Shocks decide whether a rock crawler keeps all four tires on the ground or lifts one off every time the trail gets uneven. Stock shocks on many crawlers bounce, and that bounce unloads a tire at the moment you need grip most. This guide picks the shocks worth buying for SCX10 and TRX-4 crawlers, explains the features that matter on rock, and covers the setup steps that decide whether a new shock actually performs. Prices are from our product catalog, so check the live listing before you order.
Quick answer
The RCAWD aluminum oil-filled set is the first shock to buy for most SCX10 rock crawlers, replacing bouncy stock shocks with CNC-machined aluminum bodies and threaded preload at each corner. TRX-4 owners should choose the RCAWD all-metal advanced set, and builders upgrading one axle at a time can start with the AIMROCK 110mm pair.
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What makes a shock worth buying for rock crawling?
The RCAWD aluminum oil-filled set is the shock to start with on rock, because oil damping and a rigid aluminum body stop the bounce that unloads a tire on a ledge. Stock shocks on many crawlers flex and rebound under repeated hits, and that rebound is what lifts a tire off the rock at the moment you need grip.
Three features do most of the work: a rigid aluminum body that resists impacts, oil damping that controls rebound, and adjustable preload that sets ride height at each corner. Some stock shocks already have oil, such as the aluminum, threaded, oil-filled coil-overs Axial lists on the SCX10 III Base Camp, so the case for new shocks is weaker on that truck. On trucks with plastic stock shocks, the gain is oil damping, a rigid body, and threaded preload. The RCAWD SCX10 set brings the aluminum body, oil fill, and threaded preload in one purchase.
1. RCAWD Aluminum SCX10 Oil-Filled Shocks
The RCAWD Aluminum SCX10 Oil-Filled Shocks cover the front and rear in one purchase at $20 to $30. Shop the RCAWD Aluminum SCX10 Oil-Filled Shocks Front and Rear set for a direct upgrade from the stock shocks on SCX10 I, II, and III.
It is the value pick for owners who want to end the bounce without paying for boutique shocks. Some variants need the body length checked against your exact SCX10 generation, so confirm that before you order.
Plan on bleeding air during install. The first install may need air bubbles bled out for smooth action, and an air bubble leaves a shock damping unevenly until it is removed.
RCAWD Aluminum SCX10 Oil-Filled Shocks Front and Rear
Full alloy oil-filled shocks that replace stock shocks on SCX10 I, II, and III. CNC-machined aluminum bodies with threaded preload adjustment and correct travel dimensions.
2. AIMROCK 110mm Crawler Shocks for One Axle at a Time
The AIMROCK 110mm Aluminum Crawler Shocks are sold as a pair at $16 to $24, and they fit both SCX10 and TRX-4 mounting dimensions. Use the AIMROCK 110mm Aluminum Crawler Shocks Internal Spring (pair) pair when you want to replace one axle first and judge the change on the trail before buying the rest.
Because the pair is sold as two units, a full set of four takes two orders. The trade is worth it for builders who prefer to spend in stages.
Tuning is the limit. The spring rate is fixed, so compound shocks with adjustable springs give more tuning options when you outgrow this pair.
AIMROCK 110mm Aluminum Crawler Shocks Internal Spring (pair)
Adjustable 110mm aluminum shocks with internal spring and oil filling, compatible with both TRX-4 and SCX10. Red anodized finish with threaded end caps.
3. RCAWD All-Metal Advanced Shocks for the Traxxas TRX-4
The RCAWD All-Metal Advanced Shocks for Traxxas TRX-4 come two to a pack at $25.98, so four shocks take two packs, about $52, and they mount directly to the factory TRX-4 points. Choose the RCAWD All-Metal Advanced Shocks for Traxxas TRX-4 (pack of 2) set if you want a drop-in shock with no drilling or adapters.
The large-bore body holds more fluid, which should help with heat during sustained crawling. Dual X-ring seals are the feature that matters on steep downhill sections, where a lesser seal can weep oil.
The listing is sold by hole-to-hole length, so measure your current shock and pick that length before ordering. Check it for your TRX-4 variant too, because lift kits and other suspension changes can call for a different length.
RCAWD All-Metal Advanced Shocks for Traxxas TRX-4 (pack of 2)
Full-metal shock set for TRX-4 and SCX10, sold by length, with large-bore aluminum bodies, dual X-ring seals, and smooth shafts. Direct drop-in at the factory mounting points.
