Best Upgrades for ARRMA Cars That Actually Help
24/07/2026
The Best ARRMA Upgrades: A Practical Guide to Better Performance and Reliability
ARRMA vehicles have earned a reputation for being some of the toughest RC cars on the market. Whether you own a Kraton, Outcast, Mojave, Senton, Typhon, Granite or Big Rock, they're built to take serious punishment. However, no RC car is indestructible, and choosing the right upgrades can make a huge difference to both performance and long-term reliability.
One of the biggest mistakes new owners make is assuming that fitting lots of aluminium parts will automatically improve their ARRMA. In reality, the best upgrades are the ones that solve the problems your vehicle actually has. That might be improving steering precision, reducing tyre ballooning, strengthening the suspension or increasing drivetrain durability.
At RC Model Shop, we always recommend upgrading with a purpose rather than simply buying the most expensive parts available.
Start With the Tyres and Wheels
For most ARRMA owners, tyres are the single biggest performance upgrade you can make.
They influence:
- Grip
- Steering response
- Braking
- Acceleration
- Stability
- Jump control
The standard ARRMA tyres are very capable, but once you begin running brushless power systems, larger batteries or rougher terrain, you'll quickly discover their limitations.
Browse our full range of RC tyres and wheels here:
https://www.applianceelectronics.co.uk/products/516/tyres-and-wheels
Choose tyres for the terrain you actually drive on.
Grass & Loose Dirt
Large aggressive tread patterns provide better bite and clear mud more effectively.
Hard Packed Dirt & Tarmac
Lower profile tyres with tighter tread patterns give much more predictable steering and reduce excessive sidewall flex.
Running 6S or 8S?
High-speed passes often cause standard tyres to balloon dramatically.
Belted tyres help prevent this by keeping the tyre's shape under power, improving stability and reducing stress on bearings and differentials.
However, belted tyres are heavier and don't absorb rough landings as well, making them less suitable if your ARRMA spends most of its time launching off BMX tracks.
Always check:
- Wheel hex size
- Tyre diameter
- Wheel offset
before ordering replacement wheels.
Upgrade Weak Points — Not Every Part
ARRMA engineers intentionally design many plastic components to flex during impacts.
That flex protects far more expensive components.
Many owners replace every plastic suspension arm with aluminium only to discover that the next crash bends a hinge pin, cracks a bulkhead or damages a differential case instead.
Upgrade where it genuinely adds value.
Good examples include:
- Steering bellcranks
- Chassis braces
- Shock towers
- Hinge pin braces
- Motor mounts
If you're looking for premium CNC-machined upgrades, browse our Vitavon ARRMA upgrades here:
https://www.applianceelectronics.co.uk/products/470/vitavon-upgrades
Vitavon parts offer exceptional machining quality and precision, but they're best fitted strategically rather than replacing every plastic component on the vehicle.
For everyday bashing, composite suspension arms often remain the smarter choice because they absorb impacts rather than transferring them elsewhere.
Upgrade Your Steering
Many ARRMA owners chase more speed before fixing poor steering.
In reality, upgrading the steering can completely transform how a vehicle feels.
A stronger servo is particularly worthwhile on:
- Kraton
- Mojave
- Outcast
- Talion
- Fireteam
especially if you're running heavier aftermarket tyres.
Browse our range of high-performance RC servos here:
https://www.applianceelectronics.co.uk/products/427/servo
If your steering feels vague or struggles to return to centre, don't immediately blame the servo.
Check:
- Servo saver adjustment
- Steering bearings
- Bent steering links
- BEC voltage
- Receiver compatibility
Many high-performance servos require more voltage than the standard ESC provides.
A quality metal-geared servo with the correct voltage can dramatically improve steering accuracy.
Just remember:
The servo saver exists to protect the gears.
Overtightening it simply moves the damage elsewhere.
Look After the Drivetrain
More power creates more stress.
If you're fitting:
- Bigger motors
- Larger pinions
- Heavier wheels
- Higher voltage batteries
then your drivetrain deserves attention too.
Inspect regularly:
- Bearings
- Outdrives
- Dogbones
- CVDs
- Differential cases
- Centre driveshaft
- Drive cups
Clicking noises under acceleration or rough-feeling wheels are usually early warning signs.
Changing differential oil is often one of the cheapest yet most effective upgrades available.
For example:
- Thicker centre diff oil helps reduce front tyre ballooning.
- Thinner oils improve steering on loose surfaces.
- Thicker front oils increase straight-line stability.
- Rear oil influences corner exit traction.
There isn't one perfect setup.
The ideal combination depends entirely on where and how you drive.
Suspension Upgrades That Actually Work
Many people immediately buy expensive shock absorbers.
Often they don't need them.
Start by checking:
- Oil levels
- Straight shafts
- Leaks
- Ride height
- Spring preload
Only then consider upgrading.
If your ARRMA bottoms out frequently:
- Thicker shock oil slows suspension movement.
- Stiffer springs support the vehicle's weight.
- Additional preload increases ride height.
These adjustments all affect handling differently.
For durability, upgraded:
- Shock shafts
- Shock caps
- Rod ends
are often worthwhile.
Browse our ARRMA suspension parts and upgrades here:
Don't make the suspension excessively stiff.
Some suspension movement allows the tyres to stay planted over rough terrain and absorb awkward landings.
