here's the link for 18t Mod 1 pitch steel pinion https://www.amainhobbies.com/hot-racing-steel-mod-1-pinion-gear-w-5mm-bore-18t-hransg18m1/p-qtazqqtqlb2xactz?v=765888
don't forget to get a Hotracing hardened steel spur and pinion gear and some red Locktite the blue stuff isn't strong enough for 8s the pinion gear will come of if you use blue green or nothing and that's either gonna strip your spur or pinion also about the charging leads i believe they mean...
I can't say anything about the durability of DBXL but I would probably think it would be worse than x-maxx or kraton seeing as it's more of a race and handling focused car while x-maxx and kraton are made for pure abuse i would say the x-maxx is more durable of the 3 based on Kevin talbots...
I just got my X-Maxx today and its insane the stock tires grip really well on grass concrete and dirt it flies through the air nice and flat the shocks are great its plenty fast for me and i already had a really big crash into a tree and the thing took it like a champ I'm not gonna recommend...