Overview
Transform your Traxxas TRX-4M crawler with the Traxxas Differential cover in Black Chrome finish. These premium axle covers give your RC trail truck an authentic, custom appearance whilst protecting vital differential components from dirt, debris and the elements. Whether you're a dedicated trail crawler enthusiast or a weekend basher exploring challenging terrain, these differential covers deliver both style and practicality. Available as a pair for front and rear fitment, they're an essential upgrade for any serious TRX-4M owner looking to enhance their vehicle's aesthetic appeal and protect critical drivetrain components during intense off-road adventures across the UK.
The TRX-4M platform has revolutionised accessible trail crawling in the RC hobby, and upgrading with quality accessories like these differential covers is how enthusiasts truly personalise their machines. These black chrome covers provide a sleek, polished look that complements the TRX-4M's already impressive portal axle design. The black chrome finish adds visual depth and contrast to your axle assembly, making your crawler stand out whether you're competing at local RC clubs or simply enjoying recreational bashing in your garden or local countryside.
Differential covers serve an important protective function on any RC 4WD vehicle. The differential is the heart of your drivetrain, containing precision-engineered gears and locking mechanisms that allow your TRX-4M to navigate obstacles with incredible articulation. By fitting proper differential covers, you're safeguarding these components against mud splatter, water ingress, sand and general trail debris that can accumulate during extended outdoor sessions. This practical protection extends component lifespan and maintains smooth, reliable operation when it matters most.
Key Features
- Black Chrome finish — The striking black chrome plating provides a premium, custom appearance that enhances the visual presence of your TRX-4M's axle assembly, creating dramatic contrast against the red or blue anodised aluminium portal components and turning your crawler into a truly bespoke RC vehicle.
- Pair of covers — Sold as a set of two covers, allowing you to upgrade both front and rear differentials simultaneously for a completely coordinated look across your entire TRX-4M drivetrain.
- OEM direct fit — These covers are engineered to fit Traxxas TRX-4M models precisely, ensuring hassle-free installation without modification or adaptation required, meaning you can have them fitted in minutes with basic RC tools.
- Protective design — The differential cover shields critical gearing and locking mechanisms from mud, water, sand and debris encountered during trail crawling, helping maintain optimal performance and extend the service life of your expensive differential components.
- Easy installation — Fitted using simple socket head cap screws that pass through the rear of the axle housing, making installation straightforward for builders of all experience levels without requiring specialist knowledge or equipment.
- Compatible with portal axles — These covers work perfectly with the TRX-4M's unique portal axle design, which sits significantly higher than conventional solid axles to provide extraordinary ground clearance for obstacle straddling and extreme trail performance.
Technical Performance
The Traxxas Differential cover represents meticulous engineering focused on both form and function. These covers are designed specifically for the TRX-4M's T-Lock differential system, which uses an ingenious shift fork mechanism to lock and unlock differential drive engagement on demand. The black chrome finish is achieved through specialised plating processes that create a hard, durable surface resistant to corrosion and mechanical wear. The portal axle design on the TRX-4M is genuinely revolutionary in RC crawling — the gear reductions at the end of each axle allow the T-Lock differential to sit much higher than a normal axle's differential, which dramatically increases ground clearance for straddling obstacles. This also means the driveshafts connecting the axles to the transmission spin at higher RPM for any given speed compared to standard solid axles, reducing torque-twist to near zero and providing superior control on technical terrain. The differential cover protects the internal ring and pinion gears, which in the TRX-4M can be upgraded from stock heat-treated steel to machined versions for enhanced durability. The cover itself is straightforward in design but critical in function — it seals the differential housing whilst remaining removable for maintenance, allowing you to access and service internal components when required. Installation involves removing four screws that pass through the rear of the axle housing, revealing the T-Lock assembly within. The black chrome finish is particularly valuable because differentials are exposed components that accumulate grime during trail use; this premium plating resists discolouration and maintains its striking appearance even after extended use in muddy, wet conditions typical of UK off-road trails.
What's in the Box
- Two differential covers (front and rear) in black chrome finish
- Mounting hardware for installation
Frequently Asked Questions
- What models does this differential cover fit? — These covers are designed for the Traxxas TRX-4M platform, including all variants such as the 1/18 Ford Bronco and 1/18 Land Rover Defender models. They fit directly over the front and rear T-Lock differential housings without modification or adapter plates required.
- Will this differential cover improve my crawler's performance? — These covers don't directly enhance performance, but they do protect the differential internals from contamination and damage, which indirectly preserves optimal performance. By keeping mud, sand and water away from precision gears and locking mechanisms, you maintain the smooth, reliable operation that your TRX-4M delivers on the trail.
