Brass F10 Portal 12mm Hex vs Aluminum: Which to Choose
By Vanquish Products - Premium RC Crawler Kits & Accessories | Published: 2026-10-15
Category: Comparisons
Brass adds unsprung mass at the wheel; aluminum keeps it light. Compare the Incision Brass F10 Portal 12mm Hex against an aluminum 12mm hex and decide by build goal.
Quick Answer
Choose the Incision Brass F10 Portal 12mm Hex when you want extra mass at the wheel end for a lower, more planted feel on steep climbs. Stay with an aluminum 12mm hex when you want the lightest rotating and unsprung setup, quicker direction changes, or you are fighting drivetrain strain. Both mount the same way, so the decision comes down to weight placement, not fitment.
What Actually Changes Between Brass and Aluminum
The two hexes share a job: clamp onto the stub shaft and locate the wheel. The difference is material density. Brass is roughly three times denser than aluminum, so a brass hex adds mass right at the wheel, while an aluminum hex keeps that location light. Because the part sits at the end of the axle, that mass counts as unsprung weight, so it affects how the tire loads and unloads over rocks rather than how the chassis balances front to rear.
Where the Added Mass Helps
Extra weight at the wheel end lowers the effective center of gravity at the corners and helps the tire stay pressed into the surface when the truck is tipped or climbing. On technical lines where the front end wants to lift or slide, that planted feel is the whole point of running brass down low. It is a tuning tool, not a durability upgrade, so treat it as one variable you change deliberately.
Where Aluminum Still Wins
Aluminum keeps unsprung and rotating mass low, which suits builds chasing quicker direction changes, less drivetrain load, or a lighter overall rig. If you have already added weight at the knuckles or in the axle, stacking brass at the hex can make the front end feel heavy and sluggish. Aluminum is also the safer default when you are unsure how much weight the rest of your setup can tolerate.
Fitment Notes Before You Order
The Incision brass hex is listed for F10 Portal Axles and is compatible with VRD Carbon, Phoenix Portal, SCX10ii Currie Portals, and VS4-10 Ultra with Origin Half Cab. It uses set screw retention onto the stub shaft and is sold as two hex hubs with two M3 set screws. Confirm your axle is a portal F10 before buying, since a straight-axle F10 uses a different housing and this hex is not listed for it.
Tradeoffs at a Glance
- Weight and center of gravity: Brass adds mass at the wheel end, which lowers the corner and helps the tire stay planted on climbs. Aluminum keeps that location light and preserves a quicker, more neutral feel. Pick brass for grip on steep lines, aluminum for agility.
- Drivetrain and steering load: Unsprung mass at the hex increases the load the axle and steering have to move. Aluminum minimizes that load, which matters more on lighter builds or when you have already added weight elsewhere. If the front end already feels heavy, aluminum is the safer call.
- Fitment and hardware: The Incision brass hex is listed for F10 Portal Axles with set screw retention and ships as two hubs with two M3 set screws. It is not listed for straight-axle F10 housings. Verify portal F10 axles before ordering; check stub shaft fit at install.
Product Facts
- Brass F10 Portal 12mm Hex: Incision 12mm Brass Hex Hub for F10 Portal Axles, made from high quality brass for extra mass, with tighter tolerances for better stub shaft fit and set screw style retention onto the stub shaft. The tighter tolerance and set screw retention mean less slop at the wheel, and the brass construction is what delivers the added corner weight.
- Brass F10 Portal Knuckle Weight - Low Offset: Brass F10 Portal Knuckle Weight in a low offset version allowing the use of a 225 SLW hub and clearing 0.8 or 1.0 wide Vanquish Products Wheels, as a direct replacement for the F10 Portal knuckle covers. If you are already adding weight at the knuckle, this tells you how much clearance you keep for wheels and hubs before the front end gets crowded.
- Heavy Alloy F10 Portal Knuckle Weight - Low Offset: Heavy Alloy F10 Portal Knuckle Weight, low offset, allowing the use of most wheels while adding weight down low, as a direct replacement for the F10 Portal knuckle covers. A lighter alternative to brass at the knuckle, useful when you want some low weight without committing to full brass mass.
Which One Should You Run?
Best for
- Builders chasing maximum low weight at the wheel for steep, technical climbs
- Rigs already set up around brass down low where the extra corner mass is part of the tune
- Drivers who want tighter stub shaft fit and set screw retention on F10 portal axles
Not for
- Lightweight builds where added unsprung mass slows direction changes
- Trucks already carrying weight at the knuckles or in the axle
- Straight-axle F10 housings, which this hex is not listed for
