How to Upgrade a Remote Controlled Car

Learning how to upgrade a remote controlled car is the best way to wrest every ounce of enjoyment from this hobby. With countless technical advances being made annually and an ongoing worldwide contest to see who can create the fastest 1/10 remote controlled car, there have never been more options available to the hobbyist and professional alike.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Remote controlled car
• Clean work space
• Pliers
• Soldering iron

Upgrade the Wheels

1. Look for better rubber composites for your terrain. Harder wheels work better in soft earth, while stickier, softer wheels are best suited to hard on-road racing.
2. Cut and replace the foam inserts carefully to ensure a full-contact fit.
3. Glue the wheels to your R/C car using professional brand-name CA glue, being sure to cover every inch of the rim and bead as you go.

Upgrade the Servo

4. Get a servo controller that comes with all-metal gears for a more solid ride.
5. Add a servo saver to spare these sophisticated parts in the event of a collision. Servo savers keep the wheels of your R/C car from turning the servo violently in a crash.

Upgrade the Motor

6. Switch from brush to brushless if you want to boost energy efficiency and see an accompanying spike in speed.
7. Install a different proportion of motor turns if you want to up power or torque.
8. Get an automatic starting mechanism for instant gratification and better jumps out of the gate.

Upgrade the Batteries

9. Look for batteries with better current output--anything over 1,500 mAH is considered exceptionally good. More current will help you with power, speed and longevity, ensuring you do not need to recharge after a bumper-pusher or uphill drive.
10. Stick with battery packs that come with a high cell count if you want to enjoy long-term and consistent performance from your car. Matched cells can be useful as well provided they come with quality control, such as that provided by SCRC and Sanyo.

Tips & Warnings

• More expensive remote controlled cars allow for "drop-in" modular upgrades, but you should expect to do a little more grunt work if you have an inexpensive model.
• Many R/C car hobbyists offer their own customized "hop up" kits, so do not limit yourself to major manufacturers.
• You may be able to get more performance from each upgrade if you tweak it for your most common driving conditions.
• Always solder and paint in well-ventilated areas
• Never attempt to upgrade any part of your car while its engine is operating.