AX24 Build: Small Change for Big Gains

In this video I revisit my Axial AX24 build. Despite being heavily modified, I still struggled with performance until I finally fixed the root cause of my on-going frustrations: the wheelbase. Using some spare SCX24 parts, I extended the rear of the AX24 and it made all the difference!
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Timestamps
What I've done: 1:00
Performance tests: 3:11
Indoor course runs: 5:00
Rock crawling: 9:40
Final thoughts: 17:23

[@CapeCrawlers]

NOTE: this fix could be difficult on stock chassis due to stock shock mounts Timestamps What I've done: 1:00 Performance tests: 3:11 Indoor course runs: 5:00 Rock crawling: 9:40 Final thoughts: 17:23

[@illestmuzik]

im very interested in this build you have. is there a place i can find all the upgrades you did and just give me a quick estimate of what that truck costs in this video? thank you

[@jtdehaanjr]

I agree, could we get a full spec chart on this build?

[@brandonperry794]

My self and a few other guys have done all the building there after work hours, glad you enjoy it as well

[@CapeCrawlers]

We love it there! Hopefully I’ll catch you guys out there some day

[@clint_thayer]

Can you provide part numbers for the lower links and driveshaft? Even just length would help. Will need to order.

[@AnyAssumptionBanter]

for me what was disappointing is the chassis; its a tower and not really spread out between the wheels. I just don't know how even aftermarket chassis didn't have a different setup. To fix these issues, just seems so much more work. But I like your solutions. That's pretty interesting. Now it looks like some deep sea creature moving around your track. I was also thinking.. what if you put slightly thinner tires, like comp pins, and make it instead lighter rather than heavier. it seems to stick and being lighter, it would float more, less to pull up, and comp pins or some other tiny lugs could grab the little things.

[@bassingbasics6621]

Awesome job! I have found that just by taking the springs out, I have really improved my overall performance, especially with climbing! Mines not stock but still has the stock chassis and the 43mm injures shocks without the springs are a killer options!

[@shawnrichardson118]

Cool build I really like the lower center of gravity

[@keldonator]

I'm am using gladiator links front and rear. I'm also using reverse spring shocks in the front to keep it down and long travel in the back. Lots of weight on the axles. Hard to fit all the stuff on the chassis.

[@CapeCrawlers]

What chassis are you using?

[@keldonator]

@@CapeCrawlers Carbon fiber Angry Sparrow, fcx24 axles, ogrc servos, python pro and gt5 with the thumb knob mod. This is my first from scratch build. Still gotta finish the transmitter tho I have the parts. Probably gonna make side skirts for it and move stuff around also.

[@bigdumbdad2226]

Sweet! I have links laying around and an AX with a MoFo Double Dragon chassis. I'm going to see if it likes a longer rear setup.

[@j.t.blassingame2608]

Man thank you for taking all the guess work out of this for us. I did the angry sparrows with the 69mm lower rears and you are right… what a difference! Do you think it would further benefit from a small stretch in the front? Say taking the stock 52mm lowers to around 58.5mm front lowers? Or do you think that would make the overall wheelbase too long for typical performance?

[@joshbrekke6374]

It’s nice to learn my now extra OEM Deadbolt parts will improve one of these because one of these is my next step. After our Pontiacs are sorted first. My first was/is a Deadbolt. I’m learning that too much weight may not be the best decision however I’m sticking with it for now. Nice Video. I like the lil scale & angle guage!

[@johnnyhotshoe1292]

I haven't spent much time with mine. I ran it with a regular rear axle for awhile. I liked it better w/o rear steer. Im not great at using it either so thats on me.

[@ICanDoItMyself]

I saw on another channel they put a spring inside the shock to pull it down. Might help here.

[@CapeCrawlers]

I need to try that. I attempted it with a pen spring but it wasn’t the right size

[@RyanRad01]

That rear steer is unrivaled

[@richardparkiii8355]

High performance shoot out!? Yes!!!

