Break Trails, Not the bank – 5 Top Mods for the Axial AX24

Everybody loves a custom build. When we get a project idea in our heads, we dream up an extensive and expensive wish list of parts and modifications. The focus is on changing everything, but the reality is to achieve the best performance and bang for our buck. We really don’t need to replace each and every part, and we certainly don’t need to do it all at once. Case in point is this Axial AX24 build. Here I focused on five perfect mods that take the already-capable four-wheel-steer micro crawler to the next level.

1. Tires
If you want to make a big difference in any RC vehicle, start with the tires. Micro crawler tires keep getting bigger and bigger, and while some of these oversized tires can look a bit ridiculous on some scale rigs, the AX24, with its narrow rock crawler body, can get away with some tall rubber. As such, I chose Pro-Line’s Maxxis Trepador tires. These are currently their tallest 1/24-scale tire, and they come wrapped on Pro-Line’s Holcomb wheels, which have a +2mm offset. The wider stance improves stability and helps keep the tall tires from rubbing at full steering lock. Plus, the big beadlock rings look awesome.

PRO TIP
The Pro-Line Trepador directional tires are great right out of the bag, but for even better traction I vented them with two 1mm holes per tire. This small change really helps the tires conform around and grip obstacles.

2. BRASS WEIGHT
Brass is where a lot of people simply go overboard. Here’s the secret: You can get away with a lot less added weight if you add it in the right spots. The more weight you add, the more you stress the motor and servo—servos in this case—and the more likely you are to break parts when gravity wins. The best place to add weight is down low and out toward the wheels. You also want front weight bias on a crawler. Remember, just because an aftermarket part is made of brass that doesn’t mean you need it. Again, you want a rig with a low center of gravity with more weight up front. The idea is to build a stable crawler, not a boat anchor.

PRO TIP
Not all screw thread styles are the same. Only use the ball stud hardware included with the Axial Brass Knuckles. The stock ball stud screws have a coarse thread meant for plastic only. They will break off in the brass pieces if you attempt to use them.

Normally, I’m not a fan of increasing rotational mass, as it greatly impairs performance, but other than brass wheel nuts (do they even make those?), Pro-Line’s Brass Internal Bead-Loc Rings get weight about as far out as possible. Each ring weighs 17g and I used four, one in each wheel of course, for a total of 68 added grams in the perfect location. I then added Axial’s Brass Knuckles. Again, these put the weight low and out toward the wheels, which is ideal. These machined knuckles weigh in at 12.5g each.

PRO TIP
When replacing the differential covers in the AX24 or SCX24, make sure you swap out the front worm gear support bearing. This little bearing almost always gets stuck in the plastic cover. Gently pry it out and install it in the new differential cover.

3. SHOCKS
The AX24 is designed for maximum articulation out of the box. If you like flex, you’ll love the long-legged AX24. The downside of the long shocks is a springy ride. Switching to oil-filled shocks makes a huge difference in performance.

In my opinion, the best shocks available for the AX24 are definitely Pro-Line’s 1/24 50mm Big Bore Scaler Shocks. These high-quality aluminum shocks feature threaded bodies, two sets of springs and mounting hardware. I filled the shocks with 20-weight silicone shock fluid and decided to use the softer of the included springs. Unlike a lot of micro shocks that hold just a few drops of oil, the Pro-Line shocks hold a good amount of shock fluid in their big-bore bodies and provide true damping.

4. Carbon Fiber Chassis
The stock aluminum chassis plates on the AX24 weigh a miniscule 3g each. The fancy carbon fiber chassis pieces from Axial weigh in at 2g each. Why go through the trouble of changing these pieces? Besides being a sucker for the bling factor of carbon fiber, losing even just 2g up high helps make the weight I added down low that much more effective.

PRO TIP
I noticed the aluminum caps on the Pro-Line shocks rubbed on the edge of the carbon fiber chassis, so I carefully removed some carbon fiber material, near where the shocks mount, using a sanding drum on a rotary tool. This step ensures the suspension has no binding or restrictions on movement and has full articulation.

5. DriveR Mod
The driver mod is free and works for every type of RC, from racing to drifting to crawling and everything in between. In RC, people are constantly chasing a setup or searching online or at the hobby store for that one upgrade to make all the difference. That mod is you. I’m not talking about getting a whole new driver, just changing the way you drive. Practice, think, have a strategy, and practice some more. Basically, don’t suck.

Specific to the AX24, the biggest problem people have with 4WS vehicles is they pilot them just like standard two-wheel-steer rigs. They drive normally and then, when they’re in a pinch, they try to use 4WS to get out of it. That’s reactive. Think proactively. Get accustomed to planning your line as if you’re going to use 4WS. Also, remember that 4WS isn’t just for tight corners. Moving those rear tires can make all the difference on a climb. Changing the way you drive will have far more of an impact on performance than any mod you can buy.

WHAT’S NEXT?
I could leave this AX24 alone and it will be a great crawler, but I know I will continue to personalize it. I will likely order the clear XC-1 body. Because I haven’t added a ton of weight, the stock motor is pulling just fine and the servos are doing their job. That said, down the trail I will probably give in and go brushless, and I’ll most likely go with an outrunner for crazy climbing. If I decide I want something inexpensive, easy to install and a little faster than the stock brushed system, I might opt for Spektrum’s Firma 8A Sensored Brushless combo.

The real takeaway here is I don’t need to buy and install more parts right now. Modifying vehicles is fun and a big part of the hobby, but we often make it way more complicated and expensive than it needs to be. Put down the wrenches and pick up the transmitter. Run your vehicles stock. Run them mildly modified like this Axial AX24. Don’t be in a rush to take an inexpensive vehicle and make it an expensive conglomeration of components that doesn’t really perform all that well. More isn’t always better. Just go have some fun.

FEATURED PARTS LIST
Axial AX24 XC-1 AXI00003
Axial Brass Differential Cover AXI302001
Axial Brass Knuckles AXI302003
Axial Carbon Fiber Chassis Side Plates AXI301001
Pro-Line 1/24 50mm Big Bore Scaler Shocks PRO639100
Pro-Line 1/24 Maxxis Trepador Tires PRO1022510
Pro-Line Brass Internal Bead-Loc Rings 2818-00

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Text by Matt Higgins
Images courtesy of Horizon Hobby