Titanium Turnbuckles.

[Narcisse91]

The stock shafts for the E-Savage suspension are M4x60mm (front, PN 82044) and M4x70mm (rear, PN 86072).

So they're both 4mm diameter, one is 60mm long, the other 70mm long.

First, has anyone replaced these with titanium parts successfully? If so, skip the rest and reply with what you used. If not...

HPI PN 93585 is a nitro Savage part, also M4x70mm. Our stock piece is shared nitro Savages, so this will obviously fit in place. Available at Tower for $19.29, two purple turnbuckles plus a wrench.

On the 60mm side, Lunsford makes 58.5mm (close enough to 60mm) turnbuckles, 4mm diameter, that should work. The catch is for $40, you get 4, and we only need 2. Never hurts to have spare parts, but if I planned on bending titanium turnbuckles, I would probably go this route: The CHEAPEST way to do it is with some Duratrax turnbuckles. Two part numbers from Tower, LXCRR5 and LXCRR6, are titanium turnbuckles from the Evader. They are the right lengths, and the total cost is $10, but they're only 3mm in diameter. 25% the cost of the Lunsford, so buy backups. Even at 3mm, they're still probably stronger than the stock steel pieces (someone correct me if I'm wrong about that).

Ok, lastly, we have some Hellfire pieces. Two HPI parts, M5x75mm (PN 87532) and M5x60mm (PN 93677), both around $17 at Tower. So they're beefier and probably still lighter. Most importantly, easily adjustable.

The only problem is, that 75mm might be too wide for the rear. I adjusted the stock ones as far as I could, and I still have toe in in the rear. So I'm hesitant to go wider.

So I'm thinking of the M5x60mm in the front (the front takes the most abuse, might as well make it super strong) and the M4x70mm in the back.

Next step is to find the correct front ends, but I'm guessing the hellfire ones will work. The stock ones will work in the back.

Comments?

[BitHed]

..I have a FULL Lunsford set :D Gotta love them...I would get the STOCK lengths from Lunsford...MUCH easier than farting around with different rod ends...

[Narcisse91]

I'm assuming you pieced them together from individual parts off of Lundsford's site?

I know they sell them that way, but they're a few dollars more per piece...

I hate to sound so cheap (especially with what I've got into my Savage SS), but the cheaper my suspension parts are, the less I worry about breaking them. By purchasing something in a set for a common car, I have a better chance of grabbing one quickly at my LHS. I'm a basher, and I tend to run my other Savage until I break it. It's nice knowing $5 fixes it almost every time.

I wonder if my LHS can get the individual pieces from Lunsford... I had them order me some heatsinks and fans for my motors, so I will ask them while I'm out there to pick them up

[BitHed]

...You CAN get the LONG suspension shaft from 3RACING (not the buckles)...I have them in My E-Sav and will be getting them for my Hellfire too...Last night i aldso figured out i could use some 3R sus. hinges from the Mini Inferno In the Hellfire :D I know what you mean about keeping things easy...The lnsfords are no-brainers though...I fit them once and havent touched them since...And you justy KNOW they will do their job and not complain...and if they DO bend you just send them back and they replace them; no questions asked...its like having insurance for bashing :D

I will try and get you these numbers Narcisse...

[Narcisse91]

Thanks, I would appreciate it.

If the Lunsfords are working that well for you, I may have to go that route.

Are you using titanium hinge pins as well? Got any part numbers for that?

[BitHed]

...working on it :D Be right with you...

[Narcisse91]

Any luck on this?

I'm also a bit curious as to how you are running 17mm wheels (from the other thread, you commented you were running 17mm dishes).

[ExoDemon]

Hey Narcisse, did you ever decide what to do for turnbuckles? I was fairly intrigued by your Duratrax part find...

[Narcisse91]

My next step was to go to the LHS and see which of the options above they carried.

Lundsford sells single pieces on their site, so you can get the exact size that you need, but they're $12 each. If my LHS doesn't carry them, add in shipping. In theory, that's a one time purchase, since they are gauranteed (and really shouldn't bend or break) but it is about $50 for the set. That would be what I would fall back on.

The Duratrax option, if my LHS carried them, would be my first choice, because it would be so cheap, but you need to source out new rod ends. Because they are 3mm diameter, you would need a rod end that was 3mm in diameter. Probably not a problem, I just never did it.

I will probably look into this again in the spring, when I can actually take the truck outside and use it again. If you try something, post your results.

[ExoDemon]

Yeah, $50 for a set-it-and-forget-it purchase is good, but I really bet that those 3mm Duratrax ones would hold. I'll do some surfing for rod ends and let everybody know if I splurge on anything and find success.

I'm lurking and waiting to snipe some EBay auctions for more CVDs and some promising shocks (not Hellfire...), so I'll let you know if I find anything out with the shocks, too.

In a way, this is actually more fun than just ordering up a part that is made for your truck; it's entertaining to try and find alternate solutions. Particularly during the winter months when I can't run the truck anyway... :)

[Narcisse91]

More fun, and it takes more time for the money spent. You can keep yourself busy for quite a while trying to custom fit something!

[BitHed]

...maybe TRAXXAS or DUBRO have some possible ball ends...The smaller gauge ones from the Hellfire are doable too...But we DO need a North American option too...