Before I switched to brushless motors, here is what I learned re making the tail motors last:

1.  Break the motor in by running it before installation using two AA cells in the stock battery holder.  Just push the tail
     motor wires in between the battery terminal and the holder terminal.  Let it run for about an hour.  This will shape the
     brushes to the curve of the commutator at low current so no arcing.  Under full power the brushes will make better
     contact and last longer.

2.   Glue the two tail motors wires, after soldering, to the black end cap of the motor, with household cement.
      This keeps the wires from moving.  The wires are connected to fragile copper brackets that also hold the brushes.
      There is only a plastic "rivet" that keeps the brush holding bracket from rotating the brush away from the commutator.
       If the wires vibrate they can loosen the "rivet".  The same can happen if the motor gets too hot.  Also on some motors
      the copper brackets are so thin they become brittle on repeated cycles of heating/cooling.  They lose their
      temper and stop putting enough pressure on the brushes.

With care, and doing most piros to the left, I was able to get at least 100 good flites out of the stock motor.  This was good 
enough to keep me going until I bought a Futaba 7c and converted to brushless.

If I had it to do over again, I would buy an HK 250 or CopterX 250 and a radio.  The HK radios are  good enough and they
are inexpensive.  I've just started flying a 250.  It is more fun to fly than the Axe because it is lighter and more 
responsive.  With a much better head design and belt drive.  However, building and setting up the 250 takes a lot more knowledge
than is required for the Axe.

See my pics of various Axe modifications at the RC Groups Official Axe CP thread.(do a search on JEMFLYER) 

Note: it may be cheaper to buy brushed esc's and an after market gyro than to replace a 3 in 1 board.  Check out the
Hobby King 20a brushed esc for the tail, the 30a for the main motor and the <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">HK401B gyro.  You can use the stock radio
</span>with this set up.