RCAWD Review: RC Car and Crawler Upgrade Parts, Fit, Batteries, Shipping and Returns
RCAWD makes aftermarket upgrade and replacement parts for hobby-grade RC cars, trucks and rock crawlers, and sells them through its own online store. Rather than complete vehicles, it sells metal axles, differentials, driveshafts, shocks, wheels, links, gearboxes, motor sets and batteries designed to fit models from Arrma, Axial, Traxxas, Losi, Redcat, FMS and others. Most parts cost $17 to $40, with complete axle assemblies and power systems running $100 to $500.
This review covers what RCAWD sells, how to check that a part fits your vehicle, the battery and motor specs it lists, prices, shipping from its US and China warehouses, and a 45-day return policy that refunds in store credit.
At a glance Checked October 2026
RCAWD suits RC owners who already have a vehicle and want stronger metal parts, crawler weight or more power. Product listings name the vehicle families and part numbers each item replaces, along with the material, which makes compatibility easier to check. The trade-offs are that refunds come as store credit, you pay return shipping, and we found no published warranty terms.
- Best for: Owners of Axial SCX24, Arrma 3S/6S/8S, Traxxas TRX-4M and Slash, Losi, Redcat and FMS models looking for upgrade parts.
- Typical price: $17–$40 for most parts; axle assemblies and motor/ESC sets about $100–$250; Hobbywing combos up to $500.
- Shipping: Most orders ship within 72 hours; North America delivery estimated at 3–7 business days. Some items stock in a New Jersey warehouse.
- Returns: 45 days from purchase, original condition and packaging; refund as store credit, minus shipping.
- Watch out for: No cash refunds described, buyer-paid return postage, and no age guidance or warranty length on the pages we read.
What RCAWD sells
The store listed about 1,470 products when we checked. Nearly all are RCAWD-branded parts, organized by the vehicle they fit:
- Axles and drivetrain: portal axles, axle housings, differentials, spur and pinion gears, center and CVD driveshafts and 2-speed transmissions.
- Suspension and steering: aluminum shocks, suspension arms, steering knuckles, hub carriers, C-hubs, links and tie rods.
- Wheels and tires: beadlock wheels in aluminum and brass, adjustable-weight crawler wheels and pre-mounted tire sets.
- Electronics and power: RCAWD brushless motor and ESC sets for small crawlers, Hobbywing EzRun ESCs and motors (about 28 listings), LiPo batteries and battery adapter cables.
- Scale accessories: roof racks, LED light bars, awnings and transmitter protector frames.
The largest groups are for the Axial SCX24 (about 160 listings), Arrma 6S (about 140) and Arrma 3S (about 100). Tags on the listings cover scales from 1/28 and 1/24 micro crawlers through 1/18, 1/10 and 1/8 up to 1/7, 1/6 and 1/5 large-scale bashers, with 1/10 the most common.
Fit, materials and specs to compare
RCAWD parts are model-specific, so compatibility is the first thing to check. Most listings include a "Compatible with" list naming exact vehicles and stock part numbers. For example, the GP4 43T front/rear differential set lists over 20 Arrma 1/7 and 1/8 6S models, from the Kraton and Outcast to the Mojave and Limitless. The shock listing for Arrma 6S trucks ends with a note to check your model's manual or contact the store, which is good advice for every part.
Materials listed on the pages we read include:
- 6061-T6 aluminum, hard-anodized and CNC machined, for shocks, wheels and many suspension parts. The shock listing says aluminum flexes less than plastic under stress or heat.
- Brass for crawler axles, hubs and wheel weights, where extra low-down weight is the goal.
- 40Cr and #45 steel for gears, worm gears and driveshafts.
Some listings add usage limits. The SCX24 brass portal axle suggests staying with a 130-size motor or smaller and recommends RCAWD's stronger CVD driveshafts if you add more power. Upgrading one part can move stress elsewhere in the drivetrain, so read these notes before buying.
Batteries and motor specs (as listed)
RCAWD lists the following specs. Runtime and performance figures are the brand's own claims:
- Arrma 3S/6S LiPo ($44.99): 5000mAh, 11.1V, 50C continuous (100C burst), 55.5Wh, EC5 plug, 370g. The brand claims 300 cycles at 80% capacity. Note that the variant selector on this listing is labeled "5000mAh 2S Battery," while the title and specs say 3S, so confirm with the store before ordering.
- Arrma Grom 3S LiPo ($24.98): 11.1V, 2200mAh, 35C, 24.42Wh, IC2 plug, with a 1.6A charger cable. It is listed for brushless BLX Groms only; brushed models need an electronics upgrade. It was marked unavailable when we checked.
- Smaller packs: a 2S 1100mAh set for Axial micro crawlers ($24.99) and a 2S 350mAh pack for the Losi Micro-B ($19.99).