Which shock oil weight should you start with?
Start with 30 weight silicone oil, the baseline used in the SCX10 first-upgrades guide on this site, and change one axle pair at a time before committing to a full refill. Oil weight is the cheapest tuning lever once the shocks are on the rig.
Lighter oil lets the tire drop faster and gives more rock wrap but can feel mushy on smoother sections. Heavier oil slows the stroke, which firms steep descents but reduces articulation, so the choice depends on the terrain you run most.
Do the shocks need to match your platform?
Match the shock to the platform first, because the RCAWD all-metal set is sold by length for both SCX10 and TRX-4 while the AIMROCK pair is a fixed 110mm that fits both. Check fitment before ordering any shock for a second platform.
Compare the shock length and mounting dimensions against your current shock, not the product photo.
Should you add suspension links after new shocks?
The INJORA 4-Link Suspension Kit for SCX10 II and III is a next step after shocks, at $32 to $48, if your truck still has composite or plastic links that flex under side load. Check yours first: Axial lists metal links on the SCX10 III Base Camp and aluminum links in its SCX10 II AX90046 kit.
Plastic links flex on off-camber terrain and shift caster and pinion angle mid-obstacle, which is the wander that shocks alone cannot fix. If your links are plastic, the INJORA 4-Link Suspension Kit for SCX10 II and III replaces both front and rear links with aluminum and steel pivot balls in one kit.
Budget time for the job. The kit requires disassembling the suspension, which takes longer than a direct shock swap, and the rod ends need a tightness check after the first few runs.
INJORA 4-Link Suspension Kit for SCX10 II and III
Complete front and rear 4-link kit in aluminum with steel pivot balls and molded rod ends. Replaces composite or plastic links, if your truck has them, to lock in suspension geometry under load.
How do you set shock preload after install?
Set the threaded preload on the RCAWD SCX10 shocks first, then adjust one corner at a time while watching how the opposite wheel reacts on an uneven surface. The collars change ride height at each corner independently.
Too soft shows up as bottoming on drops. Too firm shows up as the tire skipping over a ledge instead of wrapping around it. Make one change, run the same section, and compare before touching another corner.
RCAWD Aluminum SCX10 Oil-Filled Shocks Front and Rear
Full alloy oil-filled shocks that replace stock shocks on SCX10 I, II, and III. CNC-machined aluminum bodies with threaded preload adjustment and correct travel dimensions.
AIMROCK 110mm Aluminum Crawler Shocks Internal Spring (pair)
Adjustable 110mm aluminum shocks with internal spring and oil filling, compatible with both TRX-4 and SCX10. Red anodized finish with threaded end caps.
RCAWD All-Metal Advanced Shocks for Traxxas TRX-4 (pack of 2)
Full-metal shock set for TRX-4 and SCX10, sold by length, with large-bore aluminum bodies, dual X-ring seals, and smooth shafts. Direct drop-in at the factory mounting points.
INJORA 4-Link Suspension Kit for SCX10 II and III
Complete front and rear 4-link kit in aluminum with steel pivot balls and molded rod ends. Replaces composite or plastic links, if your truck has them, to lock in suspension geometry under load.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the first shock upgrade for an SCX10?+
The RCAWD aluminum oil-filled set is the common first buy, at $20 to $30. Start with 30 weight silicone oil, bleed any air bubbles on install, and check the body length for your SCX10 generation before ordering.
Can I run TRX-4 shocks on an SCX10?+
Not safely without checking fitment. The RCAWD all-metal set is sold by length for both SCX10 and TRX-4, while the AIMROCK 110mm pair is a fixed 110mm that fits both. Compare the shock length and mounting dimensions against your chassis before ordering any shock for the other platform.
Do aluminum shocks need to be bled before the first run?+
Often, yes. The first install of the RCAWD SCX10 set may need air bubbles bled out for smooth action. Fill the body with silicone oil, cycle the shaft a few times with the end cap loose, then seal it. A shock with an air bubble does not damp consistently.
Are adjustable-spring shocks better than the AIMROCK pair?+
They offer more tuning, not automatically better damping. The AIMROCK spring rate is fixed, so builders who want to tune spring rate should look for shocks with adjustable springs. For most trail use, oil weight and preload on a fixed-spring aluminum shock cover the basics.