I would stay with plastic if I were you, not just because of the cost. But you have to co sider that these machines, or any rc for that matter takes a beating and parts are going to break. Its all part of the hobby. The plastic parts used on these trucks are used in places where there is alot of stress, and plastic is very forgiving. If it were an aluminum suspension arm that took the beating, it would most likely cause further problems down the line. Im all for the plastic a-arms, I know that if your rough on your truck and stuff is going to break. But my rc's are not shelf queens either! If they were, they would all be blinged out with aluminum. Stick with plastic, you can even boil the parts in water for 10 to 15 min to increase flexability and durability. Hope this helps, its only my opinion.