I've put serious miles on the major SCX24 axle upgrades. This guide is opinionated on purpose. The category is full of overlapping products at confusing price points and aggressive marketing language. If you read the all about SCX24 axles first, you already know the difference between a real portal and a re-styled straight axle. This guide tells you exactly what I buy.
The four axles I actually run
In order of how often I reach for them on a new build:
- MEUS Racing Isokinetic V2. Around $90 to $130. The value king. CVD straight axle, 52 degrees of steering angle, +5mm wider per side. The metal version is what I default to. As of March 2026 I've also been running the nylon version and it goes over rocks easier than metal, costs less, and holds up well to trail use.
- MofoRC X15. Nylon straight axle, +5.5mm per side. Hand-built quality, excellent finish. The step up from MEUS when you want a touch more refinement without going into brass-money premium territory.
- TiTS 12Cv2 / 12Cv3. Premium straight axle from a small US shop. Comp-grade machining, holds up under sustained brushless use without flexing. What I run on builds where I'm chasing consistency across multiple comp sessions.
- LGRP Super 8. Straight axle with U-joints, +8mm per side. The widest of the four. Reaches lines that narrower axles can't. Premium machining, premium price.
None of these are technically “portal” axles (the hub stays on the axle centerline). They're the axle upgrades you actually want for steering angle and durability. If you specifically need the ground clearance gain that portals provide, see the “If you want actual portals” section below.
Pair them with 3Flow9RC steering links
Whichever of the four axles you buy, pair it with 3Flow9RC rolling steel steering links. They make links sized for each of these axle setups. They're pricey, but the precision and the weight forward are real, and the steel construction won't flex on technical lines. A flexy stock link wastes both the steering angle and the new servo torque you just paid for.
What you're actually buying
A full axle kit for the SCX24 is a complete drop-in axle assembly, not just a gearbox you add to your existing housing. In the box:
- Two fully assembled axle housings (front and rear)
- Worm-gear differential, usually 2/16T stock-ratio (some kits offer overdrive ratios)
- Inner axle shafts, usually CVDs or U-joints
- Outer stub shafts
- Steering knuckles (front)
- Wheel hexes (1.0" 7mm hex)
- Bearings throughout
What's not in the box: the servo (you reuse yours, but the mount may differ), the motor mount, the chassis links (you reuse, but lengths may need adjustment), and the driveshafts to and from the transmission. Plan ahead for these.
If you want actual portals (the clearance gain)
Portals add 6 to 10mm of ground clearance and a 25% wheel underdrive. Most of my builds don't need portals because the MEUS / MofoRC / TiTS / LGRP picks above already give me the steering angle and durability I want. But if your local terrain keeps high-centering the truck on the diff pumpkin, portals are the move.
- MEUS Racing aluminum portals. $130 to $180. Value pick for actual portals.
- LGRP Spider 9. $150 to $250. Premium portal option. Comp-grade.
- Mofo RC V2 Brass Portal Kit. $150 to $200. Premium brass portals. Heaviest option, doubles as ballast.
Heads up on portal trade-offs: wider stance can rub on stock fenders (the C10 is worst), install takes 2 to 4 hours and often requires new driveshafts and a new servo mount, and the 25% underdrive means slower top speed.
What I don't recommend
- INJORA Planet Axles on a brushless build. Despite the “planet” name, these are straight axles, not portals. Budget-acceptable for stock-class trail use, but they flex under load and the gears wear faster than the picks above. If you're going to spend money on axles, skip these.
How to choose between the four
The honest decision tree:
- First axle upgrade, on a budget: MEUS Isokinetic V2 nylon. Around $90, drives well, easy install.
- First axle upgrade, going metal: MEUS Isokinetic V2 metal. Around $130.
- Step up from MEUS: MofoRC X15. Better finish, hand-built quality, around $150 to $180.
- Comp build: TiTS 12Cv2 or 12Cv3. Holds tolerances under hard use. Around $200+.
- Widest stance possible: LGRP Super 8. +8mm per side. Around $200+.
- You actually need the clearance gain: MEUS aluminum portals or LGRP Spider 9 portals.
Step-by-step install in the portal axle install guide. Where axle upgrades sit in the overall plan: see the staged upgrade path.