More Power Isn't Always Better
Many owners immediately want:
- Bigger motors
- Larger pinions
- Higher cell batteries
Yes, they'll make the car faster.
They'll also expose every weakness elsewhere.
More power creates:
- Higher temperatures
- Greater drivetrain stress
- Faster tyre wear
- Increased battery demand
Before changing gearing, decide what you actually want.
Lower gearing generally provides:
- Better acceleration
- Cooler running temperatures
Higher gearing offers:
- More top speed
but also creates much more heat.
Always monitor:
- Motor temperature
- ESC temperature
- Battery temperature
after changing gearing.
Cooling fans are useful.
They are not a cure for incorrect gearing.
Small Upgrades That Make Ownership Easier
Some of the best upgrades don't make your ARRMA faster.
They simply make ownership more enjoyable.
Worth considering:
- Spare body shell
- Better wheel nuts
- Quality hex drivers
- Threadlock
- Spare bearings
- Suspension arms
- Body clips
- Drive pins
Keeping a small box of common spares often saves an entire day's running.
Regular Maintenance Is the Best Upgrade
Even the strongest ARRMA benefits from regular maintenance.
After each run:
- Brush dirt away.
- Check wheel nuts.
- Inspect suspension screws.
- Look for loose motor mount bolts.
- Dry the vehicle after wet running.
- Replace rough bearings before they damage hubs or differentials.
Ten minutes of maintenance prevents many of the failures people mistakenly blame on the vehicle itself.
Choosing the Right ARRMA Parts
Many ARRMA components look almost identical but differ between model generations, scales and versions.
Ordering by appearance alone often results in the wrong parts arriving.
If you're unsure, have the following ready:
- Model name
- Scale
- Battery setup
- Version (V3, V4, V5 etc.)
- Part number if available
Our team at RC Model Shop can help match the correct upgrade to your exact ARRMA model.
Final Thoughts
The best ARRMA upgrade isn't always the most expensive one.
Fit tyres that suit your terrain.
Improve your steering before adding more power.
Strengthen genuine weak points rather than replacing every plastic component with aluminium.
Maintain your drivetrain.
Keep your suspension properly set up.
Most importantly, build your ARRMA around how you actually drive it, not how it looks on the workbench.
That approach will give you a faster, more reliable and more enjoyable RC car that spends more time running and less time on the repair bench.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are aluminium upgrades always better for ARRMA vehicles?
No. Aluminium upgrades can improve strength and precision in certain areas, but some plastic components are designed to flex during impacts. Replacing everything with alloy can transfer crash forces into more expensive parts such as differential housings or the chassis. Upgrade where there is a genuine benefit rather than replacing every plastic part.
What is the best first upgrade for an ARRMA RC car?
For most drivers, tyres are the best first upgrade. Better tyres improve grip, braking, steering and acceleration more than almost any other modification.
Browse our range of tyres and wheels:
https://www.applianceelectronics.co.uk/products/516/tyres-and-wheels
Should I fit belted tyres to my ARRMA?
If you regularly run powerful 6S or 8S models at high speed, belted tyres help reduce ballooning and improve stability. If your driving is mainly jumping or rough terrain bashing, standard tyres are often lighter and absorb impacts better.
Is upgrading the steering servo worthwhile?
Absolutely. A quality metal-geared servo is one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make, especially on heavier ARRMA vehicles running large tyres. Just make sure your ESC's BEC can provide enough voltage for the servo you choose.
Browse our range of servos:
https://www.applianceelectronics.co.uk/products/427/servo
Are Vitavon upgrades worth the money?
Vitavon produces some of the highest-quality CNC-machined aluminium upgrades available for ARRMA vehicles. They're ideal where additional strength and precision are genuinely beneficial, but fitting every available alloy part is rarely necessary.
Browse our Vitavon upgrades:
https://www.applianceelectronics.co.uk/products/470/vitavon-upgrades
Should I upgrade my suspension?
Often, simply changing shock oil, springs or preload provides a bigger improvement than replacing the shocks themselves. If you're replacing worn or damaged parts, upgraded suspension components can improve durability.
View our suspension upgrades:
Will a bigger motor make my ARRMA faster?
Usually yes, but it also increases heat, drivetrain load and tyre wear. Any power upgrade should be planned alongside gearing, batteries, cooling and drivetrain reliability.
Which ARRMA upgrades improve reliability the most?
The upgrades that generally provide the biggest reliability improvements are:
- Quality bearings
- Correct tyres
- Stronger steering components
- Proper suspension setup
- Well-maintained differentials
- Regular maintenance
Reliability upgrades almost always provide better long-term value than simply adding more power.
Written by RC Model Shop
This article was written by the team at RC Model Shop, one of the UK's leading specialists in hobby-grade radio-controlled vehicles.
With years of hands-on experience selling, repairing and upgrading ARRMA models, we help customers choose the right vehicles, replacement parts, batteries, chargers and performance upgrades for their needs. Our advice is based on real-world experience, not just manufacturer specifications.
Whether you're upgrading your first Granite, maintaining a Senton, or building a fully customised Kraton or Mojave, our goal is to help you spend less time repairing and more time driving.
For expert advice or help choosing the correct ARRMA parts, contact the team at RC Model Shop or browse our extensive range of genuine ARRMA parts and upgrades online.