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MP Servo Saver Mod

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boilermaker13

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I'm in the middle of this mod and have a few questions. Should I use the stock bellcrank (non-servo saver side) or the one that came with the MP? Is there an issue with the MP bellcrank hitting the diff or the TVP when turning? Also, I've noticed in various pictures that some people have the curved ends of the steering cross arm pointed forward and some have them pointed towards the back. Does it matter which direction they point?
 
I've seen that thread along with numerous others. I'm interested in the best way to do this mod because some people seem to have problems and some don't.
 
Why try to reinvent the wheel? I did it the way shown in that link and I had no problems.
 
i used the stock bell-crank on the non-saver side, it jsut seemd to fit better than the MP one IMO. you will havto have some extra 3mm bolts/locknuts around to make it work right, as for me the stock bell-crank hardware would not work very well with the MP bellcrank. i also added some shims i had laying around in between the bearings to take up some of the slop. other than that its basically remove/bolt in. and BTW it makes the steering much better IMO..-peace
 
Only stock parts I reused were the linkages and I dont have any problems with interference. I had to add 2 m4 screws to attach the bellcranks to the cross arm. I think I may have had to drill the cross arm out a little bit to get it to pivot freely. I also tapped the bellcranks to help the screws thread in easier. I have my cross arm pointing forward. I didnt need any type of shim everything bolts right in. Ill get some pics of mine up. pic 1 pic 2
 
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i didnt need shims either, but after adding some it really made the setup nice and tight, almost zero slop.
 
OFNA servo saver

Just like the ones being talked about but I also added the aluminum steering brace or bar that connects the two post together. MY problem is that I run Big Joes and I don't loose any tourque (hs-945mg) but it seems to be hitting on the left side alittle. When I turn to the right it turns sharp, but when I turn to the left the sevo saver and the turnbucle end collides effecting the turning radius. I'm pretty damn sure I have it installed right , but I don't think it is supposed to be that close, or hit eachother. Does anyone have this problem with the ofna servo saver and what kinda remmidy would fix this problem????? It only hits just barley, just enough to effect the amount of turning radius to the left.:horsecrap
 
Are you saying the turnbuckle is hitting the post with the spring wrapped around it? Or is the turnbuckle hitting the bellcrank arm? Pics or more info would be helpfull. Only thing I can think of right off is to make sure the turnbuckle is mounted on top of the crossbrace not under. EDIT: I took a quick look at mine and the turnbuckles need to be under not over!! Also check to be sure the cross bar is on top of the bell cranks. The stock position is under the bell crank arm. The mp bell crank arm is positioned lower on the post so you need to mount the crossbar on top of the bellcrank arms.
 
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Wow! I was just logging on to discuss this upgrade but got beaten to the punch. I didn't know about the photos out there to gawk at and had a heck of a time figuring out how to get it done without interference from the front diff. I did research and found the pics and that is the way to go! I don't have any interference to speak of but I can turn really sharp to the left and very sharp to the right. So, I suppose there is something hitting somewhere. What I really want to say is I wish I had done this sooner! Great upgrade. I also did the throttle linkage upgrade to ofna parts as well, another fine addition. The steering mod was frustrating until I came accross the savage-central links and photos. Finding all the neccessary hardware was a task at first as well, but the end result is so very worth it!! Y don't they do from the manufacturer??? Follow the pics on the links out there.
 
The turnbuckle is hitting the post with the spring wrapped around it. The bar is on top, but the bolt hole for wich the turnbuckle to mount seems to be to close to the post with the spring wrapped around it. The steering bar is GPM I think if I remember correct. It's almost like the bellcrank I think thats what it is, is to thick and thats why the turnbuckle hits it. But I know other people have had to use the ofna servo saver and not heard of any prob. It's not much of a prob., just slightly noticable but to me its alot noticable. Especially on fast turns is when it hurts you, but on slow turns it's not to bad. Seems like this stuff was desighned for this stuff and I shouldn't have these problems. Any opinions on fixing? Anyone else have the OFNA servo saver, and the GPM steering bar??

Sorry, it happens when it turns to the right when driving the truck away from me, but after giving it some thought and looking it over I think I have soveled the problem. The turnbuckle is mounted on the bottom of the steering bar and at the bottom of the axle housing where the axle comes through and where the bearings lie. So just a simple case of reversing the turnbuckle on top as long as it does not hit the nut on the steering bar thats bolted to the servo saver. Sometimes you gotta take a step back and look and think that was dum!!:OMG:
 
dum dum

That did not work either! But I'm trying to look to see maybe the steering bar post matbe upside down, but not the side with the servo saver built in. If you look at my steering bar the post , one of them is on top of the bar (brace ) and one of them mounts to the bottom. Thats why I think that maybe I have one in backwards.:OMG:
 
Yeah it took me about 4 hrs to get this mod right and its still not "perfect". First I had to create a shim because I didn't have any. I just took one of the stock nylon bushings and filed it down about 3/4's its size.

First I was using to short of servo arm and it wasn't getting enough throw.

Next like many others here the underside screw from the MP SS connected to the servo arm is hitting the bellcrank when I turn in one direction.

For my application it was three ways for me to fix this problem...
1. shave down the underside screw from the servo saver
2. shave off a portion of the bellcrank to allow the screw to pass through or
3. center the steering servo and repositioned the servo arm and everything connected to it

I chosed #3 as it gave the clearance and throw that I needed.

As with other mods its really a trial and error process
 
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I only used the MP part that has the servo-saver built in. The rest were stock parts. I did find that you have to shim the MP part so there is no up and down slop. Anything custom normally needs a little fitting. :)
 
servo saver

I still can't get this right, after redoing everything and using different parts the servo saver and the other post both hit the center drive hub. I might try and flop it to see what the does. I had it in stalled like MCVICKJ but things were hitting then to. I want this perfect to take full advantage of the 945mg servo. When I had it like MCVICKJ had his in his pics, it would't turn all the way to the right. It would turn good one way but not the other. What gives??
 
too late

I just ripped everything out and replaced it with the stock set-up. But I installed one of those servo savers that bolt right on the servo itself. Are these any good?? The hitec servo says it's unbreakable, so I should just hook it up direct with no servo saver at all. That would give great response for racing. But I know you could sacrifice other steering componets in a collision. I will try and learn how to post pics here in the next few days as I would like everyone to see my sweetass SAVAGE. Have done alot to it. With the servo saver from ofna, it seems like know matter how you did it , it still always limited steering by hitting something. Whether it be the center drive shaft hub, or hitting against itself. With the stock set-up I flipped the turnbuckles around and bolted them to the top instead of the bottom of the peice that holds the axle and axle bearings. But that way it seems to want to hit the shock, and when hooked up like in the book it hits the bottom of the shock mount. As long as I get a good turning radius both ways and the radius is even in both directions I'll be fine. :cheers:
 

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