at this, but I have been running a mostly stock JK for about 6 months. One upgrade I found that really helped me was to get the RC4WD servo relocation kit. This eliminated the binding that I was having in the front and allowed me to achieve max articulation with the stock shocks. Another free thing is to set your body height up a little and push front bumper out this will help tires to tuck all the way with little to no rubbing.

Other upgrades
Axial link set did change the endlinks on rear links to angled ones on motor plate side gave better twist and eliminated side to side motion and made the front a 4link. Will bind in the front without the servo relocation.
Axial bead locks and Irok tires

 

[Dak26]

Anyone have the servo relocation part #? Would be a great help!!

 

[TekmoCrawl]

Start driving your Jeep stock and learn how it handles. Once you find start finding problems or break parts make one upgrade at a time. This way you will start leaning what the various upgrades do and how they effect the handling of your rig.

It is important to only make one change at a time so you see what the effects of the change are. If you do lots of upgrades at once, you might make you rig handle worst than stock and not know why.

Probably the most important upgrade is driving skills. You need to learn how to find the lines and how to crawl up the rocks. It takes time. I have out crawled really decked out SCX-10's with my nearly stock Honcho.

I could not agree with you more. :thumbup:

 

[GoSpeedRCerGo]

I started off stock for a while, then added a lot of cosmetic mods and decided to just now upgrade performance wise now that I have a lot more weight on my rig.. planning on VP Curries and links, and possibly some of those RC4WD Scale King shocks (100mm)... all I'm saying is, make it look pretty, then, upgrade what you need to make it perform how you want with all the added weight and goodies, that's what I did and it worked for me! with the exception of a real 3ch radio swap for my winch

 

[megapro]

I don't think any upgrades are "must have" the rtr setup is designed to be reliable. The suspension and steering links are flexible for a reason. Is it the most performance oriented? No. Anytime you upgrade parts of the system, you need to look down the line for the next weak point. It's never ending. As far as driveshafts, just make sure the pins are locktite secured. If you are new, I'd just drive it and upgrade parts as they break.

I agree with you diesel kawboy, I did oriented more than 3 months to see what really need to upgrade .... HD drive shaft the first !