Traxxas Rustler VXL 4x4 - Tips, Gearing, Weak Points

We love our Traxxas Rustler VXL 4x4's, here's a summary of what we've learned and like and links to parts if you need them.
1. Screws come loose on the axle carriers, here's a link to the replacements if you need it:

2. Aluminum Bearing Adapter (the part that melts)

3. An ESC Fan

4. 15T Pinion Gear if you want to gear yours like ours:
There's lots of options here. The motor is a 3mm shaft, 32P gear mesh.

5. SMC Batteries are freaking awesome

6. We also have lost a few shock spring retainers

7. UPDATE. We've replaced the stock a-arms with RPM

8. Here's another recent video I just made. Just one more quick tip

I'VE GOT A GREAT VIDEO ON TIPS AND TRICKS ABOUT THE MINI E-REVO HERE

[sebastianhawpe]

I suggest upgrading all the screws with stainless steel screws. Those stock screws tend to rust and strip out over time

[wwjoshdew]

The ending was the best. Trying to decide a favorite and giving up!! "just buy em all". For me it started with a 2s brushed rc car for Christmas. Then escalated. 1/16 e revo, then xmaxx, then maxx. Now I want the e revo 2.0, hoss, rustler, and trx4, summit 1/10, and more!!! Haba

[changeforthebetter]

4 years later and you just saved me with the part # !!! Thanks

[TheSkinon]

Tighten your slipper clutch, it's slipping too much and causing the heat that melts the plastic gear... I'll still upgrade mine eventually...

[flhandster]

Great video. Detailed and informative. I have a quick question. I’m just curious if you may know what could cause my Rustler 4WD to stop popping wheelies!?! I’ve adjusted the shipper clutch and still no wheelies. Is there anything with what you did here in this video with the clutch assembly, etc., that could be the culprit to stopping the wheelies. PLMK if you may have any thoughts or insights. Trying to get my grandson’s truck up and running. Also, did you put any grease or oil on the bearings and shaft during reassembly? Thank you for the video and your time. 😎🙏🏼

[victordalkvist]

thanks so much for all the help im gonna by it now yiiiihiiii

[ThoricAuthority]

Can I run a 15/54 with 3s for offroading? I just got the Rustler Ultimate and I'm just not satisfied with the 40 mph out of the box. I've got dual fans and heat sink for the motor and a fan for the esc. Would that be enough to keep the 15/54 set up cool?

[colbybertelsen]

Just so every body knows the body comes off just fine
And it is not nearly as fast on two cells shock caps and the drive shafts are the weak points

[douglaselliott]

Ambient air temps have much to do with motor/ESC cooling. The $10.00 half-moon heat-syncs that snap onto 540-550 motors do much to cool them. RED Locktight? How are you going to apply 'heat' to the plastic to remove it? The little plastic widget you replaced with the aluminum one is called a 'bearing adaptor' in your RC's exploded parts diagram.

[minnesotanice]

I ripped all the teeth off spur gear didn't have issue with that plastic piece I also krazy glue shock tops( skip the aluminum) they don't fall off and use 80 dollar per axle constant velocity traxass ones upgraded to stainless steel screws because they strip so fast

[kings]

We run 3 rustler vxl in the garden on 3s and standard gearing with a cooling fan on the esc so flat track and pretty flat out. We have broken countless A arms, hubs, drive shafts and are constantly adjusting the steering turn buckles. Other than that they are serious fun and have taken some abuse. With no heat related problems so far although our average temp is probably about 8 or 9” c. I tried the high speed gear that came with it and with just short sharp bursts it melted the connector on the battery. That was on a 2S.

[rogerwilco]

Thanks for the tips. Because of your advice I bought the aluminium bearing adapter when I bought my Rustler and installed it before even running the car. I've also added a fan to the ESC and motor that I think should have been standard on this car. With regard to getting the body off (and on too), that really annoyed me as I had untold trouble. So I put some small rubber grommets in the 4 front body mounting screws between the body and the inside frame effectively lifting the body slightly so it doesn't get caught on the shocks. It's now so much easier to install/remove the body and to my eye doesn't raise the front enough to look weird.

[saschazorn]

Amazing tips! Driving with 3S this thing is just crazy fast! Just having mine for 3 days and already bent the center shaft in an unlucky encounter with a stone.Thank you so much for the tip with the screws! Doing this right away tomorrow! Do you had any problems with the spring retainers? Because it seems I lost one in the field! They slide off pretty easily with the default tensioning when the wheels are all the way down...

[minnesotanice]

these fans are legit I can't get mine to overheat with the fan on 3s

[KPahn]

I've had problems with the lower shock caps. They tend to come off.

[docedits]

Reason your motor getting hot is your slipper clutch looks tight AF. This means way too much torque meaning too hard on the parts. I stripped 2 spur gears then watched Traxxas's saftey video. The slipper clutch should whirr and the wheels should slip for the first 2 feet when the throttle is slammed. I also must say when Im running on carpet tracks wheelies suck so adjusting it is nice.

[supboy]

I have dual fans and a heatsink on my motor i run 3s all the time and temps are good with that and cutting out the windshield on the body. I live in the Caribbean its hot and humid all the time.

[robroberts]

Replacing the front shock caps with traxxas aluminum caps makes the body slip on and off easy

[zerobot]

I run stock 3s in my rustelr vxl for 30 minutes doesnt overheart at all

[scottfirman]

there is a method for removing the body on the rustler. You need to push back on the nose of the body to disengage the front body clip. Pulling it just abuses the body mount over time.