[@VetteWay2Fast]

I am in the same boat with the random flip overs. Once one on the axles gets near vertical, it just unloads and flips on its back. Very annoying, I’ve tried going to gladiator length and deadbolt length but issue persists. Have so much brass on the axles with the furitek system as well. At this point, I think I’m gonna pick up another chassis and go 4ws on that

[@VetteWay2Fast]

Do u have any recommendations for a chassis that has room in the back for a rear steer servo?

[@isaacmitchell-nd3wp]

Love the vid!!! 🔥🔥🔥 You should review the killer chassis for the scx24

[@MitchellBolognaniRC]

Great video as always. I know you like Halloween hahaha I was almost expecting a "Hills have eyes" jump scare. 👻

[@CapeCrawlers]

Haha maybe I’ll sneak it in next time

[@MikeDstran]

Hey guy, great video. One question, any idea if the power hobby 450 mah will fit inside the body battery tray with the Velcro on the angry sparrow??

[@braedanacheson152]

I’ve got an AX24 and it’s in pieces I’m 13 and mowing lawns for $100 a month and trying to get as much upgrades as possible do you have any suggestions on budget wise

[@CapeCrawlers]

My first advice is to set a budget. If you make $100 per lawn, set aside X amount for upgrades. Then you can start researching your upgrades and create a plan based on your projected budget. Check out my bronco build playlist. You can see how i incrementally built that thing. I would also encourage you to look at how to increase your cash flow. Could you get your customers to prepay monthly by offering a discount? Say $350 a month for weekly mowing? Then you collect $350 up front from each person who agrees. What about increasing the services you offer? Could you do pressure washing or offer an up charge for chemical treatments? You could again bundle all of this into a monthly service charge.

[@bruceking2327]

Can you put up a single photo of your entire course? Thanks Bruce

[@caseys_cozy_garage]

The ax24 is of questionable stability but I gotta try this

[@j.t.blassingame2608]

Great stuff thanks. Curious, do you think the Angry Sparrows is key to this setup? Or could the same geometry be achieved for the same results using cheaper CF chassis side plates with multiple shock mounting holes?

[@CapeCrawlers]

I think the wheelbase is key. Any LCG chassis will do the trick with the stretched wheelbase I bet

[@tinyrcguy]

great watch

[@annaharpley1673]

Yes great video dude !

[@snorrevonflake]

Does this have an advantage over a SCX24 with rear steer. (A decent comp chassis)

[@gammagonad1657]

I basically bought the truck and everything thing you mentioned putting on to your rig, and just what I could see. The one question I have is are the wheels weighed at all, or is it just brass hexes and diff covers?

[@CapeCrawlers]

The wheels are pretty heavy as is, but I didn't add any weight. Just the hexes and diff covers you mentioned

[@gammagonad1657]

@@CapeCrawlers awesome, because I just finally decided on wheels and ordered them last night. I ended up going with some sick green Treal micro spoked wheels with brass rings (27g per wheel) which match the steering linkage. That along with a set of Ramp Crab +5 hub extension kit(7g per hub) and one 14g brass diff cover for the front w/skid plate. I wanted a little bit of weight, but I didn’t want to over do it. Seems like I might have gotten it right. I also ordered some springs for inside the shocks. The closest I could find was some 2mm x .3 x 15 springs(hopefully they will work) I’m trying my best to recreate the “secret sauce” BTW, Thanks for responding and for making all the content which lead me down this path…my wallet hates you 😜😉

[@paulgugliotti9446]

What can be done with stock chassis? I have CF frame rails and axial brass skid plate. The rest is stock

[@paulgugliotti9446]

I do have HR steering links too

[@CapeCrawlers]

Check out what Matt did over at 2FMRC. He significantly modified the stock chassis to be a LCG setup

[@terrymurphy1133]

So what would be the minimum upgrades to get the wheelbase to that point?

[@parkergabrielson9602]

Just rear links and drive shaft rlly

[@VetteWay2Fast]

I don’t think u can extend the wheelbase on the stock chassis bc the shocks won’t be long enough and the stock chassis doesn’t have adjustable top shock mounts

[@ctascmercdoc]

Thank you much for the awesome content! Really would like to know what rims/wheels you are using.

