You should not upgrade every thing to aluminum While aluminum parts look great, replacing plastic components (like suspension arms or shock towers) with aluminum on a basher is a "noob trap" that often makes the car worse. Here is why you should avoid this, along with other, more effective strategies for beginners. Why to Avoid "All Aluminum" First - Transfers Impact Force: Plastic is designed to flex, dampen energy, and break cheaply, protecting expensive parts. Aluminum does not bend; it transfers the impact energy to the next weakest point, which is usually the chassis, bulkhead, or transmission case—a much more expensive repair. - Added Weight: Metal parts make the car heavier, increasing inertia and leading to harder impacts, which causes more damage over time. - Deformation: Aluminum bends rather than snaps, and it is very hard to bend it back to its original shape, forcing you to buy new parts anyway.

The best, most impactful beginner basher mod is upgrading to a LiPo battery paired with a necessary pinion gear change, providing an instant, durable speed boost for $30–$80. For durability, installing metal-geared servos and replacing plastic shocks with oil-filled metal shocks significantly improves handling and longevity. Top Beginner Basher Mods & Upgrades: - LiPo Battery & Charger: The single biggest performance upgrade, providing more punch, higher top speeds, and longer run times. - Metal Gear Servo: Replaces weak stock plastic servos to prevent steering failure, particularly crucial for larger 1/8 scale bashers. - Oil-Filled Metal Shocks: Essential for improving handling and handling harsh landings, especially on budget-friendly, bouncy 1/16 scale models. - Brushless Motor & ESC Combo: A - Tires/Foam Inserts: Upgrading to softer, grippier tires with better foam inserts improves traction and stability on various terrains. For maximum durability and "out-of-the-box" bashing performance, brands like ARRMA (Kraton 6S) and Tekno(EB48.3) are highly regarded for their robust, bash-ready design.

1. Ignoring the Manual and Proper Battery Care (Specifically LiPo/NiMH) 2. Going Full Throttle Too Soon (and Ignoring Maintenance) 3. Driving in Inappropriate Conditions (Water, Mud, snow/ice or Sand) with out caution 4. Bonus tip avoid using too much oil grease it can attract dirt and debris places it shouldn’t be 5. What rc are you running right now?