- How difficult is installation? — Installation is straightforward and suitable for builders of all experience levels. You simply remove the four screws that secure the existing cover, lift it away to reveal the differential, then install the new black chrome cover using the same screws. Most RC enthusiasts can complete this upgrade in under five minutes with just a small socket set.
- Is the black chrome finish durable? — Yes, the black chrome plating is engineered to withstand the rigours of trail crawling. It resists corrosion from water and mud exposure, resists mechanical wear from debris contact, and maintains its striking appearance throughout extended use. The premium finish is significantly more durable than bare steel or plastic alternatives.
- Can I fit these myself or do I need a mechanic? — These covers are genuinely DIY-friendly for any RC hobbyist. No specialist tools or mechanical knowledge are required — you simply need a basic socket set and perhaps fifteen minutes of your time. The straightforward design and OEM fit make this one of the easiest aesthetic upgrades you can perform on your TRX-4M.
- Will this work with upgraded differential gears? — Absolutely. The TRX-4M supports upgraded machined steel ring and pinion gears in various ratios (11/34 standard, 10/35 underdrive, or 12/33 overdrive), and these differential covers fit perfectly over both stock and upgraded gear sets. The cover simply caps the differential housing regardless of what gears are installed inside.
Why Buy from RC Model Shop?
RC Model Shop is a trusted UK RC retailer and authorised dealer for all the brands we stock, including Traxxas, ARRMA, Losi, FTX, Hobbywing, Spektrum and more. Based in Walsall, we have a physical store where customers are welcome to come in, view products and purchase in store. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, a weekend basher, or just discovering the world of RC for the first time, our team of experienced RC enthusiasts is here to help you find the perfect setup and provide ongoing support. Order the Traxxas Differential cover, front or rear (Black Chrome) (2 pcs) TRX9738-BLKCR today with confidence, knowing you are buying from an authorised retailer with genuine products, expert knowledge and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Shop online or visit us in Walsall — we look forward to helping you get the most out of your RC experience.
- Product type: Differential cover pair
- Scale: 1/18
- Finish: Black chrome plated
- Quantity: 2 pieces (front and rear)
- Compatible models: Traxxas TRX-4M, 1/18 Ford Bronco, 1/18 Land Rover Defender
- Installation method: Socket head cap screws through rear of axle housing (4 screws per cover)
- Compatible differential type: T-Lock differential
- Material: Metal with black chrome plating
- Protection: Shields differential internals from mud, water, sand and debris
- Design: OEM direct fit, no modification required
- Installation difficulty: Easy, suitable for all experience levels
- Tools required: Small socket set
- Installation time: Approximately 5 minutes per cover
- Compatible with: Stock and upgraded machined steel ring and pinion gears (11/34, 10/35, 12/33 ratios)
- Works with: Portal axle design with gear reductions
We want to make sure your delivery goes smoothly, so here are some important details about our service:
- For orders above £120, we offer delivery to most mainland UK addresses. For orders under £120, we can still deliver to Northern Ireland and the outlying isles, as long as the item can be sent by Royal Mail, weighs less than 30kg, and fits within 61cm × 46cm × 46cm. Some highland and remote areas may carry an extra delivery charge as couriers often apply surcharges in these locations. If you live in one of these areas, feel free to contact us before ordering so we can confirm the delivery options and costs for you.
- Most of our products include delivery in the price. If your order is under £90, a small delivery fee will apply but do not worry this will always be clearly shown at checkout before you complete your purchase.
- Depending on what you choose at checkout, your order will usually be delivered either the next working day or within 2 working days. For next day delivery please place your order before 2:00pm. Orders are dispatched Monday to Friday only. Some items may take a little longer and if that is the case we will always show the expected delivery time on the product page.
- If your order includes items with different dispatch times we will normally wait and send everything together once all items are in stock. If one of the items is going to take a while we will give you the choice either wait for everything to arrive or let us send the available items now and deliver the rest later. It is up to you.
- We use trusted delivery partners to make sure your order gets to you safely and on time. We use DPD for next working day deliveries and Royal Mail for the 2 day option.
- As soon as your order is on its way we will send you a tracking number by email. If you provide your mobile number at checkout we will also send delivery updates straight to your phone so you can keep an eye on progress.
- If a product is marked as "Dispatched within 3 working days" delivery usually takes around 3 to 5 working days from when your order is placed.
- For customers in Inverness and other parts of the Scottish Highlands deliveries can take up to 2 working days even if you select next day delivery as couriers do not currently offer a guaranteed next day service to those areas.
