Looking for good servos for my nitros streering and throttle

[zeus r/c]

I may habe asked this before but i forget sometimes whats a good not super expensive throttle servo kinda snappy and responsive but not gonna cost the price of a tire on your real car


And the same applies for a steering servo thank in advance as I'm fogetful and may forget to thsnk you later so I'm doing it know keep burning nitro my brothers

 

[CertifiedMike]

I asked a similar question recently about replacing my steering servo(s) in a couple Arrma MT bashers.
I got a bunch of answers....

Thread 'What do you replace your RTR servos with?'

Jan 15, 2026

I have officially blown the Spektrum steering servos in both my Gorgon and my Granite. I'm looking for replacement suggestions.
I am aware that I can replace the servos with $150 Nitro Pros, Reefs... I am hoping to not double the price of these trucks by using such expensive servos.
Each truck still has the 23 spline set up in it right now.
I have already purchased a Hot Trick servo saver for the Gorgon to adapt a 25 spline.

I need it to be waterproof. I need it to not be 'any Scamazon servo', I don't use Scamazon.

What do you all use? Do you have any suggestions for servo arms too?

• CertifiedMike
• Replies: 45
• Forum: Electronics

• 
• 

Whats your budget? Thats what it comes down to I think.

I bought a pair of Spektrum 6s servos for my 3s trucks.
Jennysrc.com has them cheap. Since I already had a big order coming, I went for 1 stop shopping convenience.

So far they work fine.

Nitro Pro has FKN500FST servos for a good price. Performance/price... tough to beat!
They are well recommended.
I will likely be going this route for my race buggies once current Reef's have died.

AFGRC servos look interesting to me too.
They are building servos for other companies. (I think both Reefs and Nitro Pro)
They are also well recommended and have a good price.

I'm curious to know which servos you choose, why and how you like them!

 

[RustyUs]

I may habe asked this before but i forget sometimes whats a good not super expensive throttle servo kinda snappy and responsive but not gonna cost the price of a tire on your real car


And the same applies for a steering servo thank in advance as I'm fogetful and may forget to thsnk you later so I'm doing it know keep burning nitro my brothers

I'll answer the question, I think there was a question, with a question.
What "real car" are we talking about?
The cheapest entry level touring all season 215 /55 R17 tire for our one vehicles is $64.

 

[zeus r/c]

I may habe asked this before but i forget sometimes whats a good not super expensive throttle servo kinda snappy and responsive but not gonna cost the price of a tire on your real car


And the same applies for a steering servo thank in advance as I'm fogetful and may forget to thsnk you later so I'm doing it know keep burning nitro my brothers

Around 50 t0 60 is what I'm wanting to spend and yes i know that different that whay they go for but as soon as i figure out which 1s i go with ill let you know air thatnks for you feed back

 

[zeus r/c]

I'll answer the question, I think there was a question, with a question.
What "real car" are we talking about?
The cheapest entry level touring all season 215 /55 R17 tire for our one vehicles is $64.

The car you drive for work everyday what real car did you think I'm talking about dude and a tire for my 1 truck cost 1500 i asked if theres servos that dont cost as much as a tire so i can start looking for new servos smh did you comprehend that sir or you just trying to be funny

 

[RustyUs]

The car you drive for work everyday what real car did you think I'm talking about dude and a tire for my 1 truck cost 1500 i asked if theres servos that dont cost as much as a tire so i can start looking for new servos smh did you comprehend that sir or you just trying to be funny

I recently went servo shopping and some of the prices...
Just from last year to this year prices went up some $20~$30 on my wish list/go-to servos.

The one NitroPro servo Mike (with certification) mentioned, is one servo on my wish list.
I'd choose it for a racing situation simply because of the warranty and it's their lowest priced servo (used to be $109).
The 500FST fits into what features/specs I am looking for.
Your needs may differ.

 

[RustyUs]

For "middle of road" type of servos, the offerings are almost endless.
Just going to places like Amazon and looking at all the so called "Amazon servos", the selection is over the top.
Rebranding of OEM is all over the place in the hobby's electronics selection.
Any mid-priced servo that looks like it has potential... I go look for spare gearsets.
No spare gearsets... no making my list (unless price of servo is stupidly low and I'm willing to gamble).

I've been lucky using yesteryears all-star pick in some of my 1/8 scale/heavyweight RCs.
My servo wants evolved over the past few years.
For larger/heavier weight RCs... an all-metal case steering servo is a must.
All steel, or similar strength, gear train... not all metal geared servos use great metals

Always look at numbers/specs when going shopping.
Most servos nowadays are HV high voltage and use the highest voltage numbers to describe them.
Keep receiver battery pack/BEC voltage in mind as you look at speed/torque numbers.

For 1/8th scale ... 0.12 sec/60° speed and 350 oz-in (25 kg-cm) torque bare minimum specs for steering servo.
More torque is better than not having enough. I'm more of a 500 oz-in (40 kg-cm) type of dude. YMMV
Wanting a "snappy" servo... adjust shopping parameters to something like ≤ 0.09 sec/60° speed specs.

If hanging it all out there; doing battle for 30, or 40 minutes... you probably don't want to skimp on things.

 

[easy rider]

I’ve been running hobby park. If you are using a hump pack, they are quick and strong. Followed closely by 9imrod. Both can be found on Amazon for far less then your budget.