[@CapeCrawlers]

Thanks! These are the LGRP torque beadlocks I believe

[@trejodaniel]

Thanks Adam, Great video! I know this is off-topic, but could you mount the stock AX24 body on the roof of the Angry Sparrow Chassis using Velcro? I’ve been wondering this for a while, but don’t yet have the Angry Sparrow Chassis on my Arsenal. Thank you!!!!

[@johnnyhotshoe1292]

Good question!

[@CapeCrawlers]

So I just gave this a shot and I think it can work pretty easily. With some velcro on the very front of the roof and on the rear cross bar of the angry sparrow I think it could be attached. It looks rad!

[@johnnyhotshoe1292]

@CapeCrawlers thanks for taking time. Appreciated!

[@trejodaniel]

@@CapeCrawlers You’re the best dude! Thanks for your replies.

[@quentinsilas5912]

What 4ws transmitter is that?

[@CapeCrawlers]

The furitek avatar 4ws

[@thundertoad3]

So you think using longer shocks and laying the shocks down would help at all as well with the climbing capability. Just did this mod after watching your video and it works really well . Mines kinda like a limo now with the mega clearance front brass libks from mofo then deadbolt rears . Ty love your content

[@CapeCrawlers]

Thanks for watching! Depends how long you go with the shocks. As long as you’ve got some sort of limiter on the front I think you could go 54-58mm if you wanted to. I personally think longer shocks would hurt performance unless they were significantly limited

[@thundertoad3]

Yeah would keep my front normal and I have two rubber bands acting as dynamic limiters . Really appreciate your replying ty

[@edwardrharevichjr.8490]

Where is this location? I'm in MA as well and just found your channel.

[@Tomeygun79]

Can you tell us the measured wheelbase?

[@thelurker9472]

An ax24 is my next purchase. I won't be going crazy at first but any way to lower or change the mounting of the speedo?

[@CapeCrawlers]

Check out Matt at 2FMRC. He did a great series on the ax24 specifically how to modify the stock chassis to change the layout

[@thelurker9472]

@@CapeCrawlers subbed

[@jamieberkebile5226]

Did you only stretch the rear?

[@trejodaniel]

Another question!?!? Did you only stretched the front axle and left the Back untouched? Or did you extend both axles?

[@CapeCrawlers]

I only stretched the rear

[@jakethole]

I just can’t get into the way it looks. I like a body or rock buggy look a lot more

[@CapeCrawlers]

I agree

[@Tipman2OOO]

Is that the stock motor? Incredible slow crawl!

[@CapeCrawlers]

It's the furitek stinger brushless combo

[@Tipman2OOO]

@@CapeCrawlers nice!

[@JarJarBinks-dw5og]

Are you gonna do a video over the new Scx24 power wagon

[@CapeCrawlers]

Yes, they’re sending me one and a trailer to check out 👍🏻

[@terrymurphy1133]

Just wanted to know if I bought the Axial 1/24 AX24 XC-1 4WS Crawler Brushed RTR now, would I be able to just move the links up and add the deadbolt ones? Would I need to change more than that?

[@CapeCrawlers]

My only concern about trying this on the stock chassis is the shock mounts. It’s a long stretch for the stock shock locations. I had to move my shocks all the way to the very end of the angry sparrow chassis to maintain workable suspension geometry.

[@terrymurphy1133]

OK, so I would need to change to the angry sparrow chassis, or would different shocks be the way to go? Do you have a part number for these?@@CapeCrawlers

[@chuckclayton3862]

Did you have to modify the drive shafts at all?

[@CapeCrawlers]

I used a deadbolt driveshaft in the rear

[@user-mc9ni5sb6l]

Running that chassis Backwards

[@RyanRad01]

It’s called the angry sparrow so it’s supposed to look like a bird, not a buggy

[@vincentcronin3361]

what wheels are those on your ax24?

[@CapeCrawlers]

LGRP torque beadlocks

[@dcrctraxxasrocks8005]

Yea now it looks like a modified unrealistic truck. I got one too. Gave it away it's junk

[@CrazyQuadBrothersP3]

HEY ADAM, SOME ONE HACKED OR FAKED YOURE ACCOUNT ON “FAIR RC” LIVESTREAM