MA-020 AWD Platform Upgrade Guide

The MA-020 is Kyosho’s AWD Mini-Z platform. Where the MR-03 and MR-04 are tail-happy rear-wheel-drive cars that reward smooth throttle management, the MA-020 distributes power to all four wheels — which changes the handling character and the setup priorities significantly.

If you’re coming from RWD, some of your assumptions about Mini-Z tuning won’t transfer directly.

How AWD Changes the Physics

On an RWD car, the rear tires do all the driving. Everything about suspension tuning is about managing how much the rear grips versus rotates.

On the MA-020, all four tires contribute traction. The result is more mechanical grip on corner exit — the front tires help accelerate the car through the turn rather than resisting it. The trade-off is understeer: the car tends to push wide on corner entry rather than rotate.

Setup work on the MA-020 is largely about managing understeer and making the car rotate more willingly. If the car turns in cleanly and drives off corners efficiently, you’re in the right window.

Bearings First — More So Than on RWD

The bearings-first rule applies here with extra force. The MA-020 has more drivetrain components than RWD platforms — front differential, rear differential, belt idler pulleys, four wheel hubs — which means more bearing positions and proportionally more benefit from the upgrade.

A full bearing set for the MA-020 covers 10–12 positions. The reduction in rolling resistance is noticeable immediately, and the drivetrain runs cooler with less heat buildup in the motor and ESC.

Drivetrain: The Belt System

The MA-020 uses a belt-driven AWD system. The belt connects front and rear differentials and transfers power proportionally between axles.

Belt tension matters. Too loose and you’ll get power slippage and inconsistent delivery especially under hard acceleration. Too tight and drivetrain friction increases, which robs speed and generates heat.

Check belt tension periodically. Under light finger pressure, the belt should have a small amount of flex — not slack, not taut. Adjust with the tension adjustment screws on the chassis.

Differential Tuning

The differentials on the MA-020 can be tuned with silicone differential oil. This is an advanced lever but worth understanding:

• Thicker oil in the rear differential — Reduces rear slip, helps the car rotate, good for reducing push
• Thicker oil in the front differential — Increases front grip, reduces understeer on corner exit
• Thinner oil overall — More diff action, more rotation, but can feel looser

Start with stock-weight oil and drive the car to establish a baseline before touching the differentials. Understand what you’re trying to solve first.

Suspension

The MA-020 runs a similar front suspension system to the MR-03, with a T-plate rear. The T-plate function differs slightly from RWD use — because the rear is more stable on AWD, you can generally run a stiffer plate without penalty.

Start with medium-stiff. If the car understeers significantly through corners, a slightly softer rear T-plate helps the car rotate more freely. The MA-020’s AWD stability means you have more room to go stiff compared to an MR-03.

Front spring rate affects turn-in sharpness. Stiffer front springs resist body roll and give more defined turn-in. Too stiff and the car feels wooden. Most MA-020 setups run slightly softer front springs than equivalent RWD setups to compensate for the natural AWD understeer bias.

Motor and Power

AWD benefits significantly from brushless conversion. The dual-axle drivetrain handles additional power cleanly, and all-wheel traction means you can put that power down without as much wheelspin on corner exit.

The same brushless motors that fit the MR-03 also fit the MA-020 motor mount — these are compatible platforms in that respect. ESC requirements are identical.

One important note: AWD adds drivetrain resistance versus RWD. The belt, four differentials, and additional axle components create more friction than a simple RWD setup. The gain from bearings and brushless conversion is arguably higher on MA-020 than on MR-03 precisely because there’s more drivetrain friction to overcome.

Tire Compound

AWD cars tolerate a wider range of tire compounds than RWD. Because traction is shared across four wheels, the system is more forgiving of imperfect compound matching.

As a starting point: you can run one step harder compound on the MA-020 compared to what you’d use on an MR-03 on the same surface, because AWD provides more mechanical grip. If the car understeers, soften the compound rather than going harder trying to rotate the rear. Understeer on AWD is almost always a front grip issue.

Body Compatibility

The MA-020 runs a different body mount and wheelbase than the MR-03. Bodies are not cross-compatible. The MA-020 uses a wider stance, and bodies are specifically designed for its dimensions.

Verify “MA-020” or “AWD” compatibility before ordering any body. The Kyosho catalog is well-labeled on this point — the mistake is assuming any Mini-Z body fits any chassis.