Intermediate Guides
13 guides
Mini-Z Bearing Maintenance: Clean, Re-Oil, and Know When They're Done
Dirty bearings quietly steal lap time. How to spin-test, clean, and re-oil Mini-Z bearings, and how to know when one is too far gone to save.
Mini-Z Sway Bar Setup: Roll Stiffness and When to Add One
Sway bars are the suspension variable most Mini-Z drivers add too late. How they affect body roll, when to use them, and what to buy for MR-03 and MA-020.
The Diminishing Returns Trap: When Mini-Z Upgrades Start Hurting Your Lap Times
Why the fastest club racers run simpler Mini-Z setups, and how to tell when your next upgrade will help, do nothing, or actively slow you down.
I Ran the Same Mini-Z Chassis for a Full Season: Here's What Actually Wore Out
A season-long teardown diary tracking which Mini-Z parts degraded, when they were replaced, and whether OEM or aftermarket held up better.
How to Read a Mini-Z Setup Sheet (And Build Your Own)
Every field on a Mini-Z setup sheet explained -- toe, caster, camber, droop, diff preload, T-plate, and gear ratio. Understand what you're actually adjusting.
MX-01 Mod Path: From Box Stock to Technical Trail Rig
A three-stage upgrade sequence for the Kyosho MX-01 micro crawler, from first $30 of mods through a serious technical trail build.
MA-020 AWD Setup: Tuning Grip on the Mini-Z AWD Platform
How to actually set up an MA-020 for grip racing. Diff oil, belt tension, tire balance, spring selection, and the AWD-specific mistakes that cost lap time.
Mini-Z Spring Rate Tuning: Read Your Car
Diagnose understeer, oversteer, and chassis balance by what you feel on the track, then pick the right Mini-Z spring change to fix it.
MA-020 Motor Upgrade: FET, Brushless, Club Rules
How to upgrade your MA-020 motor step by step, from FET replacement to brushless conversion, with class rule context for club and IFMAR racing.
MR-04 Setup Guide: Kyosho's Narrow Platform
The MR-04 EVO2 runs different from the MR-03. Here's how to dial in springs, T-plate, tires, and gyro for the narrower chassis.
Mini-Z Suspension Setup: Spring Rate, Droop, and Camber Explained
How to set Mini-Z spring rate, droop, and camber for RCP, carpet, and AWD. Read the chassis and dial in a neutral, planted setup instead of fighting it.
Mini-Z Bearing Upgrades: Ceramic vs Steel
Not all Mini-Z bearings are worth upgrading. Here's which positions actually change handling, ceramic vs steel trade-offs, and what to buy at every budget.
MA-020 Drift-to-Grip Conversion Guide
So you bought a Mini-Z AWD (MA-020) for drifting, but now you want to race. Here is the exact setup path to turn a sliding drift car into a grip monster.