RC Car Parts List: Every Part Named and What It Does
Every hobby-grade RC car has the same main parts. Electronics: transmitter, receiver, ESC (speed controller), motor, steering servo and battery. Drivetrain: pinion and spur gear, transmission, differentials, driveshafts and wheels. Chassis and suspension: chassis, arms, shocks, hubs and bearings. Plus the steering linkage and the body. The tables below name every part, what it does, and what usually wears out, so you can order the right spares.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20264 min read
Electronics
| Part | What it does | Typical failure |
|---|---|---|
| Transmitter (remote) | Sends steering and throttle by 2.4 GHz radio | Flat batteries, binding lost |
| Receiver | Receives the signal, outputs channels (CH1 steering, CH2 throttle) | Water damage, broken antenna |
| ESC (electronic speed controller) | Controls motor speed and direction; usually powers receiver and servo (BEC) | Overheating, water |
| Motor (brushed or brushless) | Drives the car | Worn brushes (brushed), bearings |
| Steering servo | Turns the front wheels | Stripped gears |
| Battery (NiMH or LiPo) | Power | Worn capacity, puffing (LiPo) |
| Charger | Charges the battery safely | – |
Inside the ESC, the throttle signal from the receiver goes to a microcontroller, which switches MOSFET transistors on and off very fast to vary the power to the motor. Building your own electronics: RC car circuit board.
Drivetrain
| Part | What it does | Typical failure |
|---|---|---|
| Pinion gear | Small gear on the motor shaft | Worn teeth, loose grub screw |
| Spur gear | Large gear driven by the pinion | Stripped from bad gear mesh |
| Slipper clutch | Slips under shock loads to protect the drivetrain | Worn pads, wrong adjustment |
| Transmission / gearbox | Reduces speed and sends power to the axles | Worn gears |
| Differentials (front, centre, rear) | Let wheels turn at different speeds in corners | Leaking oil, worn gears |
| Driveshafts / CVDs / dogbones | Carry power to the wheels | Bent or broken in crashes |
| Centre driveshaft (4WD) | Connects front and rear | Bent |
| Bearings | Let shafts and wheels spin freely | Rust, grit |
Chassis, suspension and steering
| Part | What it does | Typical failure |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis | The car’s backbone | Cracks on bashers |
| Suspension arms (A-arms) | Locate the wheels and let them move | Break in crashes: most common spare |
| Shocks (dampers + springs) | Absorb bumps (suspension guide) | Leaking oil, bent shafts |
| Hub carriers, steering knuckles | Hold the wheel axles; knuckles pivot for steering | Break in impacts |
| Camber links, turnbuckles | Set wheel angles and toe | Bent |
| Servo saver, bellcrank | Transfer steering from the servo (steering explained) | Worn spring, slop |
| Bumper, skid plates | Protect the front and underside | Wear |
Wheels, tyres and body
- Wheels and tyres: glued or beadlock; tyres wear and decide grip more than any other part.
- Wheel hexes and nuts: connect the wheel to the axle; lost nuts are common.
- Body and body clips (or clipless mounts): protect the electronics; bodies crack and need reinforcement tape.
- Wing (on buggies): adds rear downforce.
Which parts are worth upgrading first?
- Tyres matched to your surface: the cheapest big improvement.
- Steering servo: a stronger metal-gear servo makes steering precise with bigger tyres.
- Battery: NiMH to LiPo gives more punch and runtime (use an ESC with LiPo cutoff).
- Motor and ESC: brushed to brushless is the biggest speed jump, but stresses the drivetrain.
- Arms and driveshafts: stronger aftermarket parts once you know what breaks on your car.
Spares to keep in your kit
- Front and rear suspension arms
- Pinion and spur gear
- Driveshafts and hub carriers
- Servo saver and a spare servo horn
- Body clips, wheel nuts, a set of screws
- A second battery
Order by your car’s model and part number (Traxxas, Arrma and others list them in the manual’s exploded views).
FAQ
What are the essential parts of an RC car?
Transmitter, receiver, ESC, motor, steering servo, battery, drivetrain, suspension, wheels and chassis.
Which part of the ESC controls the throttle?
The ESC’s microcontroller reads the throttle signal and switches MOSFETs that vary the power to the motor.
What breaks most often on an RC car?
Suspension arms, hub carriers, driveshafts and spur gears on bashers.
Where do I find part numbers?
In the exploded diagrams in your car’s manual and on the maker’s website.
More on this topic: the complete RC Cars guide covers the basics behind this article.
About 20 years in RC. Mostly boats in the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, with many self-made parts; also a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes he has flown, and an RC helicopter. More about SwellRC
