It’s definitely a sensitive topic when discussing RC car upgrades, especially when considering aluminium parts. If you’re running a slow crawler, opting for aluminium or even brass components almost everywhere can be the best approach to enhance performance and durability.
However, if your RC adventures involve hard off-road bashing or tackling jumps, you’ll likely find that RPM special plastic arms are more suitable. These are designed to absorb impacts and flex, reducing the risk of breakage upon hard landings.
Interestingly, there are some fast off-road RC cars for which RPM doesn’t manufacture aftermarket parts. In these cases, the stock A-arms can be notoriously weak. Upgrading to aluminium arms can be a game-changer for these vehicles, significantly increasing their resilience. With aluminium A-arms, you can often endure substantial impacts, sometimes only needing to straighten a bent hinge pin – a relatively easy and inexpensive repair.
Therefore, dismissing aluminium A-arms entirely isn’t advisable. They can be exceptionally beneficial for certain RC cars, largely depending on parts availability and your driving style.
Like everything in the RC hobby, there are pros and cons to consider.
Before you jump to conclusions about whether aluminium is right for you, it’s essential to consider a few key questions about your setup. To give tailored advice, we need to know:
- What RC Rig do you have? Understanding the model is crucial.
- What is your Driving Style? Are you crawling, bashing, racing, or something else?
- What Power System are you using? The power can influence stress on parts.
- Are you a Beginner RC Driver? Experience level can affect part choice.
- Have you read the Manual? Understanding your car’s specifications is always a good starting point.
In many situations, aluminium parts will indeed offer advantages over stock plastic components. However, it’s not a universal solution. The “right” approach heavily depends on your specific rig and driving style. Choosing the correct gear, hop-ups, and parts requires careful consideration of these factors in the first place.
While aluminium can often be superior to stock plastics, this isn’t always the case. Precision is key. The suitability of aluminium parts is primarily dictated by your RC rig and driving style, with selecting the appropriate gear and hop-ups coming in as a secondary, but important consideration.
The debate around aluminium versus plastic parts could continue endlessly. Ultimately, it boils down to the pros and cons in relation to your specific rig and your driving style. Choosing the right hop-ups and aftermarket parts is a decision that needs to be made in this context.