- SCX24 brushless set ($249.99): a 30A sensorless ESC, 3500KV motor, 2-speed transmission and 4-channel transmitter and receiver. The brand claims 21,000 RPM at 7.4V and warns not to use the original remote with it.
- Hobbywing EzRun MAX6 combo ($226.99–$249.99): 160A ESC rated for 3–8S LiPo, paired with a 1650KV or 1100KV motor, for 1/5 to 1/7 scale vehicles.
Because RCAWD sells parts, not ready-to-run vehicles, it does not list vehicle top speeds. The store also gives no age guidance on the product pages we read; its terms of service ask site users to be of legal age or have a parent's consent.
A note on LiPo battery safety
LiPo batteries and high-power brushless systems call for care. Charge only with a LiPo-compatible balance charger, at the rate the pack's instructions allow, and never leave a charging battery unattended. Match battery voltage (2S, 3S, 6S) to what your ESC and motor are rated for, use the correct plug rather than improvised wiring, and store and transport packs as the manufacturer directs. Stop using any pack that swells, is punctured or gets unusually hot.
Prices
Prices are in US dollars. Across the catalog, the median item cost about $26, and half of listings fell between $17 and $40. Examples at the time of writing:
- Battery adapter cables: $9.99
- Arrma 6S steel diff outdrive: $15.99–$19.99
- Cyberwheelz 1.9-inch adjustable-weight beadlock wheels: $36.99 per pair
- Arrma 6S aluminum big-bore shocks, set of four: $52.99
- SCX24 full brass portal axles: $84.99 for the rear, $91.99 for the front, $154.99–$164.99 for a set
- SCX24 brushless motor, ESC and transmitter set: $249.99
- Hobbywing EzRun Max5 ESC and motor combo: $499.99
A few listings showed prices that looked like errors, such as a single steel tie rod at $1,747, so check the price in your cart. The FAQ says larger orders can get a quantity discount by contacting the sales team.
Shipping
RCAWD lists warehouses in Cranbury, New Jersey, and Shenzhen, China. The site banner advertises "24H USA local free shipping," and a "Stock in US" collection held about 90 products when we checked. The policy pages do not list US rates or a free-shipping threshold; costs are calculated at checkout.
- Processing: most orders ship within 72 hours; some need 3–5 business days depending on stock. Orders with several items follow the slowest item.
- Delivery estimate: North America 3–7 business days in the shipping policy; the FAQ says 3–10.
- Duties: packages ship duty unpaid from different warehouses, so import charges may apply depending on customs.
- Tracking: usually appears 2–3 business days after dispatch.
Returns and warranty
- Window: 45 days from the date of purchase, not delivery.
- Condition: as received, in the original box or packaging.
- Process: email the store with your name, order number, items and photos; once approved, ship with tracking and send a receipt image.
- Costs: you pay return shipping, and original shipping is not refunded.
- Refund form: after inspection within 3 business days, approved returns are refunded as store credit, minus shipping, within 7 business days. Product pages show a "45 Days Money-Back Guarantee" badge, but the written policy describes store credit only, so ask before returning if you need a card refund.
- Wrong item: email a photo of the item and packaging.
For factory defects, the policy says you can request an exchange "under the RCAWD Warranty," but we did not find a warranty page or a stated warranty length.
Who should buy from RCAWD
- Micro crawler owners (SCX24, FCX24, TRX-4M) who want brass weight, portal axles or a brushless conversion.
- Arrma and Losi bashers replacing broken plastic parts with aluminum or steel.
- Hobbyists comfortable with tools who can follow a manual and check part numbers.
Look elsewhere if you want a complete ready-to-run vehicle, a cash refund on returns, or a part for a model RCAWD does not list.
RCAWD coupon codes
We did not find a verified public code at the time of writing, and we do not publish codes we cannot check. The site runs a points program: 1 point per $1 spent plus points for joining and following on social media, redeemable from 500 points for $5 off a $50 order. Any working offers we find are listed on our RCAWD coupons page.
Frequently asked questions
Does RCAWD sell complete RC cars?
Not in the catalog we checked. It sells upgrade and replacement parts, electronics and batteries for vehicles from other brands.
How do I know a part fits my vehicle?
Check the "Compatible with" list and stock part numbers on the listing against your vehicle's manual, and contact the store if your exact model is not listed.
Where does RCAWD ship from?
From a warehouse in New Jersey for items stocked in the US, or from China. The shipping policy estimates 3–7 business days to North America after processing.
Can I get my money back on a return?
The written policy says approved returns are refunded as store credit, minus shipping, within 45 days of purchase. Confirm with the store if you need a refund to your card.
The bottom line
RCAWD is a deep catalog of metal upgrade parts for popular RC platforms, with clear compatibility lists, listed materials and most parts priced $17 to $40. The weak points are a store-credit-only return policy with buyer-paid postage, no published warranty terms, and a few listing errors to watch for. Match part numbers carefully, follow battery charging instructions, and check where your item ships from before ordering.
Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on the RCAWD website at the time of writing and may change.