INJORA LCG carbon fiber chassis upgrade for Axial SCX10 and SCX10 II - Vorexon RC

Best Axial SCX10, SCX10 II & III Upgrades: What to Upgrade?

The Axial SCX10 platform is one of the most popular choices in the 1/10 RC crawler world and has an enormous range of available parts. Not every modification delivers the same benefit, though. The best upgrades are the ones that correct a real limitation in the vehicle: traction, steering, suspension, drivetrain strength, gearing or weight distribution.

This guide explains which SCX10 upgrades to consider first and how to build a more capable crawler without replacing parts unnecessarily.

Browse the complete Axial SCX10 parts and upgrades collection at Vorexon for compatible components.

What should you upgrade first on an SCX10?

For most SCX10 builds, tires and steering should come first. They directly affect how the crawler uses the terrain and how accurately it holds a line under load.

Suspension, drivetrain components and gearing become more important after that, especially on heavier builds or vehicles used on demanding terrain.

1. Tires and wheels: start with traction

Traction is one of the most important factors in crawling. Even a strengthened drivetrain is of limited use if the tires cannot maintain grip.

Wheel choice also matters. Beadlock wheels make tire changes easier without gluing and can alter weight distribution depending on their material and design.

One option available at Vorexon is the INJORA CNC aluminum 1.9 beadlock wheel set, listed for several 1/10 crawlers including the Axial SCX10.

Explore more options in the RC crawler wheels and tires collection.

2. Steering: maintain control under load

As traction and vehicle weight increase, the steering system has to work harder. Weak steering makes technical crawling difficult because the wheels may no longer hold the requested angle against rocks or obstacles.

Before replacing several components, identify the actual limitation: servo strength, geometry, play in the links or axle components.

Browse the RC crawler steering parts collection.

3. Suspension: balance articulation and stability

Suspension upgrades can change control, ride height and articulation. More travel is not automatically better: a crawler that sits too high can become less stable even if axle movement increases.

Vorexon carries INJORA metal oil shocks in several lengths for 1/10 crawlers including the Axial SCX10.

Choose shock length around your chassis, suspension geometry and target ride height rather than automatically selecting the longest version.

4. Strengthen the drivetrain

As grip, weight and torque increase, drivetrain components can become a weak point. Heavy-duty driveshafts are a common upgrade on crawlers regularly used on difficult terrain.

The AXSPEED heavy-duty steel center driveshaft is listed for Axial SCX10 90046 and AXI03007 as well as several other 1/10 platforms.

For a more complete change, Vorexon also carries the INJORA complete LCG transmission for SCX10 and SCX10 II.

Explore more components in the RC crawler drivetrain collection.

5. Gearing: change how power reaches the wheels

Changing gear ratios can alter wheel speed, climbing behavior and front-to-rear speed differences depending on the setup.

The INJORA steel helical overdrive / underdrive axle gears are listed for SCX10 II 90046, SCX10 III and SCX10 Pro.

Overdrive and underdrive are tuning tools, not universal upgrades. The right choice depends on the crawler and how it is used.

6. Motor: choose torque and speed for the terrain

A motor change can affect low-speed control, wheel speed and torque delivery. For crawling, smooth control at very low speed is often more useful than simply increasing top speed.

One option in the Vorexon catalog is the INJORA waterproof 550 brushed motor, available in several turn counts and listed for Axial SCX10 applications.

Turn count changes motor characteristics, so choose according to the balance of torque, speed and control you want.

7. Add weight selectively

Lowering the center of gravity can improve stability on steep climbs and side slopes. Brass hubs, wheel rings and axle components are often used for this purpose.

Too much weight increases stress on the servo, motor and drivetrain. Add weight selectively and test the vehicle after each change rather than fitting brass everywhere.

Recommended SCX10 upgrade order

Tires — improve traction first.
Steering — make sure the crawler holds a precise line under load.
Wheels and low-mounted weight — improve stability without overloading the vehicle.
Suspension — tune ride height, articulation and control.
Driveshafts — strengthen the drivetrain as grip and loads increase.
Transmission and gearing — refine how power is delivered.
Motor — choose torque and speed characteristics for the terrain.
Advanced axles and chassis — consider these once the basic setup is well balanced.

SCX10, SCX10 II, SCX10 III and SCX10 Pro compatibility

The SCX10 family includes several generations and configurations. A part labeled “SCX10” is not automatically compatible with every model.

Always check the exact vehicle reference and mounting points listed on the product page, especially for transmissions, axles, suspension parts and gearboxes.

Build a balanced SCX10

The most effective builds are usually balanced rather than extreme. Better tires need steering strong enough to use them. Extra weight should not overload the drivetrain. More suspension travel should not raise the center of gravity unnecessarily.

Start with the part that is genuinely limiting your crawler, test the result, then move to the next weak point.

For more detail on driveshafts, gearing and transmissions, read our RC crawler drivetrain guide. If you are comparing larger 1/10 crawlers, see our Traxxas TRX-4 upgrade guide.

Ready to continue your build? Browse all Axial SCX10 upgrades at Vorexon or explore the store’s popular RC crawler upgrades.

For compact crawler platforms, also see our SCX24 upgrades guide and FCX24 / FCX18 upgrades guide.