Traxxas Rustler 3-Phase Upgrade

Phase 1 - Heavy-Duty Suspension Arms

Heavy-Duty Suspension Arms
Traxxas now offers upgraded Heavy Duty arms for the Rustler molded in our strongest HD composite plastic. The new HD arms are even stronger than the Rustler’s stock parts, and the composite formula maintains its flexibility in cold weather. And added bonus, the arms come in colors. We’re going with green arms for this Rustler, but you can also get orange, blue, red, and black of course.

The Heavy Duty arms are shaped to balance rigidity and flex for maximum performance and durability. Installation is easy: just remove the old arms and replace with the new parts. If you forget which screw goes where, you can consult the Rustler’s exploded views here. Installation takes only a few minutes with just three screws per arm to remove.

Front HD arms installed

Rear HD arms installed

For less than $20 and twenty minutes at the bench, this Rustler is even tougher and sharper-looking than before.

Phase 2: Aluminum Options and Servo Upgrade

We’ll install machined aluminum suspension and steering parts in Phase 2 to boost durability even further, and put more style points on the board at the same time. Like the HD arms, these parts are direct replacements for the stock plastic parts. For a dramatic increase in steering performance and precision, we’re also upgrading the servo. You have several options when it comes to upgrading your servo. The 2075R servo provides fast reaction times and metal gears for increased durability. In this build, we're kicking it into high gear with our best servo: the High-Torque 400 Brushless.

2075R Metal Gear Servo

High Torque 400 Brushless Servo

Servo comparison

The High-Torque 400 is incredibly powerful metal-gear servo, delivering over five times the power of the Rustler’s standard 2056 servo. The 400’s brushless motor gives it super speed and precision, and 400 oz.-in. of torque to easily aim the Rustler’s fat tires. The red aluminum mid-case looks trick, but it’s not just about style: it also pulls away heat and stiffens the case. You’ll need to remove the Rustler’s upper deck to install the servo and the aluminum bellcranks. You can do it without removing the front suspension.

Remove the steering assembly and servo

Install the bellcranks and new servo

We’re going with green for the steering blocks, caster blocks, bellcranks, and rear uprights. Compact parts like these are ideal for aluminum construction. TIP: the aluminum parts’ sturdy, clear blister packs make handy trays to organize hardware as you work.

The laser-etched Traxxas logo really stands out against the green anodizing. The tough 6061-T6 aluminum provides flex-free performance for improved handling and steering precision. Don't forget to install the new bearings. They're included with the aluminum parts and they provide more precision than the Rustler's standard bushings.

Bonus Upgrade: Big Bore Aluminum Shocks
After adding the HD arms and aluminum suspension components, we couldn’t resist adding the Big Bore Aluminum Shock set. These beauties feature hard-anodized bodies with slick PTFE-coated bores for extremely long wear, and scuff-resistant Titanium Nitride-coated shafts that reduce friction on the X-ring seals to the absolute minimum. Progressive-rate springs and silicone shock oil are included, just fill ‘em up and bolt them on. The stock Ultra Shocks are excellent nylon composite-body units, but the Big Bore’s hard-anodized aluminum bodies and TiN-coated shafts offer even slicker operation and longer wear.

5862 Big Bore Shocks

Shock comparison

Installed Big Bore shocks

Phase 3: Velineon^® Brushless Power-Up

Phases 1 and 2 went a long way toward improving the Rustlers durability, appearance, and steering precision. For Phase 3, we’re going to make a huge leap in performance with the Velineon VXL-3s^™ brushless system. With the Traxxas Power-Up Program, you can trade in the Rustler’s stock XL-5^™ speed control and Titan^® 550 motor for a discount on the Velineon system. You can make the exchange by mail, or at your participating Traxxas dealer—get all the details here. The Velineon system installs just like the stock speed control and motor. Simply remove the XL-5 and Titan 550, and replace with the VXL-3s and 3500 motor.

Stock Gearing Vs Brushless Gearing
For maximum performance, we’ll replace the Rustler’s 16-tooth pinion and 90-tooth spur gear with a 25-tooth pinion and 83-tooth spur gear, as used by the Rustler VXL. The Velineon system will also work just fine with the stock gearing and your Rustler will still go a lot faster, but not quite as fast as it can go with the VXL gearing.

Gear comparison

Stock Rustler gearing

Velineon brushless gearing