RE: Thinking about a CLOD
The original Clodbuster axle design can be totally self-contained. They have a motor mount, so the drivetrain is very compact and simple, and the steering servo can be attached to the gear case. Because the motor and steering components are all mounted together, they need only be attached by shocks and 2 or 4 suspension links to the chassis. This results in almost unlimited suspension flexibility and travel. With all of the aftermarket parts available, you can build a unique crawler without even using any original Tamiya parts.