 

[zeus r/c]

Hell ya bro thx

 

[zeus r/c]

I’ve been running hobby park. If you are using a hump pack, they are quick and strong. Followed closely by 9imrod. Both can be found on Amazon for far less then your budget.

A hat kg are rhey 25kg or better

 

[easy rider]

A hat kg are rhey 25kg or better

I’m not sure what you are asking. But, I think it was if they are 25kg or bigger.


On savages I’m using a 35 kg. On tmaxx’s a 25 is good. Revo’s is 45.

 

[zeus r/c]

I was thinking about putting 25kgs in all my buggies truggy and trucks for throttle and steering that should be plenty or do you think I should go a little high than 25 for the steering these are mainly 1/8 scale that I'm changing let me know sir

 

[Jack Jones]

I may habe asked this before but i forget sometimes whats a good not super expensive throttle servo kinda snappy and responsive but not gonna cost the price of a tire on your real car


And the same applies for a steering servo thank in advance as I'm fogetful and may forget to thsnk you later so I'm doing it know keep burning nitro my brothers

Throttle/brake: go cheap but reliable-something like Power HD or JX metal gear servos, plenty fast for the job.
Steering: don’t cheap out-aim for 20–30kg torque. DS3218, JX HV2060MG, or a Savox if you find one on sale.
Metal gears and waterproof is a plus. Steering needs power, throttle just needs speed.

 

[olds97_lss]

I run hobbystar hcs-4521wp servos on a few trucks for steering, but they have plenty of torque and speed for steering/throttle on a nitro also, even at 6V.

On sale at rcjuice currently for $33 (really a good servo even at $50):
https://rcjuice.com/products/hobbystar-hcs-4521-high-torque-digital-waterproof-crawler-servo

I run one in my outcast and kraton for steering. Both have been in service for quite a few years of hard bashing and work just fine still. I run them at 7.2V off hobbywing esc's, but like I said, the speed/torque at 6V is plenty (.13sec/374oz-in @6V).

 

[easy rider]

I’d listen to these two. They are saying the same thing as I am. The hobby park and 9imrod servos do well even at 6 volts. As far as steering, I’d be looking at 35 kg minimum.

If you set your rig up to run a lipo, then 25kg with a servo and bec would do great. I’ve got 2 tmaxx’s here running 25. On a hump pack. They do fine but, I will upgrade to a 35 in time.



Good timing on this thread. A 25 kg 9imrod servo just went out yesterday in one of my tmaxx’s. Bet it didn’t have a 1/2 gallon through it. First one to ever go out. But, I don’t have any that’s got a huge amount of run time so as the old adage goes, time will tell.

 

[WickedFog]

I run hobbystar hcs-4521wp servos on a few trucks for steering, but they have plenty of torque and speed for steering/throttle on a nitro also, even at 6V.

On sale at rcjuice currently for $33 (really a good servo even at $50):
https://rcjuice.com/products/hobbystar-hcs-4521-high-torque-digital-waterproof-crawler-servo

I run one in my outcast and kraton for steering. Both have been in service for quite a few years of hard bashing and work just fine still. I run them at 7.2V off hobbywing esc's, but like I said, the speed/torque at 6V is plenty (.13sec/374oz-in @6V).

I missed your recent returns to RCT. How ya been bro?

 

[zeus r/c]

Throttle/brake: go cheap but reliable-something like Power HD or JX metal gear servos, plenty fast for the job.
Steering: don’t cheap out-aim for 20–30kg torque. DS3218, JX HV2060MG, or a Savox if you find one on sale.
Metal gears and waterproof is a plus. Steering needs power, throttle just needs speed.

Hell ya bro thx I appreciate your feedback ba k your the only 1 that has really given what I asked about i just needed to know what was good for throttle and what was good for steering your the only 1 that gave it with out all the bs thx

 

[81exige]

i mean... mr. rusty and co. up there gave a thorough breakdown of what you should consider when buying a throttle servo, and none of that is filler information at all so idek why you said "without all the bs"

 

[desmobob]

I don't have a lot of R/C ground vehicle experience, but my R/C aircraft experience is that while metal geared servos are tough, they also develop slop in the gear train as they wear, so they're avoided when possible. With R/C ground vehicles, their toughness is important and they're a first choice where needed. But are they needed for the throttle? I would guess not... I'd use a standard servo there. (I used to have a 1:8 nitro buggy and I ran a standard servo for the throttle/brake for the few years it took me to eventually destroy that poor buggy.)

Anyway, I've been using two different budget servos in my 1:10 and 1:7 trail runner/crawlers: the AGFRC 32kg (#A73CHLW V2) of which I'm running in two 1:10 vehicles, and a HobbyPark 55kg (HD5523MG) in my 1:7 vehicle. I'm running them at 6V and I'm very happy with both so far.

 

[zeus r/c]

i mean... mr. rusty and co. up there gave a thorough breakdown of what you should consider when buying a throttle servo, and none of that is filler information at all so idek why you said "without all the bs"

The reason I said it is because people want to write a book about servos amd I dont need all that just need to know what's good and I get it I dont know why your even putting your 2cents in when it'd been over for weeks lol it's people like you I said with out all the bs