Axial SCX24 – What is the difference in the models?

Right now there are four different model Axial SCX24s available. The B-17 Betty, the 1967 Chevrolet C10, the 2019 Jeep Wrangler JLU CRC, and the Deadbolt. A question that I see come up a lot is “will the same parts work on all the SCX24s?” So let’s talk a little about that…

For the most part, under the hood (or body I guess) all the SCX24 models are the same. The electronics – motor, servo, receiver/ESC – are the same from vehicle to vehicle. The chassis rails, shocks, and axles are the same as well. So if you are upgrading any of those parts whatever fits one of the vehicles will fit any of the vehicles. There are, however, three places that there are differences in the vehicles – the body, the wheels/tires, and the suspension links.

Body

The body is the most visible difference. But aside from looks, how the bodies mount is also different. All of the bodies are hinged in the rear so that they can be easily lifted for changing batteries or working on the vehicles. But the bumper they mount to is different from vehicle to vehicle. In the front, the Jeep and Betty use a single body post and body clip, while the C10 and Deadbolt use two body posts and body clips. They also have front bumpers that are unique to each body style. While most of these differences may seem minor cosmetic differences, there are other things to consider. Out of all the four variations, the C10 body sits the lowest and has the least amount of clearance for tires, which will limit your tire upgrade choices unless you do other modifications. The Deadbolt has the most clearance, and can use the widest variety of tires without modifications. The Jeep and Betty are in the middle as far as tire clearance.

Wheels and Tires

Speaking of tires, they are another difference between the vehicles. The Jeep and Deadbolt both use the Axial Nitto Trail Grappler tires mounted on Axial KMC Machete wheels. The C10 uses Axial BFGoodrich Krawler T/A tires mounted on Axial Method MR307 Hole wheels. The B-17 Betty uses Axial Rock Lizard tires mounted on Axial Rockster wheels. For more info on tires and the upgrade options available please see our 1.0 Tire Comparison.

Suspension Links and Driveshafts

The main difference between the models is the length of the suspension links and driveshafts. The Jeep and C10 share the same links and driveshafts, and the B-17 Betty and Deadbolt share the same links and driveshafts. Take a look at the photos below. The highlighted areas show the parts that are different between the models.

Jeep/C10 chassis parts
Deadbolt/Betty chassis parts

Why is this important? There are a couple reasons. A popular upgrade is aluminum suspension links. If you decide to upgrade your links, you need to make sure you get the correct ones for whichever vehicle you have. There are several companies that make aluminum links, but the most popular ones are made by Hot Racing. They make two different sets of links for the different vehicles. The SXTF133A01 links fit the Deadbolt/Betty, and the SXTF133J01 fit the Jeep/C10.

Axial SCX24 – Jeep setup and upcoming preview

In this video we look at how we currently have our Jeep set up and talk about some upcoming projects.

Parts used on the Jeep:

RC4WD Milestar Patagonia Tires – https://store.rc4wd.com/RC4WD-Milestar-Patagonia-MT-10-Micro-Crawler-Tires_p_6859.html
Emax Servo – https://www.rpphobby.com/product_p/emx-sv-0275.htm
Barrage Motor – https://www.rpphobby.com/product_p/dyns1203.htm
Hobbywing 1625 – https://www.amainhobbies.com/hobbywing-quicrun-1625-1-18th-scale-brushed-esc-hwa30120000/p713265
Low CG Battery Tray – https://www.ebay.com/itm/Axial-SCX24-LCG-Battery-Tray-Low-Center-of-Gravity-Upgrade/164640892803
Barrage Motor Plate – https://www.ebay.com/itm/SCX24-ECX-Barrage-Motor-Plate/233755656460?var=533444407442
Aluminum Steering Link – https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Fix-Link-Steering-Rod-For-Axial-SCX24-90081-1-24-RC-Crawler-Car-Parts/254802829430
Brass Steering Knuckles – https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Brass-Counterweight-Steering-Knuckle-Set-For-Axial-SCX24-90081-1-24-RC-Car/254848884971?hash=item3b562d60eb:g:ZYgAAOSwMONgE7qb
Brass Differential Covers – https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Brass-Counterweight-Diff-Cover-For-Axial-SCX24-90081-1-24-RC-Crawler-Car/264970360721
6mm Axle Wideners with Brass Weights – https://www.ebay.com/itm/6mm-Widen-Axle-Wheel-Hub-Brass-Counterweights-for-Axial-SCX24-90081-1-24-RC-Car/264992183555

Axial SCX24 – What size are the screws and wheel nuts?

The SCX24 uses two different size screws. The most common are M1.4 allen screws. They take a .050” Allen wrench. All of the screws on the kit are this size (in different lengths) except the two screws that hold the motor in. They are 1.5mm. A L wrench is included with the kit but you’re going to find it much easier to use a hex driver.

I have long been a fan of the Integy hex drivers. I have two sets that I have been using for over 10 years and they are still in great shape. You can get cheap hex drivers off ebay and Amazon, but I would recommend paying a little extra for a nice set of hex drivers.

Integy Hex Drivers

The wheel nuts on the SCX24 are 4mm nuts. 4mm nut drivers don’t seem to be as common. I bought one of the cheap ebay sets (yes, I know I recommend against that…) and it’s working okay, but I’m on the hunt for something better.

Axial SCX24 Tire Options… Which Ones Work The Best?

I have been into RC for close to 30 years. In that time I have owned and driven hundreds of different vehicles. In that time one of the things I’ve come to find out is that the right set of tires can really enhance the performance of a vehicle. And, of course, the wrong set of tires can really hamper the performance.

The tires that come stock on the Axial SCX24 are actually pretty good compared to some of the stock tires I have seen on vehicles over the years. But they can still be improved. Right now there aren’t a lot of companies making tires that fit the SCX24. The main company is RC4WD. RC4WD makes 14 different tires that will fit the SCX24. Each tire is different in size and tread pattern, and they come in different rubber compounds, so naturally not all tires will work the same.

We have decided to try to get our hands on all the different tires that RC4WD makes and compare them to help figure out which ones work the best. We have created this page to keep track of all the different tires we test, and we will update the page when we get new tires to test.